The Complete Beginner's Guide to Bedazzling

Best Tools, Glues, and Rhinestones (Honest Reviews)

Not all rhinestone tools are created equal — and some of them are a flat-out waste of money. This tutorial is the honest, no-fluff breakdown of what actually works for bedazzling shoes, purses, T-shirts, notebooks, and more. You'll learn which $3 tool outperforms the expensive ones, why GemTac beats the hotfix tool for most projects, and how to organize thousands of rhinestones without wanting to throw them across the room.

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This step-by-step bedazzling tutorial covers everything you need to know to get started — or to upgrade your current setup with tools and techniques that actually work. It's the kind of guide that saves you from buying a dozen things you'll never use again.

The tutorial walks through a full comparison of hotfix tools vs. glue application for rhinestones, with an honest take on why the hotfix tool (holding down each stone for 30 seconds) isn't realistic for most people. The alternative? GemTac glue in a precision syringe tip. It's white so you can see exactly where you're placing it, it dries clear, and it holds up in the wash — which makes it a far better option for T-shirts, purses, and anything wearable.

You'll also see a head-to-head demo of picker pens vs. wax picker pencils. The picker pencils cost about $3 for a pack of 10 on Temu or $6 on Amazon, they sharpen with a regular pencil sharpener, and they pick up rhinestones perfectly every single time. The more expensive picker pens are fine, but they don't outperform the pencils — and that's the kind of honest detail that makes this tutorial so useful.

Organization gets a deep dive too. The tutorial covers multiple storage systems from Amazon and Michaels, including flip trays with sticky pads to prevent tipping, multi-compartment organizers with built-in tray bottoms, and a small system for diamond art that's perfect for working with kids. There are also tips on rhinestone sizing — 3mm for detailed work and lettering, 5mm for larger areas like purse edges, and 4mm as the ideal all-purpose size for most projects.

Beyond traditional bedazzling, the tutorial includes an intro to diamond art (no glue required — it's all adhesive-backed and incredibly relaxing) and pearl art, both of which come in affordable kits. There's even a creative idea for skipping kits entirely: use a book of collage images, transfer the design onto canvas with carbon paper, and rhinestone your own original piece.

Other projects shown or discussed include a bedazzled credit card magic wand (5mm around the edges, 2mm fill — and keep needle nose pliers in your purse for pulling the card back out), Ivanka Trump shoes from Goodwill bedazzled with 3mm rhinestones, graphic novelty purses from Amazon, and red/white/blue patriotic sneakers painted with acrylic and covered in rhinestones.

Whether you're shopping for your first rhinestone kit or trying to figure out why yours keeps ending up everywhere except where it belongs, this guide has the answers — with links for everything mentioned.

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Supply List

Some links may be affiliate links — thank you for supporting Studio MDAZ!

Rhinestones

Color Rhinestone Starter Kit — 28,000 stones in 28 colors, great for color variety — Amazon

Rhinestone Kit with Hotfix Tool — assorted stones + tool: Amazon

3mm Crystal AB Rhinestones — higher quality glass for special projects: Amazon

Crystal Glass Rhinestones — 4mm is the go-to size for most projects; also available in 5mm and 2mm: Amazon

Adhesives

GemTac Glue — best for clothing; use with precision syringe tips, white glue dries clear: Amazon

E8000 Precision Tip Glue — great precision point, use in ventilated area: Amazon

B7000 Precision Tip Glue: Amazon

T8000 Clear Adhesive — also available on Shein for faster/cheaper shipping: Amazon

Precision Tip Applicator Bottles / Syringes — for transferring GemTac into a precision applicator: Amazon

Picking & Placement Tools

Wax Picker Pencils — ~$3 for 10 on Temu, ~$6 on Amazon; sharpen with a regular pencil sharpener. Top recommendation.Amazon

Picker Pens — pack of 2 with extra wax tips; also at Michaels: Amazon

Picker Pen Replacement Tips: Amazon

Hotfix Tool Starter Kit — optional, for wearables/fabric only: Amazon

Small Needle Nose Pliers — for pulling credit card back out of the wand: Amazon

Storage & Organization

Diamond Art Toolkit (tool box) — Michaels: Michaels

Rhinestone Organizer Deluxe — for large collections, great for different size beads too: Amazon

Rhinestone Organizer Small — great starter option with fewer compartments: Amazon

Storage Option WITHOUT Trays: Amazon

Fave Storage Kit: Amazon

Rhinestone Flip Trays — small trays, pack of 6–7: Amazon

Sticky Pads for Under Trays — prevents tipping: Amazon

Rhinestone Vacuum — picks up stray stones, shoots them into a container: Amazon

Fun Projects & Extras

Magic Wand for Credit Card — bedazzle it and tap to pay in style: Amazon

Diamond Art Coaster Kits — lots of options: Amazon

Pearl Art Kits — lots of options: Amazon

Books & Inspiration

Bravely Being Me — Cut & Collage: Amazon

Whimsical Women: Amazon | Amazon

Fanciful Females: Amazon

T-Shirts & Shoes to Bedazzle

Pink 250th Anniversary Tee: Amazon(runs big — go down a size)

Red Wine Blue Shirt: Amazon

1776 T-Shirt: Amazon

White Shoes for Red/White/Blue Design: Amazon(clean with acetone first before painting)