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Embellishing Project Idea |
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Decorate your Crocs™ Sandals, Backpack Straps, Purse Straps & More.....
Embellishing Project Idea - Decorate your Crocs™ Sandals, Backpack Straps, Purse Straps and More!
This is a simple way to add color to any number of apparel items. Starting with a simple pin top findings and
a pin clutch, you can use beads or other items to spruce up your accessories! The blue Crocs™ Sandal in the picture
above demonstrates a way to add beads to any item that has small open holes.
For this project, you will need:
- Pin & Clutch sets - the measurement of the top of the
finding we sell is 9.5mm (about 3/8 inch). You'll want to select or create tops that are this diameter or
larger. Our largest top measured about 20mm (about the size of a penny).
- Adhesive suitable for attaching to metal. We used E6000™ adhesive for the metal to glass bonds shown in our example,
but you might want to select other adhesives, depending on what you are using for your decorative tops. A great web
site to consult about adhesive selection is This to That. We do not sell adhesives
on this site - please get them at your local hardware or craft store.
- Decorative tops - here are a few of the ideas we came up with:
- Lampwork beads - from our broken bead drawer, we selected those that had split exactly in half.
- Vintage buttons
- Seed beads or other small beads.
- Flat backed beads - we used a Turtle Bead, but many other beads with flat backs
will work.
- Small Donut Beads - we like the 20mm
size and add a small bead to fill in the center.
- Unset (no hole) gemstone, such as a
Star Bead
- Glass or gemstone cabochons
- Pewter charms having a flat back
Tools and other helpful items:
- Wire Cutter
- Scissors (for cutting small circles from the leather)
- Toothpicks (for applying adhesive)
- Small pieces of leather or other stiff, non-raveling fabric (provides a stable surface for gluing)
- Thin gauge copper wire (for stringing beads for coiled tops)
Simple Instructions:
- Items with flat backs can simply be glued to the pin part of the finding. Follow the instructions
on your adhesive - most types of adhesives for metal to glass bonds require at least 24 hours for proper adhesion.
- For the seedbead coiled top, we used an 8 inch (about 20 cm) piece of copper wire. We used a 6mm
Faceted Czech glass bead at one end of the wire, then strung on 11/0 seed beads. We then wrapped the wire in a coil
around the 6mm bead and tucked the loose end of the wire underneath the coil. The coiled was glued to a small round
piece of leather to hold it all in place. The bottom of the leather was glued to the pin finding.
- When using the lampwork beads that are broken in half, you may want to smooth any sharp or rough
edges with metal file before gluing them to the finding.
- Small beads can also be sewn to circle of leather or other stiff material before gluing to a finding.
- If your Vintage Buttons do not have a flat back, you can cut off the shank. Usually a good pair of
wire cutters will do the job.
- Craft items - we found the turquoise colored leather flowers shown at the local craft store.
More Items to Embellish
Many clothing and accesory items can be embellished, here are a couple more examples to spark your own creative
ideas!
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