Thread: UPDATE! Wouldn't it be awesome if we could custumize our big sew on acrylic stones... I can dream, can't I ?

There is a new fashion thing going on in jewelry crafting: using nail art technique to paint de flat back of clear glass stones (see pic)




If somewhere, someone would sell totaly clear, see through, sew on stones ready to costumize, I would be in haven.

This company in China sells these (not sew on) but they customized them, themself. flat back resin rhinestones/flat back acrylic rhinestones products, buy flat back resin rhinestones/flat back acrylic rhinestones products from alibaba.com

I try to erase off the back of one with nail polish remover. Nah! Didn't work, too strong and it made the acrylic all dull! Boo!

Hum? Anyone know is these stones exist? Still searching!

Ooh, pretty. I love the idea of customizing one's own stones... Please let us know if you find anything!

I think there's a clear thick paint that is sometimes used to seal tabletops and things like that, like a super thick shellac. Would it be possible to start with a plain base, with holes for sewing, then paint the top, then clearcoat it with the shellac? It wouldn't shine like a cut stone, but it might end up similar to the smooth stones pictured.

If the "Clear Cabochons" here won't work Allstarco - Acrylic Gems and Decorative Jewels, Allstarco does custom orders. They have molds for sew-on acrylic stones, so presumably they could do a run of clear with no backing foil. Probably wouldn't be cheap, though...

BTW, you can convert acrylic stones without holes to sew-on ones with a narrow drill bit (1/16" or so). Tape the stone to a scrap of wood with some low-tack (painter's) masking tape and have at. Just remember to buy extra, because it's easy to goof up.

you could buy clear chandelier crystal. there are some that are flat-ish. and they have 2 holes each (so you can sew them on) - you could buy a bunch, paint one side, then sew them on.

You could make your own with resin and a mold like this: Amazon.com: New - Castin' Craft Jewelry Plastic Mold 7-1/4"X8-1/4"X1 by WMU: Patio, Lawn & Garden

There is probably a clever way to make them have holes for sewing.... which I dont know....

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

If the "Clear Cabochons" here won't work Allstarco - Acrylic Gems and Decorative Jewels, Allstarco does custom orders. They have molds for sew-on acrylic stones, so presumably they could do a run of clear with no backing foil. Probably wouldn't be cheap, though...

BTW, you can convert acrylic stones without holes to sew-on ones with a narrow drill bit (1/16" or so). Tape the stone to a scrap of wood with some low-tack (painter's) masking tape and have at. Just remember to buy extra, because it's easy to goof up.

Yet another reason my Makita is a costuming essential! Thanks, Tourbeau! I've done coins with the drill press but this never occurred to me. Oh, the options opening up! Yay! (Like I need another project/obsession!)

Thank you for all those precious ideas!

Will keep experimenting and looking.

Originally Posted by Lara L

Yet another reason my Makita is a costuming essential! Thanks, Tourbeau! I've done coins with the drill press but this never occurred to me. Oh, the options opening up! Yay! (Like I need another project/obsession!)

My early attempts used a scrap of tape wrapped in a loop on the bottom to hold the stone to the board (in addition to taping on top). You wouldn't think tape could peel flecks of the silvering off, since as Qamar noted, you can't just erase the backing, but occasionally it did. (I guess the plastic layer on the back is not always thick enough to withstand the pull of the adhesive, even when it's weak adhesive.) If it happens near the edge and you're beading next to the stone, you can sometimes hide the problem. If the silvering peels off in the center, that's a dud, since trying to repaint the silver will be almost as noticeable as leaving it alone. Then again, it's not like acrylic gems are flawless diamonds. There are usually some duds in the pack anyway, especially the cheap ones from the craft store.

At any rate, if you do a good job of taping the stone to the board, it should be stable enough to drill. The tape also lets you mark where you want your holes, which is handy if you're not good at eyeballing. The tricky part is going slow enough to control the drill so you don't skip the surface, but fast enough to get in and out without wobbling...

OMG, OMG, OMG! Woohoo!

Look what I found: apple cider vinegar and kosher salt bath, who knew!

How to Remove Foil From Rhinestones | eHow.com

Well, from what I read, they are talking about crystals, don't know if it will work with acrylic stones. But it's whort a try, for less then 3 hour soaking of course (will check often).

Keeping you posted. (Darn! I don't have any apple cider vinegar got to run )

Awwww poo! I've the salt and vinegar trick. let the stones soak 3 hours... and then all night... and... Nope! Didn't work.

Maybe this only works on crystal or glass stones.