Hot Fix Iron on Design Blog

First off we here at Sue’s Sparklers would like to thank all of you who entered our Customer Creations Contest! What a success! We had over 50 entries of beautiful, unique and creative creations. Everything from flip flops, cell phone covers and of course shirts!
Through a vote conducted here by Sparklers employees we are happy to announce the winners!
Kathy Amon wins first place for her absolutely stunning custom patriotic crystal butterfly! She created this design out of 10ss & 20ss Clear, Light Siam and Cobalt Swarovski Crystals & metal starts. Applied to a denim jacket this is sure to be a show stopper all year round! Great job Kathy!

Second place goes to Marnette and her fabulous cell phone cover completely encased in Swarovski crystal. She used 6ss & 10ss Swarovski Crystal in a variety of colors to create this blinding masterpiece! Great job Marnette! We all here at Sparklers are talking about how we are all dieing to have one for ourselves.

Marnette Cell Phone Cover

Kathy Amon Patriotic Butterfly

Third place goes to Linda McGuire and her custom design. Linda created he BMX Mom shirt out of 6ss & 10ss Swarovski Crystals. We love it! What mom doesn’t like to show her pride for her kids endeavors! Great job Linda!

Linda McGuire BMX Mom

Kathy Amon will receive a $50 Sparklers Gift Certificate, Marnette will receive a $25 Gift Certificate and Linda McGuire will receive a $15 gift certificate. We would also like to give an honorable mention gift certificate of $10 to Susan Kimbrell for her absolutely adorable tangle lights shirt! She use our Christmas lights neckline transfer among her reindeer applique for a very creative application! Great job Susan

susan kimbrell tangled lights

Thank you again for all of those who entered! We will be sending out your free gift of 9pcs of Swarovski Crystal Navettes for every entry you sent in!

We’d also like to feature some of the great entries that we sent in. See below!

Jana G Moto Helmet

Jane D Floral Shirt

Kathy Amon Ford Tee

Marnette Cell Phone

Princess J Chargers Shirt

Princess J Padres Shirt

Sarah Mac Dress

Sarah Mac Close Up

Traci Texas Hat

Traci's Peace Sign

Valerie Hardison Gradmas Girl

Floral Rhinestone Card

Mothers day is just around the corner and what do you get the lady that has everything? You show her your crafty side and create a homemade card expressing your thanks for all worldly wisdom! It really is such a simple project and she will surely think you a genius, Martha Stewart double. Don’t just use this easy project for Mothers Day, spread the wealth or your creativity for all other holidays and card giving instances. Follow the simple instructions below and gather inspiration from our customer contributions. Oh and a Happy Mothers Day to all you mothers out there!

Materials-
Select Hot fix Rhinestones
Bejeweler
Select small iron on rhinestone transfers
Craft/Scrapbook paper or
Pre-made Card

Directions-
If you truly are the crafty type, create your own Mothers Day card by cutting and stamping away on all the beautiful scrapbook papers that you have gathered through out these winter months, but if you are like me and are of the time crunched type simply head to your local card/grocery store and pick out a select few inexpensive holiday cards. The 99 centers will be just fine.
Once you get home it is time to break out that Bejeweler stone setter Click Here to view ours. Screw in the appropriate size tip of the stones that you will be using. Plug that Bejeweler in and let it heat up. While it is warming up, lay out all the hot fix crystals you want to use sparkle side up. I prefer to work on a wood cutting board.

Once the Bejeweler is nice and hot it is time to go to work. The key with using the Bejeweler is a light touch and patience. Hold the tool directly over the crystal and LIGHTLY touch the tip onto the stone. Say it aloud with me now “One one thousand, two one thousand” and then pick it up and look at the stone setting in the tip. This movement requires a little practice so I recommend getting a gross package of the inexpensive Korean Rhinestones to practice with. Click Here to view ours.

When you pick up the stone and look at it, you are really just watching the glue melt. The glue gets wet and shiny and will some times bubble up. One the glue is hot you gently place the tip of the Bejeweler on to the card. Do not press down. The glue on the back of the stone will pull the crystal out of the tip. For extra hold I gently press the crystal down onto the paper, careful it will be hot, so a band-aid on the finger will help.

You did it! Now you just repeat, repeat and repeat until your card is a rhinestone masterpiece. If you need additional help feel free to call Sues Sparklers at 888 999 0408 or email us at info@suessparklers.com

Please look at these customer creations for inspiration and if you endeavor into card making we would love to see what you create!!

rhinestone birthday card

rhinestone cupcake card

pink rhinestone card

pearl rhinestone card

Want a new and fun way to add a little pizzazz to your summer wardrobe, but with out all the extra costs? Well you can easily whip up one of these spirited scarves and envelope yourself in designer style.

Patriotic Scarf

Patriotic Scarf

Patriotic Scarf

Patriotic Scarves-

We used a light cotton gauze that is 24″x88″.

The cotton is perfect for a summer wrap to ward off those beach breezes and shade against the bight summer sun with out any bulk of a weighty fall scarf. We chose a variety of iron-on transfers all along the same theme and color scheme.

Here is a list of all the transfers we used and their design numbers

White Scarf- 2285 Patriotic Butterfly, 2744 Large Swirl

Red USA Scarf- 2758 USA Star, 1375 Fireworks, 1776 Fireworks

Red Patriotic Scarf- 1166 Flag, 1080 Flag map, 1375 Fireworks, 2730 Star burst

Be creative! Cut the designs apart and place all over for a customized designer look. Really make it your own by adding your own personal touch.

Application Tip: For best results use TWO Teflon press cloths while ironing on the transfers. Place one directly on top of the design to protect the garment from the iron and one cloth underneath. The cotton gauze is very thin so the glue might seep through while applying the design, so to prevent sticking use the Teflon press cloth below.

Wearable Art embellished with Swarovski crystals and iron on designs.

Sue’s Sparklers is located at 136 S. Juniper Street, Escondido, CA.

We are currently offering classes in how to apply Swarovski hot fix crystals and how to apply iron on Swarovski crystal designs at the shop.  If you are in town, or going to be soon. Please call 888-999-0408 to sign up for the next class. Class size is limited and when we fill a date then we’re off and sparkling!

We travel across country to bring Swarovski hot fix crystals and iron on designs to a location near you.  So please check out the calendar for the next event where we can teach you how to apply Swarovski hot fix crystals.

Mothers Day Embellished Scarf

Mothers Day Scarf Detail

A scarf is the go-to item in today’s fashion world.  They are the best and most versatile accessory to add flourish to any outfit.  Now you can add embellishments through hot-fix crystals and metals to create an even more eye-catching accessory.  Crystals can match or contrast the underlying fabric. The hot-fix crystals and metals can pull together any number of outfits with your favorite colors.

What you’ll need to make a scarf like the example shown:

>2 and 2/3 yards of cotton gauze (you’ll need to decide the width of your scarf, this example started with a 12 inch wide swatch, and fringed a little over one inch on all sides.)

>2 non-stick pressing cloths

>A hard surface, (I like to use a bread board, its nice and flat and hard, or you can use a piece of hard card board, although not corrugated cardboard.)

>A household iron, at wool setting.

>An iron-on motif made with hot-fix crystals and metals.

Directions

1. Lay the first non-stick pressing cloth on the hard surface.
2. Lay one end of the fringed fabric on top of the non-stick pressing cloth, this is necessary, because you will be melting glue onto and through the fabric.
3. Peel off the backing of the iron-on motif and place on the fabric. You can cut the motifs apart and play with the arrangement of the elements on your scarf.
4. Cover the iron-on motif plastic with the second non-stick pressing cloth, as this will keep the hot iron from scorching the scarf.
5. Adjust the household iron to the wool setting, this is the third highest setting on most irons.
6. Place the hot iron on top of the second pressing cloth on top of the design, and leave in place for 45 seconds.
7. If the design is larger than the sole plate of the iron, lift and replace iron to melt the glue on the next section of the iron-on motif, repeat step 6 until the whole motif has its glue melted.
8. Let the scarf cool in place on top of the first non-stick pressing cloth.  The melted glue will harden as it cools, and will release from the non-stick surface when cold and hard.  (Don’t get impatient at this point, let everything cool down, otherwise you’ll get strings of sticky glue coming up with the scarf and getting on the back of the thin fabric!)
9. Lift the cooled scarf off the non-stick the first press cloth with the motif plastic still in place. The plastic will help to stabilize the fragile fabric as the hard glue releases from the non-stick cloth.
10. Now everything is cool, use your hot iron to sweep over the motif to warm the plastic a little.  This will ease the removal of the plastic from the fragile gauze fabric.
11. Gently pull the warmed plastic, slowly, off the scarf and the hot-fix crystals and metals will remain in place. If a piece was missed it will come up with the plastic.
12. Don’t panic, simply put the plastic back down and melt the glue on the missed piece and let cool. Do this by using the tip of the iron on the single piece(s). Let cool and continue to remove the plastic.