Getting Your Bling

You've seen those fabulous Swarovski-studded phones, and think you might want one for yourself?



If you're a bling fanatic or aspiring to be one, one of the first questions to ask yourself is: how???

I've been-there-done-that and asked some of my "crystal-endowed" friends too. So I thought I'd share what I know. The more $$, the more expensive the option, but you'll usually also get higher quality or more service:

1. Stickers $

   You've probably seen it in stores like Best Buy and Target. They come in sheets with crystals on them. You just buy, peel it off and stick it on your phone or iPod or whatever. Here's one on Amazon and, of course, these guys.
   
   Pros: Inexpensive, easy, quick, variety of designs, not permanent
   
   Cons: Honestly, this is lame. These are not Swarovski crystals, usually they're not crystal glass at all, but plastic. It's like a fake tattoo: convenient, cheap, impermanent and obviously fake.
   




2. DIY Kits $$

   There are actually lots of these out there, on eBay and online stores. Just search for it in your favorite search engine. Shop around, there are lots of kits places: eBay, BlingDiva, CrystalIcing, LetsCrystalIt and lots more. The one I've personally had good experiences with is GlitterRing, they have a nice crystal color-picker, use a non-toxic glue, ship for free, great prices. Hey guys, how about some free crystals for the plug huh? *grin*
   
   DIY kits usually come with some kind of adhesive, some kind of applicator tool because those pesky crystals are small, instructions and of course the crystals. You're mainly paying for the crystals.
   
   Free tip: Make sure you're getting genuine Swarovski crystals. Beware of deals that look too good to be true, especially on eBay.
   
   Pros: Make your own design, color flexibility, can be fun, can have excellent results if you're patient and go nice-n-slow
   
   Cons: Make your own design (we're not all artists!), time-consuming, gluing can get messy, you might mess up




3. Bulk Crystals $$$

   
   I don't know anyone who's actually done this, but it's possible: instead of buying a kit, go out there and get what you need yourself: crystals, glue, applicator. This option may work better if you have used a kit before. I gave this option three dollar signs because in the end I think you will pay more and probably spend more time to get the same results.
   
   Here's why: let's say you've got a 3-color design in mind. For a normal sized phone you'll need a few hundred of each color at least. To get a price-break from a bead or crystal supplier, you need to buy at least one 10-gross Swarovski package (1440 crystals: $50-70 per package). But for three colors, that means you're buying 4320 crystals, much more than you need. You still need to run out to your local crafts store and find a good crystal glue. Do not use super glue. Plus most kits come with smaller crystals to fill in gaps. So you'll either have to buy those smaller crystals in quantity too, or live with the gaps.
   
   Pros: More crystals to work with, cheaper-per-crystal but not for the project, guaranteed Swarovski,
   
   Cons: Usually more expensive and time-consuming in the end, like buying anything in bulk, you'll pay more, have fewer options and get more than you probably need
   




4. Let The Pros Do It $$$$

   Now we're talking Paris Hilton, and by far the priciest option, this can easily cost more than your phone itself. Though people seem to get good prices on eBay for their used blinged phones. Best thing about this option is the quality work and peace-of-mind if you pick a reputable provider. The biggest ones seem to be NYC Peach, CrystalIcing and GlitterRing. I'm sure there are other good ones, maybe I just don't know about them; do a search. My advice, shop around a lot. Don't just look at price, send them emails or call them. They should get back to you promptly and professionally. Ask them about specific colors and designs you want. Some of the best phones I've seen are done by these pros.
   
   Pros: Done by pros, usually full-flexibility in crystal sizes, colors, designs
   
   Cons: You have to live without your phone for a few days (I know, this sucks)
   

There you have it. I left out one of the best and hardest parts of all this: picking your colors and figuring out a design. Look at everyone's photos for ideas. Remember that once you have crystals glued on, they are on. There's no turning back, but you won't want to!