Custom Gadget and Accessory Embellishment
Amidst a sea of identical cell phone and tablet cases, how do people express themselves? With one-of-a-kind cases and accessories. By customizing with rhinestones, flowers and other sparkly things, you can offer your customers unique designs for their cell phones, tablets, pop sockets, earbuds and chargers. It can also turn a buyer into a repeat customer as they update their devices.
A Look for Every Customer
For customers that want to add some flash to their tech, create glitzy confections using large rhinestones. Mix in some pearl rhinestones to create an up-to-the-minute pearl-core look. Cupchain is another terrific element for adding bits of bling and can be glued or sewn on depending on the material. For those that want a sweet hand-crafted look, leather flowers, shell or wood components fit the bill. Cabochons and decorative settings impart a vintage vibe, while undrilled items, like guitar picks, can add to the feeling of a truly custom piece.
Tools and Tips
For most designs, glue is the preferred method for attaching embellishments. Choosing the correct adhesive is crucial when customizing cases, and there are many types to choose from, depending on the surface of the accessory. E-6000 or Devcon two-part epoxy will give durable waterproof holds and are best for hard surfaces. With foil-back rhinestones, choose a glue that will not damage the foil, like SUPERTite® or Gem-Tac™. Apoxie® Sculpt has the moldability of clay, making it ideal for pavé styles. Crafter's Pick™ Jewel Bond™ is a popular non-toxic choice for fabric applications.
Tools like the Tweezer-Vac™, Crystal Katana or a rhinestone positioner like Embellie Gellie™ help you position hard-to-hold pieces. These are particularly useful when dealing with small and awkward surfaces, like a set of earbuds or a phone grip.
When embellishing fabric or leather, beads can be directly sewn onto the top layer of soft surfaces or onto another piece of fabric and then attached as a patch. A monofilament thread, like FireLine®, is a good option due to its strength and abrasion resistance. A sturdy milliners needle is perfect for bead embroidery and off-loom designs.
When offering custom tech designs, you don't have to stock a lot of potentially expensive cases that could become redundant after some time. Instead, have a portfolio with good photographs of your designs and the materials available to help your customer choose their style, then purchase the case that fits their device.
Have a question regarding this project? Email Customer Service.
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