How to Personalize a Compact Mirror with Rhinestones

1. Wipe the surface of the compact clean to remove any dust. Plug in the glue gun.
2. Lay the compact on work surface and go through your stash of rhinestones. Begin arranging the stones on the compact to get a pleasing result. Don’t add glue yet.
3. Aim for a mixed but balanced look, sort of like a mosaic. For the compact in the picture, I used a mixture of oval and round rhinestones, avoiding the square-shaped ones because the corners were too sharp for such a small area.
4. When you have arranged your rhinestones the way you want them, carefully pick them up one at a time and place a tiny dab of hot glue on the back of each rhinestone, setting it into place firmly onto the compact’s surface. Use your thumb to press down on the rhinestone for about five seconds after you apply the glue, then pull very gently to test for adhesiveness. The rhinestone should be firmly in place before you begin adding another one.
5. Cover any spaces left in between the rhinestones with smaller jewels, using tiny dots of glue to secure them onto the bottom layer. Again, aim for a mixed effect. It’s okay to leave some space showing around the edge, but you want to have the center of the compact covered completely in “jewels.”After you’ve finished adding all the rhinestones, inspect the compact and remove any traces of dried glue, then buff gently with a paper towel and a little bit of Windex or plain vinegar to clean it up and make it sparkle.