How to bedazzle a phone case

What to know first

Phone cases are the one place where the base material decides everything. Silicone cases have such low surface energy that craft glues peel off, however carefully you work, and soft, bendy TPU cases flex so much that stones pop. A hard polycarbonate case, lightly scuffed, grips well. Cases also get pushed in and out of pockets, so stones near the edges wear first: keep a small margin.

What you need

• A hard plastic case
• 3 mm resin or glass flatbacks
• E6000-type adhesive
• Fine sandpaper and isopropyl alcohol
• Wax pick-up pen

Step by step

1. Remove the case from the phone. Never glue with the phone inside.
2. Scuff the back lightly and wipe with isopropyl alcohol.
3. Outline the camera cut-out first, leaving a small margin.
4. Fill in rows or follow your design, in small glue patches.
5. Leave a small margin at the edges.
6. Cure fully with the case off the phone.

Avoid

• Silicone and soft TPU cases
• Glue near the camera lens
• Stones on the side button areas