CMDesignsCoDigitals

Hello and Welcome! Below you will find some quicks tips and tricks on working with Rhinestone Patterns.

I create patterns based on tumbler style/size vs just stone count. I do this so you know first what will work for your size tumbler. I also use an "average" stone count when creating. You may notice that when you are working on a tumbler that it looks like you cans squeeze one more stone in. And while you would normally do that on a solid color honeycomb tumbler, it is not the case for a pattern one. This is because stone size can vary within colors and within sizes. For example an ss16 rhinestone has an acceptability range of 3.8 - 4 mm. This can add up around a tumbler with a circumference of 9.5 inches. Some stones that are double processed (neons, luminous, luminous opals, and opals) or coated (white - ceramic coating) tend to be on the larger end of the range. I would much rather space out the stones that the pattern calls for vs trying to adjust the pattern to fit one more.

Some patterns I know for sure that they will require spacing and I try to add this into the listing as well as on the pdf pattern you download and print after you purchase. I know this because I create it with 1-2 less stones than my normal stone count. I do this for various reasons. The main reason is because it may be a repeating pattern that I am making and removing a row or two will make it seamless. With a good base painting (see recommendation below) you won't even be able to tell!

Base painting. My rule of thumb is to paint the entire tumbler the darkest or most prominent color in my pattern. If you look at any of my listings that I have completed tumbler on, every single one of them was base painted a solid color. I even have some I base painted all black that had white on them (my black and white buffalo plaid with holly is one).

Stone count: You can easily calculate total stone count by multiplying the column count by the row count provided on each listing. If it is a repeating pattern, you can easily count a section of the pattern and then multiply it by how many times it repeats. My rule of thumb is if I get anywhere around 1200 for a color I will go ahead and get 2 bags of rhinestones (for glass that is sold in 10 gross packages of 1440). If I get under 1200 I will just get 1 bag of stones. If it is a 1-3 color pattern I will get 2 bags of my background color if a color stands out more and 1 bag of the other 2 colors. If it is a 4-7+ color pattern you will probably only need 1 bag of each color.