GemMii Blog

Welcome to our blog. In here we will share all our latest news and updates. Enjoy!

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How to Embellish Havaianas Flip Flops with Swarovski Crystals

Here's a tutorial on how to gem your Havaianas flip flops with Swarovski Crystals:

Step 1: Get all the tools you need

- One pair of Havaianas flip flop "TOP" Style

- One set of crystals DIY toolkit (crystal pickup pencil & holding dish)

- One tube of Flip Flop super glue (with tin dish & tooth pick)

- Swarovski Crystals Flatback non-hotfix in SS16

Step 2: Remove the Havaianas logo with a cutter

Step 3:

Pour a small amount of the flip flop super glue in a tin dish and use a toothpick to apply the glue. (We have another tutorial on how to use the flip flop super glue - please check that out before you start to use the glue!). A small dot of glue is sufficient - using too much glue will result in the excess vapor clouding the crystal surface and affecting the sparkle.

Step 4:

Use the crystal pickup pencil to transport and place your crystals on the flip flops. (Remember to keep the pencil nice and sharp for best results!)

Step 5:

First glue 3 crystals in the middle in a straight line. Then make a triangle shape with the side being more of less 90degrees to the strap (shown in blue line). This line should be straight and it is the "starting line" for the rest of your crystals.

Step 6:

Continue to add the Swarovski crystals in lines, making sure they are straight all the way down the strap.

Step 6: Drying the Flip Flops

Dry your flip flops in a well ventilated area and preferably under a small fan (so as to blow away all the glue vapor). Let dry for 24 hours. If there is glue or glue vapor on your crystals, after it is completely dried you can use some nail polish remover on a Q-tip to gently clean the crystal surface.

And there you have it - your very own beautiful Swarovski crystals Havaianas flip flops! Also try it with different colors and patterns - set your imagination free!

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Solving the problems with Havaianas flip flops and E6000

This professional grade flip flop superglue may take a bit of getting used to, but once you get the hang of it you will be able to make beautiful Swarovski Crystals Havaianas flip flops without the crystals falling, sliding, popping off and all sort of problems associated with E6000 glue and other adhesives in the market.

Step 1: Use the appropriate tools

You can snip off the tip of the bottle, but we like to twist open the cap and pour a little bit into a tin dish and use a toothpick to apply the glue for better precision.

Only A LITTLE bit of glue is needed (See that small dot on the flipflop strap?). Since this glue dries very quickly and the working time is only ~5 seconds, we recommend attaching 1 to 2 crystals at a time. Press the crystal firmly on the strap and hold for 3-5 seconds until the crystal is secure and will not slide around when nudged.

It is very important not to get the superglue on the crystal surface as it may form a coat over the crystal and dull it's brilliance. If you do get glue on the crystal surface, wait till the glue completely dries in 24 hours and then use some nail polish remover on a Q-tip to gently clean the surface of the crystal.

Use the crystal pickup pencil to transport the crystals onto the strap - we find using the pickup pencil helps to place the crystals with more precision thereby reducing the chance of getting the superglue on the crystal surface.

Repeat the process, adding one crystal at a time, and you will end up with a beautiful pair of Swarovski crystal Havaianas flip flops that will LAST a long time!!

**Important Note** Let your flip flops dry in a well ventilated place, as the vapor from the excess glue may form a cloudy coat on the crystals in a stuffy area - if this happens, using some nail polish remover on a Q-tip to gently clean the surface should take care of it!

Wonder what that green dental floss is doing on the other strap? This is one of my favorite tests when I want to check just how good the glue is and how secure it can attach the crystals to the surface they are supposed to attach them to!

Watch the youtube video results here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNOXsmP35vw

If you are interested to get one, visit our website:

http://www.gemmii.com/collections/tools/products/super-glue-for-flip-flops

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Deco Princess Glue - "The Experiment"

Want to get more info or buy one? Get them here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/112501633/deco-princess-glue-17ml-for-rhinestones

http://www.gemmii.com/collections/accessories/products/deco-princess-glue

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This trendy and unique iPhone case catches the light beautifully to show off its 200+ Swarovski crystals in amethyst & light lavender tones. Whether you are an owl lover or not, this iPhone case is perfect for the subtle, sophisticated and extraordinary you. 

This case comes with a soft-touch finishing surface and fits iPhone 4/4S.

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Guys, looking for the perfect Valentine's Day gift? How about making a one-of-a-kind gift yourself with our fun & easy DIY kit? All tools and instructions are included, and 30 minutes is all you need!  Trust us, your special-someone will definitely be impressed!! 

http://www.gemmii.com/blogs/30-minutes-gemmii-kit

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Stay warm this winter with original UGG Australia ear muffs embellished with dazzling Swarovski crystals…now… how COOL is that?

http://www.gemmii.com/products/swarovski-crystallized-ugg-australia-ear-muffs

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Ho Ho Ho, are you getting ready for Christmas??  Give your special-someone a unique and beautiful gift they won't forget this Christmas! All of our products are one-of-a-kind, embellished with 100% genuine Swarovski Crystals for a dazzling sparkle at every angle!  Check out our newest promotion this Christmas! 1) With any purchase you will get a Swarovski Crystal Christmas greeting card FREE!  2) We can help you write your personalized greeting on the card and ship it directly to your friend or family!  3) What's more, with over $50 purchase your shipping is absolutely FREE! We are going to handle all these details for you, so that you can focus on the real fun part....Shopping!  Checkout our store for the list of great gift ideas!!

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Tips on Using the GemMii Kits Tools

Not sure how to use the tools included in the GemMii kits? Here are some tips to help you out:

1) Triangle Crystal Holding Dish

Ever wondered why the dishes were triangular in shape? Some brilliant designer (who happened to love crystal DIY) made the dishes with edges such that when you shake the dishes horizontally (lightly, mind you!) the flipped-over crystals would catch on the edges and flip themselves right side up. Click the link to see the dishes in action!

The other thing to note is not to fill the dishes with too many crystals at a time as it will make the crystals harder to pickup! If you cannot see the bottom of the dish, you have too much already!

2) Crystals Pick-up Pencil

Another brilliant designer noticed that picking up the crystals with tweezers were actually very difficult and time consuming and came up with this wax-based pencil to do the job. You just have to lightly touch the top of the crystal with the tip of the pencil to transport it! Now, the secret is to keep the pencil sharpened as dull pencils tend to do a poorer job at holding onto the crystals!

3) Glue

Lastly for the glue, no special instructions there, but it is worthwhile to point out (again) that you only need to apply a THIN layer to do the job...too much glue will make the excess spill out/squeeze out onto the crystal surface and make the crystals less shiny. 

So what can you do if you do get some glue on the crystal surface? Wait till the glue has completely dried and use some nail polish remover (you heard right!) on a Q-tip to lightly rub the dried glue off. It will help clean the crystal surface and restore the brilliance of the crystals! (...but be careful not to use too much otherwise the whole crystal may come loose!)

Hope this helps....happy gemming!!

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Free Shipping Anywhere From Oct 15 - Oct 31!! No Minimum Purchase Requirements!  For a limited time only, we are offering free shipping worldwide on all our products, no minimum purchase requirement! Just enter promotion code "FRSHPEVWHERE" at the Check-out page, and then just sit back, relax and wait for your favorite GemMii products to reach your doorsteps!   Hurry, this offer will end on Oct 31st, 2012! Happy Shopping! 

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Creating Your Own Swarovski Crystals Paintings

You love to paint and also to gem....so why not do both?

This exciting new All-in-One GemMii Kit features adorable little animal paintings that you just fill in the colors according to the numbers indicated on the canvas. And once you've done painting, you can gem the little special featured portion for an extra special highlight! These paintings look gorgeous and shimmering under the lights, a perfect decoration idea for your living room or children playroom....and the best part? No one would be able to tell that you painted by numbers! This Gemmii kit will provide all the tools you need to start this fun and easy project - paint brush, paints, Swarovski crystals, glue, crystal holding dishes etc. Each painting measures 20cm x 20cm in size.

Not sure how to start? Let's take a look step-by-step!

1) Each painting comes with a lightly outlined canvas with numbers indicating which colors you need to use...just fill in the areas with the corresponding colors!

  2) Easy right? Now to make the painting truly unique and beautiful, use the glue provided to add the Swarovski crystals to bring the special details out. Remember not to put on too much glue!!

(FYI we provide standard E-6000 glue with this kit, if you wish to upgrade to the wonderful Deco Princess Glue for crystals, the promotional price is only US$5.2/pcs! [Normal price is $8.6])

And there you have it!! A sparkling and beautiful painting with Swarovski crystals! Add a few other paintings with different animal patterns together to make a truly spectacular collection for your home!!

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Fun Gemming!

Transform your existing watches and accessories into dazzling and glamorous one-of-a-kind bling-blings - whoever said beautiful and posh accessories must be expensive?

It is so easy and fun to gem-up watches, headbands, wallets etc - the possibilities are endless! This time, I chose to embellish a plain white swatch to give it a more sassy look... I used Swarovski crystals in size SS5 to gem the white top area (Unless the surface area is big, I would suggest to use small size Swarovski crystals for maximum brilliance and sparkle). For glue, I used the Deco Princess Glue especially formulated to be used with rhinestones...it dries thin and completely transparent, which is excellent for white surfaces.

The results? Absolutely stunning! The watch now goes perfectly with my night-out looks...and my friends all thought I had gone out and bought a new watch! Now how's that for smart re-inventions!

Before:

And after.....ta daaa!

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Enjoy your summer with this great saving! **ONLY 10 days left for this Promotion...Don't miss it!!**

When you purchase our GemMii products* over $25, we will take $10 off your total purchase amount...that's 40% off!! Let's celebrate Summer with your beautiful bling-bling flip-flops and accessories!!

Limited time only, act fast!

Enter "HOTSUMMERPROMO" in the "Promotion code" field during check-out, and $10 will be automatically deducted.

* This promotion is offered to all GemMii products except Deco Princess Glue and Swarovski crystals

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Creating your own design “Krispy Kreme” iPhone case [Part 2]

Back to work on my iPhone case! This is how the case looked after the logo was completed:

Various sizes of clear Swarovski crystals were used (SS3, 5 & 7) in order to fill in the space inside the logo. For the outside green border I used one size (SS7) so it looked more uniform. The surrounding background part was relatively easier compared with the logo which needed more precision...all you need here is a steady hand and lots of patience! 

The Deco Princess Glue worked wonderfully with the crystals and had no funky glue smell like the E6000 glue that I used previously. This glue is imported from Japan and is specially formulated for rhinestone use...really cool stuff!

After letting the completed iPhone case dry for 24 hours, the final step is to gently clean the Swarovski crystal surface with a cotton swap and a little bit of nail polish remover - this can help to remove the glue residue and also the occasional tiny white marks from the gem pickup pencil. You can now also remove the paper design from the back of the iPhone case (I just forgot to take it off before taking the photo).

And then, Voila! Behold your very own unique Bling-bling iPhone case! Now, make one for YOUR favorite brand today!

[Note] You can refer to the Part 1 of the Creating your own design "Krispy Kreme" iPhone case.

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Get free shipping on all orders over USD$50!

You can continue to check out like you normally do, and the shipping costs will automatically be deducted!

What's more, this offer can be used in conjunction with all our special promotions, so you can save even more!

Enjoy shopping!!

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Preparing our shipments... GemMii to you!

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Creating your own design "Krispy Kreme" iPhone case [Part 1]

When you see the market filled with the same Hello Kitty or animal prints iPhone cases don't you just want to have something that's yours and yours only? I did. And I immediately thought of something that's very near and dear to me... Krispy Kreme! 

I attempted this challenging project by first getting a doughnut (yuuummmm...) and asking the nice server to give me an extra doughnut paper bag. I cut out the area around the big logo to fit the inside of the clear iPhone case provided in the Design-Your-Own iPhone GemMii Kit and then I was ready to start. Since I want to eventually remove the paper from the iPhone case, I used waterproof CD markers to draw the Krispy Kreme logo so that you can see the color background between the gaps of the Swarovski crystals... it will make the pattern more prominent.

Some lessons learnt from this project:

Start with the most complicated pattern first, and in this case the squiggly words of "Krispy Kreme". 

If there are tight spaces between the words/patterns, it is best to fill in those gaps with small white crystals at the same time, because you may not be able to fill in the gaps anymore once the crystals dried and you can no longer move them around (I used Swarovski crystals size SS3 & SS5 for this purpose).

The crystal pickup pencil included in the GemMii Kit is great for moving and transporting the Swarovski crystals. Just make sure the tip stays clean of glue and reasonably sharp!

Don't overdo on the glue! If the glue gets on top of the Swarovski crystal surface it will dry opaque and makes the Swarovski crystals less shiny. I had to use tweezers to remove some crystals as I used too much glue and it squished out all around the crystals onto the adjacent ones!

Will continue on this next week...time for more doughnuts and coffee!

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Hello & Welcome to GemMii

At GemMii we love to DIY. And we love Swarovski crystals, they just make ordinary items 1000x more beautiful. But in order to do a project we often had to run back and forth between different craft stores in order to buy all the different parts needed, not to mention the dozen different types of glues we tried on the various materials - obviously some worked, and some wasted our perfectly good Swarovski crystals so we had to run back to the stores again! 

So then we thought, hey wouldn't it be nice to have everything already packed in a DIY package so we can just focus on the fun part of making the actual accessories?? Of course it would be! 

Please enjoy browsing through our website and if there are any special accessories that you would like to gem that we don't currently offer feel free to drop us a note! And do share your finished masterpieces with us!