Creating your own gem clusters?

yes. I just adhered the gems to it and then put the gems on a clear sheet protector so it doesnt come in contact with the skin... It works great because the sheet protectors arent thick.

Happy Faces, so far this is my favorite technique. It's easy to find, cheap and simple. Thanks

no problem!! I am all about being cheap and easy... that is how i got my hubby!! ha! lol

I just about fell off my chair when I read that! LOL!!!!!!!

LOL.

my sense of humor gets the better of me sometimes! lol

So I read the whole topic, and was wondering would i do the same with sequence? i have a friend who wants me to paint her a sugar skull and i wanted to do the sequence around the eyes, but not sure about what to use. I had thought about using glue dots..ive never tried the ybody glue(would that be better?)

You can definitely use glitter tattoo glue to adhere gems. Apply a very thin spot to the face, apply a spot to the gem, let them dry until tacky (assuming you're using a pros-aide like glue) and you'll have a very good adhesion.

awesome, would you happen to know what brand the glitter glue from signature glitter is? that one i have, and if i can use it that would be great instead of having to buy another one.

hubby left my gem case in the hot truck and now the clusters don't want to come off the backing and when they do they leave the adhesive behind...makes it a PIB So don't leave them in a hot truck

Ok, I tried some of the rubber cement clusters last night....some worked, many did not. I put a nice big blob of the rubber cement and stuck the gems in it....but it flattens out a lot when it's dry. I put them, on parchment paper...so maybe that was the problem. When peeling off the rubber cement it sort of reminded me of those glue dots they sell for scrapbooking. They have really low tack ones too....was wondering if those would work?? Then there would be NO waiting time, stick the gems to the glue dot and you're off!??

Ok, my 9 year old daughter saw me making some gem clusters and she wanted to have her hand at it. I don't think I will bother making them again....she rocks at this!! lol She made like 50 of them last night and they're gorgeous (IMO)

Gorgeous! Your daughter has a nice eye for design. Did she use rubber cement or the adhesive sheets?

I put down a blob of the rubber cement for her and then she arranged the gems (I didn't want her handling the rubber cement when it was liquidy) I put down about 5 separate blobs on packaging tape (non sticky side) and let her have at it with my box of gems

They look gorgeous!! She is so talented!!! That is such a great idea!!

I can't wait to use them!!! They look like pieces of jewelry in person (my pic is terrible, with bad lighting) they're all very sparkly and pretty in person. All of my gems came from the dollar tree, and the really tiny tiny ones I got thousands of different colored ones for $2 on oriental trading. I still have TONS of gems too, so I am going to have her repeat some of the designs I like the best!

Is the dollar tree same as the dollar store? Never seen them in there!! I must take a closer look!!Is the oriental trading on line?
They are inspirational!! Thank you for sharing!! Makes me feel like going to make some!!

she did a great job! wow!

Has anybody tried using the platinum silicone that is specifically made for skin (ala special effects industry)? That seems to alleviate the concerns about curing and whatnot. It's not cheap, but it is specifically for direct use on skin and you'd use so little of it for each setting.

Paola, the Dollar Tree is a dollar store but everything in the whole store is $1....love that place!


Guilded, I haven't tried it...but sounds like it would be a better alternative to the rubber cement....although I did call the rubber cement people (there is a 1-800 number on the bottle) and they said it's safe for use on the skin if it's cured at least 24 hrs.

I also make my own cookie cutters using aluminum, and was looking for a way to glue the ends of the cutters together, and found JB Weld at home depot, and called the number....turns out it is food safe after curing for 24 hours as well. (just in case anyone wants to make cookie cutters lol)

I am having a terrible time with the rubber cement. I put down lots, but it just seems to spread out. Any ideas about how to get it to blob together?

Thank you so much for all of your input is very helpful.
I thought i would update you with my adventures!
I used the aquarium silicon.
1 round: I sprayed some oil and pour many big lumps of silicon in a Pyrex, placed the gems and waited the whole day to dry. Luckily i had the good idea to use the back of my Pyrex. OMG what a mess i did. I literally had to cut the silicone through to be able to save the clusters. It did not look bad in the end but what a work to clean up the Pirex!!
I though i did not use enough oil.
2nd round: I bought a cheap round oven tray in glass at Hollis. I spray a LOT of oil in it. Placed the silicone and chase it around trying to sit the gems on top. It was worse then trying to straighten a pizza dough, if you know what i mean. Waited one full day! OMG this time i could not cut through the hardened silicone. The tray was deep! The knife was going all over the place and the oil was everywhere.
i washed all the stones and all the bits and pieces remained. Then i had an idea.
i took a transparent plastic dish and stack a two sided tape on it, i place the gems upside-down on top of the dish and turned the dish in order for me to be able to see what the design would look like, then i took the silicone and spread it on the top of the back of the gems with one of those thin spatula used for mixing the paints. Now all i have to do i wait that they are dry and pull them off the tape and voila'! no more oil cuts and bruises and fight with the dishes!!
Hope i made sense.!!!!!

YEAhhhh

I so give up

I hear you. I don't know why it's so hard. Or why I keep buying gems.