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Do you dream about making money from your rhinestone crafts? Are you someone with a passion for sparkle, who can spend hours meticulously placing rhinestones, or who can’t wait to start blinging things for profit?
If so, I’m excited to share more with you in this article. My name is Shannon, and I’m the founder of Bling Your Things, where I sell rhinestones and supplies and bling custom items for customers.
My journey into the world of bling didn’t start in a craft room, but in a corporate office as a CPA. It took a life-changing battle with cancer for me to leave my 60-hour work weeks behind and rediscover my creative passion. I applied my business knowledge to my new craft and learned how to turn a love for rhinestones into a real, profitable business.
Now, I want to help you start your own profitable rhinestone business. This is the essential, 6-step guide I wish I had when I started. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get our sparkle on!
#1 - Find Your Customers in a Profitable Niche
When you first start making rhinestone art, it’s tempting to want to make sparkly things for everyone. You might think that by targeting everyone, you’ll get more customers. But the opposite is actually true. When you try to attract everyone, you end up attracting no one.
The single best thing you can do for your business is to find a niche (or two or three). That’s a specific group of people you love creating for. This is how you go from being just another person who puts rhinestones on cups to the go-to artist for a specific style or community.
But it’s not enough to choose just any niche. You want to choose a niche that’s willing to pay for custom rhinestone art.
Here are a few profitable niches that are always in demand:
- Cheer Moms: They’re passionate, dedicated, and love to give their daughters sparkly cups and clothing.
- The Bridal Space: Think custom gifts for bridesmaids, bachelorette party tumblers, or even a special cup for the bride herself. This is a huge market.
- Realtors: They’re always looking for unique, personalized closing gifts for their clients.
#2 - Start Small to Grow Your Skills
This is for you if you’re new to rhinestone crafts.
When you see incredible, fully blinged-out tumblers on social media, your first instinct is to grab a cup and try to make one yourself. I recommend you don’t do that. It’s one of the quickest ways to get discouraged.
Instead, get used to the craft by starting with smaller, simpler items. I’m talking about things like:
- Pens and pencils
- Keychains
- Bottle openers
Looking for more items you can bling? See our line-up of stainless steel blanks here at MakerFlo.
These small projects are perfect for beginners for a few reasons.
First, they let you practice the fundamentals—like getting your lines straight and learning how much glue to use—without the pressure of ruining an expensive tumbler. Second, they give you quick wins and boost your confidence.
These smaller items are also fantastic “gateway products” for your customers. Someone might not be ready to spend $150 on a tumbler from a new artist, but they’ll happily pay $25 for a gorgeous pen or a unique bottle opener. It’s a great way to build your skills and your customer base at the same time.
#3 - Price Your Products Based On Time, Not Parts
This is the single most important piece of advice I can give you, and it’s where most new crafters get it wrong. They add up the cost of the tumbler, the rhinestones, and the glue, and then add a tiny bit on top for profit. This is the fastest way to burn out.
Rhinestoning isn’t like laser engraving where you push a button and walk away. You are an artist, doing this by hand, and your time is valuable.
Here’s the rule I teach everyone: Pay yourself a minimum of $25 per hour.
Before you even think about selling a product, you need to time yourself making it. If a custom tumbler takes you five hours to complete, that’s $125 just for your labor. Then you add the cost of your materials. That is your price.
Now, if you’re just starting out, you might want to find out how much time an experienced crafter would spend on each item, so you don’t price yourself too high. As a beginner, you will take more time to finish a piece, so you might not be able to charge for all your hours at the beginning.
Here’s what I would charge for standard products (without custom art):
- A basic honeycomb fill tumbler starts at $150 (if you’re adding a name, $200)
- A pen starts at $40 for a basic pattern
- A bottle opener starts around $40 for a basic pattern
If I’m making a bulk order for a B2B customer, I would give a slight discount on each item. If I’m making custom orders, using complicated rhinestone patterns, or adding personalization, the price would increase for each item.
One final thought on this: Do not be afraid to charge what you're worth.
Rhinestoning is a luxury, handmade craft. You cannot compete with mass-produced items, and you shouldn’t try to. The right customers aren’t looking for a bargain. They are looking for a unique, high-quality piece of art. And they will happily pay for it.
Watch out—when you really get into rhinestoning, you’ll start making crazy projects like this storm trooper helmet!
#4 - Protect Your Time and Manage Expectations
Once the orders start coming in, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. You want to say yes to every request and get every order out the door as fast as possible. But if you don't set clear boundaries, you will get yourself in trouble.
It’s important to be realistic about your turnaround times. Give yourself more time than you think you need.
If you know a tumbler will take you two days to make, don’t promise it in two days. Tell your customer it will take a week. This does two things.
First, it gives you a buffer to handle unexpected delays, whether it's a sick kid or a sudden rush of orders. Life happens, and you need to build that extra time into your process.
Second, it creates a better experience for your customer. When you promise an order in a week and then deliver it in three days, you look like a hero. But if you promise it in two days and it takes three, you’ve broken a promise.
It’s great to under-promise and over-deliver. This protects your time, reduces your stress, and keeps your customers happy.
(By the way, if someone requests an order with a fast turnaround, that’s when you introduce a “rush fee.” If you’ve got to work fast and sacrifice your time freedom for a customer, they should be paying extra for that.)
#5 - Don’t Be Afraid of Hearing “No”
You will hear “no” more than you’d like.
Someone will tell you your prices are too high. A potential customer will ghost you after you’ve spent hours preparing for a custom design. A trade show will be a total flop. It’s not a matter of if it will happen, but when.
And that’s okay. Rejection is a normal part of building a business. You cannot take it personally.
Every “no” is a learning experience. It teaches you who your ideal customer is (and who isn’t). It thickens your skin and makes you more resilient.
Honestly, if this were easy, everyone would be doing it. The fact that you’re willing to put your art out there, face the risk of rejection, and keep going is what will set you apart.
So when you hear that “no,” don’t let it discourage you. Keep going until you find what works.
#6 - Let Your Sparkle Do the Selling
You have the best marketing tool for your business with you at all times: your blinged-out items!
The easiest way to make sales is to simply bring your creations out into the world with you. Be your own billboard.
Take your favorite tumbler or keychain with you everywhere—to the grocery store, to your kid's soccer game, or to the office. When you’re out in the sun, the sparkle is going to catch people’s eyes. I promise you, people will come up and ask you, “Where did you get that?”
And that’s the moment. Be ready for it. Have business cards with you, or even better, have a QR code on the back of your phone that links directly to your Instagram or Facebook page. When they ask about your cup, you can smile and say, “I actually made it myself! You can scan this code to see my other designs.”
This is the most natural and effective way to find new customers. Instead of trying to sell, you’re just a person with a really cool cup, and they can’t wait to ask you more about it.
Here’s a bedazzled bottle opener made with the MakerFlo bottle opener and my Tangled Up rhinestone mix
If You’re Ready to Grow a Successful Bling Business
Building a business from your creative passion is one of the most rewarding things you can do. It’s a journey that takes courage, resilience, and a willingness to learn. I hope this guide has given you a place to get started.
By finding your niche, starting small, and most importantly, valuing your own time, you are already laying the foundation for a profitable business. I can’t wait for you to start making money from your art and finding freedom in running your own business.
If you want to get started right away, here’s everything you need to make your first project:
- My Rhinestone Essential Tools Kit
- A Rhinestone Mix in your choice of colors
- MakerFlo’s Bottle Opener
Or if you’re ready to tackle tumblers, check out MakerFlo’s line-up of stainless steel tumblers. (You’ll still want the essential tools and about 3 bags of rhinestone mixes to do a 20oz stainless steel tumbler.)
For a limited time, get set up with even more supplies and project ideas with my Forever Frosted Collab Bling Box, featuring products from MakerFlo and 7 other brands! Get yours now while we still have stock!
Finally, I’d love to connect with you! Find rhinestone tutorials and ideas on my blog and YouTube channel, join my Facebook Group to connect with other rhinestone business owners, and come say hi on Instagram.
Thank you, Shannon, for sharing your insights with us! Connect with MakerFlo by joining our free MakerFlo Makers Community and following us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Next up, find more great resources for growing your maker business by visiting our MakerFlo Pro resource hub.
