No ballroom look is complete without a little jewelry! However, even something as simple as a bangle can cost you anywhere from $60 - $80 per bangle from most Dancesport jewelry companies. That's why I've put together a simple how-to for creating some of your own bling for a fraction of the cost! 

What you need:

• Boning
• Spandex (SpandexWorld.com, SpandexHouse.com, or Local fabric shop) - I recommend choosing a color to match your stones or nude if you're using crystal or crystal AB
• E6000
• Rhinestones (RhinestoneGuy.com) - I recommend size 16ss for these bangles
• Pick Me Up tool
• Binder clips
• Scissors

Click on the images if you need to order any of the items for the project.

How much time it takes:

• Working time = ~30 minutes/bangle (mostly depending on how quickly you stone)
• Drying time = 84 hours (split into one 12-hour period and one 72-hour period)

Steps:
​1. Measure around the widest part of your hand. This will become the circumference of your bangle.

2. Measure out the boning so it’s as long as your hand measurement. BEFORE cutting, bend the boning into a bangle and make sure you can slip your hand through it. If your measurement is a little off (too big or too small) adjust accordingly.

3. Cut a piece of the boning the length of the measurement you just took (with any adjustments) PLUS an additional inch for overlap.

4. Apply E6000 to 1 inch of the boning and overlap the two ends.

5. Clip the center of the overlap with one of the binder clips. 

6. Let it dry for at least 12 hours. E6000 takes 24 to 72 hours to fully set, but after about 12 it should be dry enough to continue making your bangle. In the meantime, you can cut your fabric.

7. Cut a piece of your spandex that is the length of your measurement PLUS .5” for overlap, and 1.25” wide (assuming you are using the .5” boning). This allows the fabric to wrap around the entire bangle and overlap on the inside.

8. Remove the clips from the boning once the glue has dried sufficiently.

9. Apply a layer of E6000 to the inside of the bangle. It doesn’t have to be pretty and it doesn’t have to be super thick. You just need enough to cover the surface inside.

10. Press one side of your material along the inside, aligning the fabric edge to the edge of the boning. When you get to the overlap you can dab a little extra E6000 on whichever end is going to be on the bottom and press the other end on top.

11. Roll the rest of your material around the bangle until the free edge is back along the inside.

12. Apply another layer of E6000 to the inside of the bangle. You only need to cover half the width closest to your free fabric.

13. Press down the free edge of the fabric, lightly pulling so the fabric is snug around the boning.

14. Apply a dab of E6000 to the overlap on the bottom piece of fabric.

15. Begin stoning!

16. Work in small sections and apply E6000 across the outside of your bangle. This is so your glue doesn’t dry faster than you can place stones on it.

17. Place your stones on a mat, plate or another contained surface where you can spread them out in a layer. This makes it easier to pick up the stones one by one.

18. Press the sticky side of your Pick Me Up tool on the top of the rhinestone (the non-flat side). The rhinestone should stick to your tool as you lift it and move it to the bangle. It may take a little practice to get the right amount of pressure, but you shouldn’t have to press too hard to grab the rhinestone.

19. Press the rhinestone into the E6000. Continue placing rhinestones across in a row (I’ve found the row will comfortably fit 3 16ss rhinestones). Once you’ve finished a row, start the next.

20. Continue around the bangle until you’ve returned to your starting point. If there’s a little extra space between your first and last row of stones, then simply move the last row of stones a little closer to the first row to eliminate some of the extra gap.

21. Let dry for 72 hours.

22. Voila, you’re done!

Now if you’re more comfortable sewing there is a similar tutorial found here. I recommend switching back once you’ve sewn the bangles, as the glue used isn’t as strong as E6000 and the method for stoning is more time-consuming.

And of course, if you aren't feeling crafty and would rather purchase ballroom jewelry, feel free to check out our Etsy shop for some reasonably priced bracelets!

Let us know how your bangles come out and feel free to share pictures of your beautiful creations! We can never get enough sparkle! Until next time, happy dancing and happy stoning!

As you may have guessed from the blog name, I love sparkles! So naturally, I've been dying to try out the glitter cut crease makeup look for competition. I finally got the opportunity this past week to try it out and experiment with the LA Splash Cosmetics crystallized glitter (which I bought on sale over the Thanksgiving holiday!) at an in-studio performance. The look and the glitter was a success! I received numerous compliments on my makeup and I largely attribute that to the glitter.

The Problems with Glitter
Despite buying the glitter when it was on sale during Black Friday, I didn't try it out until now for one simple reason: I was scared! I have used glitter in the past, both some inexpensive store brands and Too Faced Glamour Dust glitter, and had poor results. While the glitter was super sparkly and pretty, I found that I had to use a lot of it; no matter how much glitter glue I used, it would inevitably get in my eyes - making it look like I was crying during the performance.  Tears streaming down your face isn't a great look when you're trying to be sexy in Rumba.

The Pros
What I loved about the crystallized glitter was it had amazing coverage. I put on a light coat of white eye shadow and then applied Urban Decay's Bondage primer (another amazing product!) before applying the glitter. Then I I used 3 dabs of glitter and was done! It was super simple and quick. I recommend using a brush with compact bristles so you can pick up the glitter and press it on without losing a bunch. The lovely folks at Ulta recommended a concealer brush, but I found a small eye shadow brush that worked well, too.

The other great part about this glitter was it stayed in place! It didn't fall into my eyelashes and eyes every time I blinked. I attribute this mostly to the glitter, because I used the Bondage primer with the other glitters, too, and had no luck. It stayed on for the whole evening and then easily wiped off with makeup remover. I don't think I could ask for more! 

The Cons
At about $12 a container, this isn't the cheapest glitter. I feel it's worth the money though, especially since I expect it will last me quite some time given how little I had to use. LA Splash runs sales every so often (I got mine for $10 on Black Friday), or if you buy it from Amazon you can bundle it with other products you normally purchase on Amazon and get free shipping. 

Overall Recommendation
This glitter was a clear winner over the other brands I've tried. It comes in numerous colors (I tried the Fuzzy Flamingo) so you can pick something that matches your eyes or your dresses for performances, competitions, or just a fun night out dancing! I loved the coverage and staying power, and will be using it for my first competition this year, Superstars! I'll be trying out the Mai Tai color for my smooth look and will be sure to post pictures and let you know how it holds up to all-day wear. Until then stay sparkly and happy dancing!

Thanks to Heather, one of our fabulous readers, we have our first requested topic: nails! Getting your nails done before a performance or competition is a great way to finish your look. I’ve experimented with both DIY glue-on nails and having my nails done professionally. If you’re one of those lucky people who has nice, long, natural nails that never break, then I simply suggest getting a manicure with a gel color to make sure it lasts through the competition. If you’re like me and need a little added length then I recommend the DIY glue-on nails.
​
Why glue-on nails?
A few reasons: they’re fast, they can be put on anywhere, they’re inexpensive (usually $7 or $8), and they’re always consistent. Being a very last-minute person, I’ve often found myself doing my nails the night before I start dancing (sometimes even the morning of), in the hotel room. I can put them on in about 10 minutes, and they’re dry and ready to go about 3 minutes after that. I’m also a bit of a picky person and find that I’m not always satisfied with the shape, the length, or the color when I have my nails done professionally. The beauty of glue-on nails is you can see exactly what they look like before you buy them, and know that they will all be the exact same shape and length. As an added bonus, when you take off the nails, I’ve found my natural nails are less damaged than when I have my nails professionally done.

Tips for applying the nails:
When it comes to putting them on, my biggest advice is follow the instructions in the kit!

• Pick out which nails fit each finger before you start gluing anything! Each kit usually comes with about 40 nails. Despite the fact that you only have 10 fingers, you will only get one use out of the kit. The nails all differ in size, so hold each nail up to your fingers and find the ones that fit snuggly. Once I’ve found a nail that fits my natural nail well, I place it to the side (left or right depending on which hand it’s going on). Then as I find another nail that fits, I place it once again on the corresponding side to the hand it’s going on and in relation to the nail(s) I’ve already picked out. So for example, if I found a nail to fit my middle finger on my left hand and then I find a nail to fit my ring finger also on my left hand, I’ll put the nail for my ring finger to the left of the nail for my middle finger. In the end you should have a complete set of nails lined up in the order of your fingers. Sometimes you may have to switch a nail that you already picked for one finger to another finger, if there isn’t a nail that fits that finger. That’s why it’s important not to glue as you go!
• Buff your nails before placing any glue on them so the surface is prepped and will hold the glue well.
• Place glue on both your nail and the fake nail. This helps ensure complete coverage so the bond is strong.
• Don’t be stingy with the glue! Even though the tube it comes with looks tiny, it’s more than enough to cover all your fingers.
• Place the glue in the center of your nail and the fake nail, and start spreading it out with the tip of the glue bottle. This makes sure that you don’t end up with tons of glue oozing out the side of your nails when you place the fake nail down.
• Glue one nail at a time! The glue dries quickly and once it’s dry you cannot move the nail, so make sure you only work with one nail at a time.
• Use the sides of your natural nail to guide your placement of the nail so it’s straight.

Professionally done nails:
If doing your own nails seems too stressful, or you’d rather have a little pampering while you’re at it, then I recommend going to a salon. When I opt for the salon, I get an acrylic nail with a gel color (gel polish lasts longer). I usually go with a bright color to complement my dresses, which are both darker, but I know plenty of people who prefer more of a neutral or light pink color and it still looks good. As for length, I usually go for a little longer than I would typically wear my nails since you want them to be visible on the floor. Depending on how quickly your nails grow, you may want to have them done only a few days out from your performance/competition so they don’t end up being too long when it comes time to dance. While salon prices vary, I’ve found you can expect to spend about $40-$50 to get your nails done.

Bonus tip: blinging out your nails!
If you want to add a little extra sparkle to your look, you can add some rhinestones to your nails! I would only add a stone or two to a few accent nails, so your nails don’t look too out of control—but it’s a fun way to spice up your nails, especially if you’ve gone with a French manicure or neutral/lighter color.

• Use small stones! I wouldn’t use anything bigger than a size 10ss (more on how to buy rhinestones and a guide to their sizes in a later post). While you don’t need to spend a ton of money on Swarovski stones for your nails, I would purchase something a little more substantial than your average nail-kit accessories. Preciosa is a good, less expensive, stone that will look great on the floor. As for color, I would stick to crystal or crystal AB.
• Use strong glue! I recommend E6000 (link at the bottom). While it’s not super easy to work with, it has the best hold; you need a lot of hold when you think about how many times you wash your hands and hit your nails against things. Do NOT use this glue to adhere the nails to your natural nails.

​Hopefully this answers lots of your nail questions, and please feel free to contact us with any topics you’d like to see discussed! Good luck on you nail prep and happy dancing!