Transform basic dress shoes: How to put rhinestones onto heels

A pair of black heels goes with just about everything, but sometimes, the wearer wants more eye-catching effects. This is easy to accomplish with self-adhesive rhinestones. This tutorial uses black on black, but any color of rhinestones stands out on white heels. For black, try dark-blue or dark-purple stones to add a touch of color without overwhelming your outfit.

The steps below create a pattern that tapers on the heels' sides, but you can play around with the design. To do this, wrap a piece of paper around the back and sides of a heel and cut out the shape. Draw small circles on the paper to represent the rhinestones until you find a pattern you like.

Materials
- Wide high heels
- Adhesive rhinestones
- Craft knife
- Tweezers

1. Wipe off any dirt that might be on the heel. Cut a slit on the sheet near a rhinestone. Use tweezers to lift one rhinestone off the sheet.

2. Center the rhinestone directly beneath the seam where the heel meets the shoe's body. Press it into place with your fingers.

3. Add and press into place the next rhinestone to the right of the first one. Continue adding rhinestones to the right just under the seam until you reach the seam's end.

4. Repeat step 3 for the left side of the heel.

5. Add a second line directly under the first, placing the each rhinestone where the ones above meet, to create a staggered effect.

6. Repeat step 5 for a third line.

7. Add a fourth line under the third. Place each rhinestone where the ones above meet, to create a staggered effect, but space the rhinestones apart. Stop 1/8 inch before you reach the ends on the sides of the heel.

8. Add a fifth line. Place each rhinestone where the ones above meet, to create a staggered effect, but space the rhinestones apart. Stop 1/4 inch before you reach the ends on the sides of the heel.

9. Add a sixth line. Leave empty a space equal to three rhinestones in the center. Place each subsequent rhinestone where the ones above meet, to create a staggered effect. Space apart the rhinestones. Stop 3/4 inch before you reach the ends on the sides of the heel.