Fit4Ever | Aqua Awesome

Ever wonder how to put crystals on hat?  Hats provide shade and protect your face from harmful rays of the sun. If you are a regular in an aqua fitness class, hats can also be a great way to show off your personality. Bling hats are fun because they sparkle in the sun and put everyone in a good mood! Have you ever wondered how to put bling on a hat?  The best way is to use something called hotfix crystals. In this post, I will show you how to apply hotfix crystals on a hat using a heat wand to create a one-of-a-kind hat.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a hat that says AQUA to wear at your aqua class? Something that specialized is hard to find in a store. But with a special tool called a hot-fix wand and some hot fix crystals (all which you can buy for about $20 on Amazon), you can make a bling hat like this yourself. You can also use the device to bling t-shirts, shoes, and just about anything else!

• First step is to pick a hat. Use one you already own, pick up one at a local store, or order a hat on Amazon.
• Next step is to get a hot-fix wand and crystals in the color and size of your choice. You can sometimes find these at a craft store but hotfix wands are also on Amazon.
• Once you have everything, come up with a design and layout the crystals where you want them. This is the fun part. Be sure to leave enough space to spell out your word and that it is centered where you want it.
• Take a photo of your design laid out for reference using your phone.
• If you like, you can use chalk to gently draw guideline or dots where the crystals will go.
• Take a look at your wand and attachments that came with it. You will want to find the attachment head that matches the size of the crystals you are using. If you are using a combination of different sizes, you will need to do one size first, and then the other. Choose the attachment head for the size you will do first. It should be a concave shape that allows you “pick up” the crystal by touching it when the wand is hot.
• Remove all the crystals and plug in your wand. Place the crystals in an area easy to get to so that the glue side is down.
• When the wand is warm, gently touch the tip to the front side of your first crystal. It will pick up. Then you place it and press it. The heat of the wand will penetrate the crystal and melt the glue on the back.
• Continue until you have all the crystals done for that size tip.
• If you have another size to do, then unplug the wand, let it cool, then change the tip and repeat.

Using hotfix crystals can be a bit intimidating the first time, but once you do it, it is easy. I would practice the first time with an item that you do not mind so much if you make a mistake. There are lots of videos on Youtube that show to apply hotfix crystals to a hat or other item and your wand will come with instructions.  Once you put bling on your own hat, you will probably get requests from friends!

Hotfix crystals when applied properly usually stay on pretty well.  I would not recommend putting your hat in the washer and dryer though. Enjoy your custom bling hat!