Twinkle Eye: setting the stone?

[elish2]

OK, got my flat backed rhinestones in. They look great, obviously they are not 100% as they do not have that sheen to them, but good on color. The eye are is 15 mm the stones are 14 mm, (I could not find the right size stones to fill the whole eye from top to bottom)...

Anywho, I want to apply them to my g3 FS pony's eye area, and one issue....the rhinestones are flatback, and the eye has a convex curve to it...so how would you set it? Glue in the gaps or try and whiddle away at the eye to flatten it a bit, then set it?

Or maybe if someone can direct me to who did this custom, so I might inquire about where and how they did the eyes?

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[sweetlittlejenny]

I haven't done any FS ponies with twinkle eyes but I have done a few G1 with them.
I cut out either the entire eye area or if possible just the area where the crystal will be. Then I put clay behind the hole and set the crystal in that.

Not sure who did that custom so can't help you there.

[Roogna]

I also cut out the eye part and use clay behind it
I've glued a few on in early attempts and it doesn't look natural b/c they stick out too far


here's examples:
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[BerryMouse]

I always cut out the pupil part and leave the rest as it is.
Then glue in the stones and paint the rest =)
I'm not a fan of those super large twinkle eyes that's why I chose the smaller stones.

Example:
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[Tulips]

I've never used clay because my TEs are always fast customs. I used to go crazy glueing whatever worked behind, little bits of card of hardened bluetack, gosh the corners I cut (I learnt never to use superglue directly near the gem in case of fogging at least)...

But my method is now much better! I cut out the pupil, shave away the eye so the gem pops in from the inside and sits nice and flush all around... then (and this is where I slapped sense into myself) I finally started using my hot glue gun! It's a little tricky to aim it right but you just drop a little in through the neck and let it land on the flat back of the gem and the surrounding plastic.

Here's an example, you can barely see the glue at all! I'm so pleased with the results and don't know why I always forget I have a hot glue gun! *smacks forehead* 
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[StrawberryMeadow]

I've never used clay because my TEs are always fast customs. I used to go crazy glueing whatever worked behind, little bits of card of hardened bluetack, gosh the corners I cut (I learnt never to use superglue directly near the gem in case of fogging at least)...

But my method is now much better! I cut out the pupil, shave away the eye so the gem pops in from the inside and sits nice and flush all around... then (and this is where I slapped sense into myself) I finally started using my hot glue gun! It's a little tricky to aim it right but you just drop a little in through the neck and let it land on the flat back of the gem and the surrounding plastic.

Here's an example, you can barely see the glue at all! I'm so pleased with the results and don't know why I always forget I have a hot glue gun! *smacks forehead* 
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You have literally just changed my world.

On a side note: why is that pony not mine? 

[elish2]

thanks for the suggestions everyone! 

[cyberfluf]

Awesome job Strawberry Meadow, I love how clean and crisp her eyes look! Hot glue guns are awesome