ICYMI, bedazzling your cups with colorful rhinestones has exploded in popularity across social media platforms in recent months. People of all ages and backgrounds seem to enjoy transforming their water bottles, mugs, and even to-go coffee orders into a sparkly display of art. This trend is in good company too: 2026 seems to be all about embracing your whimsical side through creative hobbies, playful aesthetics, and joyful activities.
In a world that can feel overwhelming and hectic at times, finding joy in the little things can vastly improve your well-being. While whimsical trends have received criticism for relying on aesthetic appeal and overconsumption, you don’t need to curate the “perfect” TikTok video or break the bank to see the benefits. Being a responsible, well-rounded college student and adding some bling to your favorite drink container (or anything that needs decorating!) doesn’t need to be mutually exclusive. So, consider this new trend an excuse to put your phone down and bedazzle that boring cup you’ve been meaning to decorate.
In attention to instantly boosting your mood, this trend is inexpensive and can be done with just a few materials. If you want to explore your creative side with an easy craft project, here are some of the best ways to make DIY bedazzled cups, with stuff you probably have in your dorm or apartment.
Content creator @trulytorij has the perfect tutorial for a quick and easy bedazzled cup. All you need is a glass cup (or a couple of them, if all of your cups need to be whimsical!), rhinestones from Amazon or your local craft store, and e6000 glue to paste the gems in place. The best part is that you can’t go wrong with this: Consider using rhinestones in varying colors for a colorful look, experiment with different shapes and sizes, or stick to bedazzling your cup with rhinestones in your favorite color.
If you want to customize a paper cup from your favorite coffee shop or fast food restaurant, use sticker rhinestones for a one-of-a-kind look. IHOP even jumped in on the trend and showed its followers how to bedazzle their cups.
If you’re confident in your DIY skills and have the time to challenge yourself, try going all out and bedazzling your trusty tumbler from head to toe. There are many tutorials online for making fully bedazzled cups, but this video from @therhinestoneworld uses ColorSpark HTV Anything material, rhinestones, and a glitter heat transfer vinyl for their tumbler. Rhinestones cover the ColorSpark HTV Anything material, which wraps around your tumbler while giving it the fully bedazzled treatment.
Now that you know how to bedazzle all the cups you have at home, what are you waiting for? Let the bedazzling begin!