Decoden or Keitai (when referring to cell phones) is basically the art of sticking gems/random cute stuff to every smooth surface of any item you own.

Keitai means mobile/cell phone in Japanese and when used in this context refers to jewel encrusted phones but you really can deco anything with enough room to fit a gem. Some other common items to deco include cameras, Ds Lite, fingernails, or if you’re me then anything that holds still long enough! Look out James, sleep with one eye open!So what’s the point? Well it’s the same as any decoration really: it’s pretty.

Deco is popular among many demographics, from Lolita and Hime Gyaru who appreciate the details and over-the-top-ness to Japanese housewives who love something cute in their lives. It can be classy and slightly subtle or crazy detailed and yummy or plain old ridiculous! Here are a couple I’ve done! You can order supplies from Strapyaworld and this Deco Livejournal community is awesome for inspiration. if you live in Japan you can also go to Glam Baby to have the “experts” do it for you (all for a modest fee of course).

Here are a few tips if you decide to be creative and give it a go:
-If you want your gems to stick permanently then make sure to use epoxy glue. Only if you don’t ever plan on changing them though, that stuff is like nails! Epoxy glue is known by different names depending on which country you live in but it’s distinguishing feature is that it comes in a set of two tubes which you mix together with a stick and then apply to the surface. It comes in 2 varieties one which dries in 5 min and one which dries in 1 hour, either is acceptable for use but if you don’t have much practice it might be better to go for the 1 hour variety so you have time to correct any mistakes. -Make sure that you have all your jewels and everything set out and ready before you mix the glue! I can’t tell you how annoying it is having rapidly drying glue that you’ve put on only to be searching around the bottom of the box you keep everything in looking for the one last tiny pink jewel you need to complete a design.

- Plan out your designs before you start, again running out of jewels half way through sucks!

Here are some awesome things that inspire me!
*edit* all of the photos I linked have since been moved or deleted */Edit*

I showed it to James’ Mum and she thought that my pretty green Advil were part of the decoration. That’s right, even my medication is pretty, beat that! XD

Ok so now that you’ve gathered all your materials together it’s time to get started!

Step 1. Thread your needle

Step 2: Starting at the scalloped edge on one end of the lace use a running stitch to stitch down the edge. Gather it so the end of the lace is dragged to a point as above in the photo.

Step 3: Now continuing your running stitch, turn the corner and stitch all the way along the straight edge side of the lace and up the other side again. When you’re finished the line of stitching you’ve made should look like a big long “U” shape and the only side that is left unstitched should be the scalloped edge.

Step 4: Pull the thread carefully so that you end up with nice ruffle as seen above.

Step 5: Tie your thread off but don’t cut it yet.

Step 6: Now hold the end of the gathered edge and start rolling. In the photo above, the white line represents how the edge should be curled around itself in a spiral.

Step 7: Now start stitching around the spiral to hold it all together. It should look something like the above picture with the white line representing the spiral and the green lines representing the stitches. When you’re sure that it’s secure tie off your thread.

Step 8: Keep a good hold of the rose and glue your badge back in place. Be careful not to burn yourself with the hot glue!

Step 9: Once the glue is secure open up the pins on the badges.

Step 10: Cut out 2 small circles of felt, the diameter should be slightly smaller than the width of your badge backs. Now glue them over the open badge back so they cover all the glue and leave a nice finished look.

Step 11: Turn it upside down and spread the “petals” out. here is a finished flower! Now if you want you could make a second and attach them to your shoes.

Here are the shoes I got for christmas, what do you think? Tadaa!