Measure the cornstarch into the bowl. Add ¼ cup tacky craft glue and stir together using a fork. Once the mixture starts to clump, set the fork aside and knead the ingredients into a dough with your hands. Knead until the mixture has enough elasticity to mold like clay, but isn't sticky and wet to the touch.
Divide the glue mixture into two portions, one twice as big as the other. Roll each piece into a ball between flattened palms.
Cover both ends of the dowel with a thin coat of tacky glue. Cover the flat ends and about a quarter-inch of the sides. Press one of the glue dough balls onto each end. Smear the dough down onto the wood to blend it and create a gradual transition on each side.
Press the four rhinestones into the the sides of the larger glue ball (i.e., parallel with the dowel's length). Space them out evenly alongside the perimeter of the ball. Remove each gem and set aside after pressing it in place long enough to create an impression in the surface of the glue dough.
Coil the length of twine into the bottom of the second bowl. Measure one tablespoon of water and an equal amount of glue into the bowl. Mix with your fingers to soak the twine with glue solution.
Wrap the glue-soaked twine around the dowel in a spiral shape, stretching from one end to the other.
Let the scepter dry overnight to harden. If possible, lay it over the corner of a flat surface, a short stool, sawhorse or other piece of furniture that will allow the dough balls to rest untouched rather than being pressed against a flat surface.
Spray paint the scepter with gold paint and let dry according to the paint manufacturer's instructions.
Glue the gems in place using tacky glue.