Do you ship internationally?

Yes. International orders ship worldwide. Duties, taxes, and fees depend on destination.

What is a Sparkler membership?

Sparkler membership provides access to exclusive tools, apps, education, and community features not available elsewhere.

Do you offer education or training?

Yes. Our online platform, RhinestoneArtistVIP includes technique videos, project guides, and live education depending on membership level. Keep an eye on DOJO Events for in-person classes.

What are KiraKira Glass Rhinestones?

KiraKira Glass Rhinestones are premium foiled flatback glass rhinestones designed for professional rhinestone application. They offer strong sparkle, clean facets, and reliable consistency.

What are rhinestones made of?

Rhinestones are typically made of glass, crystal, or acrylic, with high-quality options being made of lead glass for maximum sparkle.

Are these rhinestones suitable for high-use items?

Yes, when paired with the correct glue and finish. Stone finish and surface prep matter for durability.

What sizes are included in each package?

Most sizes ship in approximately 10 gross packs, about 1,440 stones. ss30 ships in approximately 2 gross packs, about 288 stones.

Are coated or metallic stones durable?

Coated finishes are more delicate. They perform best on low-wear or decorative projects. Avoid heavy friction and outdoor exposure.

Yes. Glass rhinestones are produced in color lots by size. Small tone shifts between batches or sizes can occur. Order enough stones at one time for consistent results.

Do these rhinestones require glue?

Yes. All flatback rhinestones require glue for application. Choose glue based on your surface and use case for best results.

Which glue should I use?

Different surfaces require different adhesives. Our glue collection covers fabric, hard surfaces, silicone, rubber, glass, and mixed materials.

What is the Interactive Glue Guide?

The Interactive Glue Guide helps match glue to surface type, project conditions, and wear level. It removes guesswork and speeds up planning.

How do I know how many rhinestones I need?

Sparkler members get access to the Rhinestone Ruler App. The app calculates stone counts based on surface shape, size, stone size, and fill pattern.

What are wholesale or factory sealed packs?

These are packages directly from the manufacturer containing the same size and color, often offering better value for larger projects. We use 10 gross, or 1,440pc as our normal factory package. Some shapes or larger sizes may be in 2 gross (288pc) or 1 gross (144pc).

What does SS mean (e.g., SS10, SS20)?

SS stands for Stone Size, which indicates the size of the rhinestone. Smaller numbers correspond to smaller diameters.

How do I wash garments with rhinestones?

Garments should be hand-washed or machine-washed inside out on a delicate cycle, and hung to dry, as high dryer heat can damage the glue.

Should I seal my rhinestone project?

It is generally recommended not to seal over the top of rhinestones, as this fills in the facets (cuts), resulting in a dull, flat, and less reflective surface.

How do I apply Hotfix rhinestones?

Use a hotfix applicator tool or a heat press to apply pressure and heat to the stones for roughly 10-15 seconds at approximately 335 degrees F to activate the adhesive.

What is the difference between Hotfix and Flatback rhinestones?

Hotfix rhinestones come with glue on the back that is activated by heat. Flatback rhinestones require a separate, specialized adhesive to be applied.

Why are my rhinestones falling off?

If using hotfix, the heat press may not be hot enough, or pressure may be too light. If using glue, the adhesive may not have been given 24 hours to cure, or the incorrect type of glue was used, too much or not enough.

Visit us in San Diego!

Our Retail store is open

Tuesday - Saturday, 11am - 7pm
4475 Mission Blvd. #J
San Diego, CA 92109

(858)222-9206

Meet Our Ninja Team

The talented crew behind Crystal Ninja - a group of passionate artisans, craftspeople, and business minds dedicated to bringing sparkle and creativity to your projects.

Head NinjaNeer Kellie DeFries
With over 30 years of being artsy fartsy, Kellie shares knowledge of all things sparkly, snacks, and everything except her Sharpie markers. She also used to be a First Class Journeyman in Welding.
Sparkliest CEO, U.S. Patent Holder & Defender
The Real Boss Suzie Petersen
The glue that holds us all together! We could not be here without her Mad Ninja Business Mind. Who else can whip up a fully lit custom Cosplay in 2 days? Get out of her way because she has one LEAD FOOT and misses her Corvette!
Operations & Custom Cosplay
The International Guru Steve Bernier
Has Ninja Gluing skills like no other and keeps us in check with his sharp wit and slick dance moves. He has been around the world studying the arts and you may or may not have seen him star on Broadway as Mr. Mistoffelees!
International Arts Guru

About Us

About CrystalNinja

CrystalNinja opened in 2005 in Pacific Beach, San Diego. Kellie DeFries founded the studio after 20+ years of professional flatback rhinestone work. Today Kellie, Suzie, and Steve build the storefront, the tools, the supply line, and the training platform they always wanted as artists.

✨ What started as a one-person studio became a full crystal application house, a patented tool brand, and the only online rhinestone training platform of its kind in the world.

By the Numbers

2005, year CrystalNinja was founded.
20+, years of professional flatback rhinestone experience.
5, US patents protecting the Crystal Katana tool.
247,148, rhinestones placed by hand on a 1956 Porsche replica.
Most diverse, precision pickup tool line in the world.
Tuesday through Saturday, when the San Diego studio is open to visitors.

The Crystal Katana

Why it exists

Kellie invented the Crystal Katana after 15+ years of doing rhinestone work by hand. The tools that existed left wax residue, dropped stones, or cramped your hand within an hour.

✨ Nobody made the tool I needed, so I made it myself.

The patents

5 US patents protect the Crystal Katana: 10,308,005 / 10,675,852 / 10,967,625 / D867,838 / D867,839. It is now the most widely used rhinestone pick up tool in the world.

Who uses it

Rhinestone artists use it daily. So do scrapbookers, cake decorators (dragees and edible pearls), model train builders, miniature artists, mosaic makers, and diamond painters.

✨ If you can pick it up with tweezers, you can pick it up faster and cleaner with a Crystal Katana.

KiraKira Glass Rhinestones

The line

KiraKira is the premium foiled flatback glass rhinestone line designed, curated, and sold exclusively by CrystalNinja.

✨ Engineered for clean placement, strong sparkle, and reliable results.

Sizes and colors

Available in sizes SS3 through SS30 in the full color spectrum, including AB coatings, opals, neons, luminous glow in the dark, and the color-shifting Polar Lights and Mameido Bubble lines.

Swarovski Authorized Application Center

CrystalNinja is recognized by Swarovski as an Authorized Application Center.

✨ Swarovski hires CrystalNinja directly for crystallizing projects on their behalf.

It is a credentialing relationship, not a retail one. The CrystalNinja store sells KiraKira glass rhinestones, not Swarovski crystals.

Custom Application and Luxury Activations

Who we work with

CrystalNinja takes on luxury rhinestone application projects for major brands, agencies, and private clients.

✨ Past work includes activations and product builds for Nike, Coca-Cola, Swarovski, event agencies, and high-profile private commissions.

How to get a quote

If you have a project, use the quote form and we will assess it.

The Porsche Project

✨ 247,148 rhinestones. Placed by hand. No visible seams.

CrystalNinja crystallized a 1956 Porsche 356 replica with 247,148 rhinestones, placed by hand using the Crystal Katana. It is one of the most photographed and recognized rhinestone art pieces in the world, and a working showcase of what is possible when you have the right tool, the right team, and the patience to do it correctly.

RhinestoneArtist.com Online Training

CrystalNinja powers RhinestoneArtist.com, the only online rhinestone training platform of its kind in the world.

What members get

The Rhinestone Ruler app to calculate exactly how many rhinestones a design needs. The Interactive Glue Guide with SDS Safety Data Sheets. Courses on techniques, tools, design, and business skills for artists from beginner to professional.

✨ If a working rhinestone artist asks where to learn this, there is one place: RhinestoneArtist.com.

Join at RhinestoneArtist.com.

Built for Artists, by Artists

CrystalNinja exists because the tools and supplies a working rhinestone artist needs did not exist, or did not work the way they should. The Crystal Katana solved the picking-up-and-placing problem. The KiraKira line solved the consistency problem. The store solved the find-everything-in-one-place problem. The training platform solved the where-do-I-learn-this problem.

✨ Every product on the shelf and every lesson in the platform exists because Kellie, Suzie, Steve, or the team needed it first.