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.

What Is the Crystal Katana?

The Crystal Katana is the world's most widely used rhinestone applicator tool. It was invented by Kellie DeFries, owner of CrystalNinja in San Diego, California. Kellie holds 5 US patents on the design and mechanism.

✦ Who Invented the Crystal Katana?

Kellie DeFries invented the Crystal Katana after 20+ years of professional rhinestone application work. She needed a tool that could pick up and place rhinestones of every size accurately, consistently, and fast. Existing tools on the market were imprecise and frustrating. So she built her own.

The result was the Crystal Katana. Today, it is used by professional rhinestone artists, apparel designers, costume makers, nail artists, and hobbyists around the world.

US Patent Numbers

US Patent 10,308,005
US Patent 10,675,852
US Patent 10,967,625
US Design Patent D867,838
US Design Patent D867,839

✦ How Does the Crystal Katana Work?

The Crystal Katana uses a proprietary synthetic wax tip to pick up flatback rhinestones (also called flatback crystals or hotfix stones) from a tray and place them precisely onto a surface. The wax provides just enough tack to lift the stone but releases it cleanly once it makes contact with glue or adhesive.

No tweezers. No fumbling. No dropped stones.

The tool works with rhinestones in sizes ss3 through ss60, from tiny nail art stones to large statement gems. This range covers every common size used in rhinestone apparel, accessories, home decor, and nail art.

✦ Crystal Katana vs. Other Rhinestone Applicators

Feature	Crystal Katana	Generic Wax Pencils
Patented design	Yes (5 US patents)	No
Works ss3 through ss60	Yes	Limited range
Precision placement	High	Variable
Tip material	Proprietary synthetic wax	Basic wax
Fatigue reduction	Ergonomic grip	Standard pencil shape

✦ Crystal Katana Variants

CrystalNinja currently offers four Crystal Katana models:

Crystal Katana Black: The original. The go-to tool for most rhinestone artists.

Crystal Katana Bamboo: Eco-friendly handle. Same tip performance.

Tanto: A pencil sized variation that can be sharpened.

Crystal Kubaton: Retractable edition for working with smaller rhinestones and embellishments.

✦ Who Uses the Crystal Katana?

The Crystal Katana is trusted by rhinestone apparel designers, costume artists, nail technicians, fashion stylists, DIY crafters, interior designers, and professional decorators. It is the primary tool taught in CrystalNinja's Ninjaneer Certification Program.

Kellie DeFries and the CrystalNinja team use the Crystal Katana on Swarovski crystallizing projects for commercial clients worldwide. CrystalNinja is a Swarovski Authorized Application Center.

✦ Where to Buy the Crystal Katana

The Crystal Katana is available at CrystalNinja.com and on Amazon. The CrystalNinja studio and retail store is located at 4475 Mission Blvd, Suite J, San Diego, CA 92109. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am to 7pm.

Ready to Try the Crystal Katana?

See why thousands of artists trust this patented tool for every rhinestone project.

Shop Crystal Katana