30.3.16

Tool Review - Crystal Katana and Tanto

Crystal Katana and Tanto
     
Hi  friends delighted to see the enthusiastic participation in my Celebration Events...Thank you so much !
         When Shalini [owner of Crafters Corner] asked me what product I wanted to work with for my DT post .....I had no hesitation in choosing 2 tools from Crystal Ninja... the Crystal Katana and the Tanto which have been getting rave reviews from crafters all over the world and being recommended left and right by jewelry makers, papercrafters and DIY ers!

Crystal Katana and tanto
     
         If you are like me you must have marvelled at how crafters use tiny pearls so extensively in their projects making beautiful eye-catching lattices and borders and wondered how they had the patience to work with those fiddly little embellishments!
         I don't have super nimble fingers or the patience of a saint ,neither do I like to wrestle with tweezers and a tiny sequin or chase runaway flying pearls!
        So I was just itching to get my hands on a tool which will help me use all those tiny pearls and crystals in my projects!
         And was thrilled when Shalini  brought a whole series of Crystal Ninja products to her shop Crafters Corner post CHA 2016

Ok what exactly are the Crystal Katana and Tanto?
        In simple language these are "pick up" tools to help pick up any tiny teeny embellishment such as pearls, sequins , tiny rhinestones etc .And so these tools make your crafting easier, quicker and more fun!!
         These awesome tools were invented by Kellie DeFries who works extensively with Swarovski crystals and has used the Crystal Katana to completely cover in crystals some crazily huge stuff such as cars, whole dresses to name a few ...there are several you tube videos showing her cover a Ferrari in Swarovski crystals using her tool the Crystal Katana for the Guinness record!
Uses of the tools
To easily and quickly pick up and release tiny embellishments such as
  • pearls
  • beads
  • sequins
  • rhinestones
  • crystals
  • tiny bits of paper etc
Video Demonstration of the Crystal Katana  
-to pick up small pearls and rhinestones
Steps
  • Apply tiny dots of glue on the places you want to stick your pearls/rhinestones to
  • Pick up tiny pearls using the wax tip of the Crystal Katana 
  • Touch the pearl onto the glue dot- the pearl will release immediately
  • Optional- move it around or press it using the chrome metal end of the Crystal Katana !
Crystal Katana Instruction on its packet

In this video my little girl helps me to demo the Crystal Katana for you....Please do forgive the little errors that inevitably creep in !
If videos are not your cup of tea...keep scrolling down ...I have tried to take step by step pictures
Features of the Crystal Katana 
The Crystal Katana has a lightweight wooden body with a special wax tip at one end and a chrome metal end at the other end
Crystal Katana
          The Wax used is specially formulated and said to be much superior to normal wax as it leaves no residue on the pearl/crystal it picks up - an important consideration for professional jewelry makers working with crystals
Crystal Katana wax end
One big advantage over competitor pick up tools is that both the Katana and the Tanto quickly release the pearl/rhinestone when it is touched to a glue drop.
            Before I got the Katana , I had bought a Silhouette pick me up tool which is super for quickly picking up tiny pearls and beads but refuses to let go of it once it picks it up...requiring additional effort of using some other tool to release it !
         The Chrome metal end  can be used to firmly push the pearl/crystal etc into the glue or move it around to get a perfect positioning!
The metal end itself is a two in one tool with two diameter tool options.
Crystal Katana 
It can be unscrewed like a pen tip and you can store the  thinner pointed nib inside and just use the larger diameter tip - an important feature for jewelry makers who  play with teeny tiny crystals and larger crystals/beads !
Crystal Katana 
The photo above shows the Crystal Katana with its fine needle tip attached
Crystal Katana 
On unscrewing you can see the two types of tips possible
Crystal Katana 
You can store the needle tip inside the body of the Crystal Katana

Crystal Katana 
And screw on the large diameter metal tip if you want to work with larger crystals/ pearls etc

Sharing a few simple projects to show you how the Crystal Katana works

2. Working with small round pearls
Crystal Katana
        If you like working with  beads or other tiny embellishment the bead funnel tray is a nice investment...it has a screw on cap which you can open once you are done to put away your glitter/beads back into the bottle.
Funnel
I lined the funnel tray with a piece of foam so that my pearls don't run away  too much!
Funnel tray
Sharing pictures from a Collage Clay Faux Cake I made

butterfly
With the Katana it hand it was easy  to add tiny pearl bodies to  all the butterflies on my project!


     A thin line of Tombow glue - prefered Tombow mono multi over my usual Fevicol mr in this setting as I wanted to work quickly and wanted a strong long lasting adhesive.Tom bow is nice and tacky and the pearls won't fall off easily.

Crystal Katana
Gently picked up a pearl using the wax tip of the Katana

pearl on katana
See how the pearl stays stuck to the tip.

wax tip
On touching the pearl onto the glue on the butterfly , the pearl is easily released from the wax tip

chrome end
If you want to fiddle around with its position you can use the metal tip end

butterfly
Yes easy peasy without struggling with  clumsy fingers and flying pearls!

butterfly
One more butterfly dressed up....Such a lovely touch a few pearl add on isnt it!

Butterfly
Added lots of pearls on my collage clay cake using the Crystal Katana and you can see the full project here : Faux Rainbow Cake

pearls
 3. More uses- Making or repairing hair accessories and jewelry with pearls and crystal
Hair clip repair
Some of my favorite hair clips had lost some tiny crystals and pearls and I had been postponing even attempting to repair it  till I got the Crystal Katana !
Crystal Katana Use
 Used jewelry grade Modpodge wonder glue and the Crystal Katana to repair it and now they are as good as new!
Crystal Katana use
4. Easily and quickly adding pearls/sequins/rhinestones to a project

5. Nail art - sticking on tiny rhinestones and sequins to a small area
nail art
The Crystal Katana is extremely popular with nail art artists and you will find innumerable videos on you tube about its use in nail art. 
Being a surgeon I dont grow nails and mostly even avoid nail polish for that matter as that is what we have been taught in medical college! But my daughter is one girly girly child and you can see the nail art she created using the Tanto

 What is the Tanto ?
Tanto
The Tanto is the economical version of the Crystal Katana .
Features of the Tanto
It looks like an eyebrow pencil
It is lightweight and easy to handle without stringing your hands
It is made of wax and works as well as the Crystal Katana in picking up tiny embellishments
Tanto
There is a protective lid on the tip so that you can store it without damaging the soft tip
You can actually sharpen it just like a regular pencil when the tip blunts
It will last a looong time!
The difference with the Crystal Katana is that the Tanto does not have a metal tip to move around and firmly press the pearl/crystal onto your project

Here is my daughter's nail art using the Tanto

Nail Art with Tanto
Unlike your fingers both the Crystal Katana and the Tanto can pick up tiny embellishments from tiny storage spaces like in this picture below
Tanto in Action
Nail art with tiny plastic flower sequins
Nail art with Tanto
Using tiny sequins

Nail art with Tanto
Nail art with Tanto
Using tiny rhinestones

Nail art with Tanto
Nail art with the Tanto using rhinestones, pearls and sequins

Nail art with Tanto


See this link for the  whole range of Crystal Ninja Products 

I hope you enjoyed seeing this luxury tool in action!

43 comments:

  1. love that tool and I need it!
    your girl is so cute!
    Bad Kitty's Craftroom
    >^.^<

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  2. A great indepth review of the tools, thank you. I also enjoyed looking at your faux rainbow cake, such a fun and colourful project, I don't know why you were so hard on yourself about it, it's fabulous. I'd never seen that clay you can pipe before, it looks great, you obviously have good piping skills! Cara x

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  3. Thank you for the presentation. It looks great.

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  4. Fabulous post and one lovely video by your daughter :-) TFS the info!

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  5. Thanks for the great post Sonia ji! I was quite curious about the Crystal Ninja products...this helps up a lot...

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  6. Fantastic tool, your daughter's nail art is beautiful, she's a very talented young lady, hugs, Lori m

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  7. Beautifully explained..... I especially liked the video tutorial. Also the same info is presented in pictorial format which is super. I am very new to crafting and have been following your blog for the last few months. It is great in terms of variety as well as projects. Hope to see more lovely projects in the future and product review.

    And best wishes to the budding crafter.

    Maansi (http://creationsartfire.blogspot.in)

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  8. Hi Dr Sonia,
    wow what a fab tool.
    It takes all the hard work out of fiddly gem, and pearl work.
    Thank you so much for the wonderful video, and for letting us know about this wonderful tool.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  9. Thanks a lot Sonia for this useful post! I didnt know about these products! :)
    Suchi xx

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  10. Looks like a wonderful embellishment tool. Not heard of them before. Have a BEE-utiful day!
    Melissa
    "Sunshine HoneyBee"

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  11. That looks like a very useful tool Sonia.

    B x

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  12. Ohhhhhh these look fabulous! Will have to check them out!!!!!!!

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  13. I have not heard about these fab tools. Thank u for introducing these tools to us Doc. The video demonstration by your daughter is perfect.

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  14. Great tools, great tips and great works...!! You always rock, Dr. Sonia!! :D
    The nail art of your doughter is just stunning!! You must be so proud of her talent!

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  15. Thanks Sonia for introducing this useful tool...I love little crafter's demo...

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  16. love the in-depth review Sonia..and the wonderful video by Prisha !!

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  17. These look super clever tools. A great post as always.
    Julie x

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  18. Oh it's a great tool and so useful! Thanks for sharing this informative post!

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  19. Oh wow, I need this!! What a fabulous tutorial...you totally sold me on the product!! All of your projects are stunning as always my friend!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  20. These tools look fabulous, and on nails too! Thanks for posting such an informative review Sonia, very useful

    Anne x

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  21. awesome tools. I've never heard of them. I have a hard time with tiny pieces.

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  22. I never knew such a tool existed. I used to take an old ball point pen, sligthly touch the glue drop and use it to stick rhinestones for kundan rangoli. This is a nice handy tool... Blogland introduces so many new ideas

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  23. well explained. it is very interesting to read your products review often. mostly tempting to buy

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  24. Thanks for the detailed review.

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  25. Thise tool is amazing, would be nice to hav it and it would make mi work less harder :)
    ps. you have adorablle dother, she has sutch cute voise :)
    ♥Hugs Valentina♥

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  26. Beautiful projects and a very cool tool. I love the hair clip. Hugs, Teresa

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  27. GORGEOUS projects and made easily with your new tool? fabulous. I shall have to look for this. Thanks for the info and demonstrations.

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  28. Wow. Along with the product, your projects are just awesome

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  29. Wow!! Nice detailed review!! So nice of Prisha to do the demonstration. She has a lovely voice.
    -Berina
    Moxie Craftie

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  30. I was wondering how the pearls will be placed without glue mess. Now i came to know!! It's a good explanation.

    Shirley
    shirleyvicky.blogspot.in

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  31. Wow, this is amazing! YOU are amazing! This product is a must-have and you've reviewed it so thoroughly. Thank you for forever inspiring us, Sonia. I've been unable to get to the computer or craft much, but always come here when I can. You are a treasure. :o)

    Hugs and blessings,
    Karen

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  32. Its tempting to buy.thanks for the review .

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  33. Thank you so much for explaning in a great way!
    It's amazing!
    Lia xx

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  34. That is a really amazing tool to be able to work so well with all the tiny little bits we use thanks for showing this hugs Nikki

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  35. This tool looks very helpful. Fantastic presentation.

    Marjeta

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  36. thank you for your explanation - I've never seen this before but it is very useful. great creations!

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  37. Beautiful creations.Thanks for the great tutorial.I see this tool for the first time.

    Gr,Sylvia

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  38. Great art work with the tool Dr Sonia, I'm specially impressed by the fabulous nails.

    Love and hugs
    Maarit

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  39. These tools look great and such a simple idea too like all the best ones wish I could come up with one then I could have all the crafting goodies on my wish list with the sales. I can always dream lol.

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  40. WOW!! Love the Tanto that is wonderful.

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  41. How cool- that is an awesome product- and I love the pearls on the butterfly!

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  42. Wow, cool project and the pearls are fabulous on your stunning butterflies!

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  43. Such a great review - I particularly love the nail art examples!

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