Glitter is a product used by crafters and designers to create a sparkling or shimmering effect. Glitter is primarily composed of very tiny flecks of glass, stone, paper or plastic, although polyester is perhaps the most common material used in modern glitter production. Coated paper can also be formed into glitter, and some have even used commercial grade diamond dust as a form of glitter.

Some may assume that glitter is produced by simply crushing the source material into dust-sized particles, but that is not the case. Commercial glitter manufacturers use various dies to cut out individual pieces in bulk. Even though pieces of glitter can be as small as 50 microns (0.002 inches) in size, each one has been precision-cut in the shape of squares, circles, rectangles or hexagons.

Glitter comes in a vast array of colors and styles, from clear polyester to iridescent metallic. Crafters often purchase a variety of different glitters in order to enhance particular pieces. Christmas ornaments, for example, may receive a dusting of silver and gold glitter, while holiday candles could be enhanced with red and green glitter. A pattern of white craft glue can be applied to a project and then liberally coated with glitter to make it shimmer or shine.

Glitter is generally sold in small tubes or specially designed "glitter shakers." These shakers allow the crafter to control the flow of the glitter, which tends to pour out like pepper flakes. Some crafters pour a supply of glitter from the original containers into trays for easier access. Working with glitter can be challenging, so it often pays to use smaller batches or have a system in place for recovering excess glitter.

Glitter is considered to be non-toxic, which makes it suitable for craft projects involving young children. Adult supervision is still advisable, however, since spilled glitter can become problematic and some children may confuse glitter with candy. When working with glitter around younger crafters, it may help to stress a "less is more" philosophy.

Although a significant amount of glitter is now manufactured overseas, the product itself was invented by an American cattle farmer named Ruschman during the 1930s, although some sources say he invented the product after World War II. His company, Meadowbrook Inventions, is still the world's largest supplier of glitter. Customers can order glitter directly from the company, in a wide assortment of shapes, colors, sizes and materials.