When it comes to Diamond Painting, placement technique is the one area where you can really add a splash of creativity. Despite what anyone tells you, there's no right or wrong way to place a diamond!
Maybe you prefer going color by color. Or you're the type to roll row by row with a Great Big Diamond Wheel™. Either way, there's no right or wrong answer. Here's our ranking of our 6 favorite Diamond Painting techniques.
6. Color By Color
It may not be the most organized approach, but it's definitely the most straightforward! Pick a single color / character and work your way across a small uncovered area of the canvas.
This technique is super satisfying as you fill in gaps and watch your Diamond Painting come to life. Don't peel back too much of the canvas covering all at once or the adhesive may dry out between sessions!
5. Organized Diamond Chaos
Natalie Henderson says, "One of the strategies I use to help it go a little bit faster is to have several different color drills in my trays at once. I can get a lot of the canvas covered as I move across the strip."
It's kind of a riff on the Color By Color method, but with more chaos thrown in. Just be sure not to drop the trays! But if you do, you can always claim Oh Sh*t Insurance ;)
4. Tweezers
While every Diamond Painting Kit comes with both a Diamond Pen and a set of tweezers, many people prefer the pen. The tweezers are definitely not for everyone, but the precision of the motion is like layering a little game of "Operation" onto the process!
Tweezers are ideal if you're working with a Partial Drill kit or one with special diamonds. The tweezers help you clamp onto the diamond easily regardless of its shape.
3. Great Big Diamond Wheel™
This method is a bit advanced, and may take a bit of maneuvering, but it really speeds things up once you get rolling! Use the Paint With Diamonds Great Big Diamond Wheel™ to apply dozens of diamonds in a single go.
Make sure to line up your roller perfectly before you start, or your row may be ever so slightly off! It may take a bit of practice, but this method is a huge time-saver.
2. Row By Row / Multi-Placer
For a lot of people, the "aha" moment of flipping over your Diamond Pen and using the Multi-Placer tool comes way too late. But once you've enjoyed the splendors of going row by row, there's no turning back.
1. The Checkerboard
"Checkerboarding" refers to the process of first filling in every other square in a section of your Diamond Painting, then going back and filling in the gaps. The process works ideally with large areas containing a single color.
With Checkerboarding, your second approach to fill in the empty spaces is super satisfying, because each and every diamond "snaps" into place. You also don't have to worry about keeping your rows straight - things just tend to straighten themselves out!
What's Your Favorite Technique?
Which one of the techniques do you prefer using? Or maybe you have a special technique that only you know about? Let the world know in the comments below, or join the chat in the Paint With Diamonds Facebook Support Group!
Comments
Tiffiny Howell said:
I seen one of your “speed play” videos about the “Great Big Diamond Wheel”; and it showed some sort of double sided tape that u put on the wheel so the diamonds stick to the wheel itself..🤔? I looked everywhere on ur website for it but all I see is the “Diamond Wheel” set of 3. Before I buy it I would like to know how does the diamonds stick to the great Big Diamond Wheel? Thank u!
September 07, 2021
Cynthia M Morgan said:
I need some Circles drill how do I buy some
September 07, 2021
Ellen said:
The wheel tool I have used. For the people asking where to get one look on this webpage at accessories there may be one here. Or Amazon’s website and look up diamond painting tools and the tool ( wheel ) that is used here is for sale there too .
May 19, 2021
Mary said:
I have a hard time picking up the diamonds with the pen. Ive used tje pink wax pad but thar doesnt help
May 18, 2021
Suzanne said:
I’ve done 3 paintings so far. They were round diamonds. Easy peasy! I recently received a custom order picture of my 2 boys and my mom. It came with the square diamonds. What’s the secret to keeping the diamonds squared off??
And why can’t I post a picture of it here?
March 22, 2021
Maureen Bonneau said:
How do you make the rows completely straight. I have the ruler with the holes but half of the time
when I remove the ruler many of the diamond are still in the ruler. What can I do different?
March 09, 2021
Diane said:
The custom painting is much sticker and hard to wwork with. Any ideas
February 24, 2021
lynne collins said:
Is there a spray product for the diamond art when finished the project.
February 24, 2021
Vickie said:
Thank you Sophia Lewis for the answer to the straight lined tray, it works. One other thing please: Does anyone have a problem with the light/white colors of the diamonds not coming anywhere near the picture that was ordered? I have gray snow, not white as shown in the photo, and have had two other canvass’s almost as bad.
Thanks.
February 09, 2021
sophia lewis said:
hi NAOMI ANDERSON how you line the drills like in the photo gently shake the tray side to side not back and forth and mybe you need to put more diomands in the tray
February 09, 2021
MYRA said:
THERE IS NO WHEEL WITH THE KIT I FINALLY RECEIVED. AND THERE ARE TWO TOOLS WITH NO EXPLANATION, AND DO NOT SEE ON THIS SITE.
February 09, 2021
Vickie Bershaw said:
My keeping-it-fun-filling-a-large-field-of-one-color is by making geometric/abstract designs all over; have done the alphabet and some numbers; the designing it as I go is as much fun as filling in the areas. I also would like to know how to line up the tray with the diamonds and how to get them all upright. Thanks.
February 09, 2021
Gay Block said:
thanks, every bit adds more fun to this new addictive hobby; I am so glad
I have had PWD during this shut in time! thank you!
February 05, 2021
Jacqueline Parker said:
I want to know how you get your diamonds lined up in the tray as shown. My diamonds don’t line up like that and almost as many are upside down as the right way up. What am I doing wrong.
February 05, 2021
CAROL said:
I AM TOTALLY HOOKED ON DIAMND PAINTING! LOVE ALL THE TECHNIQUES. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY MOVING THE TAPE THAT WAS MENTIONED ON #5? THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT INSPIRATION. CAROL
February 05, 2021
Brenda Lee Kelly said:
Good morning,
Could you tell me when the painting dotz is finished, do you apply a spray or glue on the diamonds.
There is nothing that advised.
i tried Glue on one of them, but I don’t like the finish
REgards,
February 05, 2021
Pamela said:
I use the checkerboard technique to complete a canvas. I find the diamonds actually sit straighter.
I love doing PWD!
February 05, 2021
richard A klemm said:
Where do you get that Diamond Wheel — until now I have never heard of it !!
February 05, 2021
Sauce said:
would it be possible to show different glue tips “slowly?” Working with the pen is tedious at best, and I am not familiar with how to work with the pink square of glue. also, any tips on how to open the glue pen to refill it. It looks like it has glue, but won’t project forward. It is such a slow process. Why do all your samples have it on “SPEED PLAY?”
February 05, 2021
Kathy Keffer said:
This my first one. I just started going from right to left so I cover the sticky part. Do you have to put some kind of finish on when you are done? Would love any suggestions someone might have. I love doing it!!!!!!!
February 05, 2021
Lisa Strom said:
I have more than one technique. I like to use the checkerboard with large areas of same color and square drills. I use the color by color method most of the time. However, I’m going to try the organized chaos on my next project as it has a lot colors. Thanks for sharing❣️
February 05, 2021
Janice Domke said:
I didn’t know there was a Diamond Wheel!!! WOW!!!
February 05, 2021
Naomi Anderson said:
How do you get the drill lined up in your tray face up? There are very few that line up.
February 05, 2021
Susan said:
I use the checkerboard system. It seems to work best for me
February 05, 2021
karen davis said:
how much is the great big diamond wheel & where do I get one?
thanks
February 05, 2021