Raise your hand if you've ever made a mistake when Diamond Painting ✋
Maybe your fur baby managed to roll all over your canvas. Perhaps you removed the entire cover all at once and your glue dried. Whatever the case may be, IT'S OKAY - we're only human.
So with this in mind, here are the 7 most common Diamond Painting mistakes that people make, and how to avoid them. Learn from other people's mistakes so you don't make them too!
7. Not Wiping Your Painting Down Before You Seal It
Before you go to seal your finished canvas, make sure to use a wet wipe or moist towel to give your painting a good once-over. Remove any dust or dirt before applying sealant, or you may get unsightly dust clumps (image credit: Sue Small).
6. Allowing Fur Babies (Too) Close To Your Canvas
We have absolutely nothing against Diamond Painting with your fur babies keeping you company. But make sure they don't make a quick jump onto an exposed sticky area of your canvas, or you'll have to spend time de-furring your canvas (image credit: Sue Small).
PRO TIP: To remove hair, paper, etc. from your canvas, wipe down the affected area with a wet wipe or moist towelette.
5. Keeping Food & Drinks In Your Workspace
It's perfectly fine to have a snack when you Paint With Diamonds - lord knows I do! Just make sure to keep your workspace clear to avoid spilling any food or drinks on your canvas (image: Amber Lowrie).
PRO TIP: To remove small amount of liquid, just use a blow dryer on low heat to dry your canvas right up! If there are any spots that aren't sticky, just dab a touch of fabric glue on the area.
4. Not Closing Diamond Containers While Working
After you're done pouring out your diamonds, always close your diamond vials and storage containers! Avoid nasty diamond piles sticking to your canvas.
3. Resting Your Arm On Your Canvas
Have you ever found yourself unpeeling your forearm from your canvas? Lyndsey Hymes shares her tip for avoiding this sticky situation: "I took a section of parchment paper big enough for the side of my hand and laid it down so my hand doesn't stick to the canvas and move as needed ... works like a charm!"
2. Placing Diamonds On The Wrong Symbol
When you're in a groove, it may be a while before you take a step back and realize an entire area has the wrong color diamonds in it. The horror!
One way to avoid this mistake - when you turn a large painting upside-down to work on it, remember to also turn your sorter upside down to so you don't mix up similar symbols - like your 6s and 9s! (image: Cheryl Hope).
1. Removing The Entire Cover Paper All At Once
Of course it may be tempting to peel back the entire canvas cover to reveal the design hiding beneath. However, doing so will expose your canvas adhesive to stuff like animal fur, dust, or dirt, resulting in diamonds not sticking properly. Areas of your canvas may also dry out before you can even get to them!
To avoid this, we recommend removing the cover and working on your painting in rectangular sections. You also get a nice sense of satisfaction when each section is completed.
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What did you think of our mistakes? Have you made any of these yourself? Any wise tips for your fellow Diamond Painters? Leave your thoughts in the comments!
Oh, and btw - if you ever make a mistake and you bought your kit from Paint With Diamonds, feel free to take advantage of our Oh Sh*t Insurance - free with every order!
Comments
Pam said:
What do you use to seal the painting without taking away the sparkle?
February 24, 2021
Charlane said:
On my first picture, very enjoyable, but I exposed to much of the glue while working on various colours and the cellophane cover is sticking badly what can be used to remoisten the glue in unfinished spots? Thanks for any help!
February 24, 2021
Kelly said:
Great tips! I’m still waiting for my order but can’t wait to start.
January 29, 2021
Patricia said:
I’m getting ready to order my 1st. After reading all this, I’m not sure if I’m ready or not!!!!! Seems sooo much to watch out for. I saw a friend doing this, but she is no longer with us for me to get a show an tell.
If anyone could share anything I’d be most grateful. I think I read the squares are easier - any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank You Ladies——Let’s have fun in spite of Mr. C.
Patricia
January 18, 2021
Alexiaa said:
An adhesive for dried out glue spots, Joann Fabrics sells diamond painting paste. It’s actually made for it. Either go to their store to pick up same day, or have them deliver it! It sometimes goes on sale up to 50% off. Full price for it is under $10 at this time.
January 13, 2021
ken cates said:
I have received my first Diamond Dotz and Iam having a real problem with the glare. I can only do it for thirty minutes at a time before it effects my eyes. I have a light board and overhead lighting and a Otti light. My husband wonders if i should use my sun glases Do you have any suggestionsThanks
January 13, 2021
Amanda said:
If like me you fall asleep while diamond painting and you tip your drills on the carpet put some old pantyhose/stockings over the end of the vacuum nozzle while you vacuum the floor. You get all your drills back safely.
January 13, 2021
Janel said:
When I start a new project, I always take the directions with the drills numbers/symbols and type them into a spread sheet that I can blow up to read easier. I then put all my drills in order in a organized boxes (https://www.joann.com/tiny-container-bead-storage-tray/12869020.html). This make finding my drills so much easier and also finding what drill I need per symbol a lot easier since it is attached to my work area.
One thing I would love to see is if someone out there could put all the symbols online somewhere so that I can just copy and paste them into my spreadsheet when ready. Currently I have to search for all the symbols and it can be time consuming, but worth it!
January 02, 2021
Jan said:
I do not do a section at a time. I do all one color at a time. I just cover the picture with parchment paper when I am not painting so no dust gets on it. I don’t like having too many different beads out a time….too confusing for me lol
January 02, 2021
Catherine L Batchelor said:
I go to Michael’s and by the mod podge high gloss. It also has some for sparkly areas. Use a square sponge for only 99 cents. I just started my 50th one and have seven on order. Addiction, anyone. LOL
December 23, 2020
Tina said:
I am now doing my third one and am so addicted, a friend brought me four of hers since I get them done so quickly. I have bought five for gifts and I am praying they get here next week. I ordered them Nov. 11th.
December 16, 2020
Linda Langer said:
You never say what to seal diamonds with. I don’t want to cover up the pretty glitter but seal the picture
December 16, 2020
Gina Cox said:
Hi
My problem is that in Australia I find the round beads not to all be the same size and so when placing them , especially in a large area such as a background, I can’t get them all straight. This is really stressful as I want the finished product to look really uniform and straight but it ends up looking all wobbly no matter what I do. The beads also tend to puff out when you put pressure on them, such as when you place them, and that makes it hard to keep them perfectly lined up.
So far I have only found them in the bargain shops here, as we have been in “Lockdown” due to Covid-19 for most of the year, and the ones coming from overseas take up to 3 months to get here and are 5-6 times the price. I find $72 for a canvas a bit expensive.
December 16, 2020
Cindy said:
Thanks for the info. I use a lightup board that I bought to go under the canvas which helps a great seeing the symbols. I peel only a little of the plastic covering back and work in that area. I usually start in the corner on the right side of the canvas as my hand then is on the covering and work to the left. I am right handed. When done. I roll the plastic covering back over it, lay it flat and put a large book over it to secure diamonds. When finished. I keep the plastic covering over it flat with a book on it until I get it framed. I save all my diamonds from my kits and combine the same colors in 1 vial. I also bought the tic tac jars container to keep my tools and dots together and organized. I have done around a dozen of these. Fun and relaxing to do.
December 16, 2020
Kristina~~ said:
Hey! If you guys are wondering what to seal those sticky edges with, just take some kind of glue (preferably after diamonding), whether it be elmer’s or another off brand glue. I have those big gallons on elmer’s from my old hobbies of acrylic pour and still have a bunch. I would take a cup (diy container, take a cup and cut off thebottom, then use that) or small container, fill it with the glue, (you could also use mod-podge) and take a brush, maybe a sponge brush for better coverage, and then just put the glue on. If you want it to dry faster, you could use a blowdryer, and if it has a cool setting, use that. Hope I helped some!
-Kristina~~
December 16, 2020
Jacqui said:
I have found that using a scalpel to cut out sections instead of cutting squares of parchment paper is a much easier and less time consuming. You can also use it on the edges where the adhesive overlaps the image so you don’t have to worry about you arm sticking to it while working.
December 16, 2020
Karen said:
Is it even necessary to use a sealant when you are going to put your finished product in a glassed frame
December 16, 2020
Karen said:
What are the tips talked about a sealant to put on the diamond painting once done
I have never seen or heard of a sealant
December 16, 2020
Debi Morgan said:
I bought a wood pants hanger that presses together to hang dress pants by the bottom of them. I painted the hangers with holiday colors and put sprigs of holly or other holiday items at the top. The hangers are perfect for my 10×10 Christmas canvases. I hang them with Command hooks which come down easily after the holidays.
December 16, 2020
Debi Morgan said:
I just finished my very first painting which was a gift to me. Several mistakes, but not all were my mistakes. The snowman picture showed him with an orange mouth and a black line for a mouth. There were no orange beads and no lines or color changes on the canvas for the nose and mouth. I used a fine point sharpie to add these features and others that were messed up. My friend gave me orange beads left over from one of her paintings (always save your extras just in case!). When finished I used spray mod podge to seal the painting. It held it perfectly and even rolling up keeps it sealed.
December 16, 2020
Annie Bentley said:
I am addicted and I have found if you go to Harbor freight you can get a magnified light that helps in seeing your work and you can mount it to your work space quite easily. I have done 5 and love doing them. So relaxing and thank you for the tips
December 16, 2020
Marie F Stoves said:
My dyslexic 17 year old uses her project to calm herself when she feels angry or frustrated. I might just add this to her IEP and get her an ’emergency" kit for school.
Question. Can a kit in progress be rolled up for storage? Currently my 2 kids fit flat inside a thin briefcase with all the supplies. But I am looking at the larger ones for better quality.
December 16, 2020
Marie F Stoves said:
Before putting my project away I go over it firmly with a rolling pin. This insures each drill is secure.
I also read a suggestion that, after wiping it down to clean off the pink stuff, sprinkle it with mica dust. This is sold in painting supplies at craft shops. It will stick to the canvas between drills. It’s clear but shines and is said to give a very nice additional sparkle to the project. And hides the gaps found with round drills.
December 16, 2020
Kathie Mecham said:
Thank you so much for this info. The three major problems I had before requesting this info. #1. I tried to do all the same color drills at once, instead of doing a rectangle. The film that covered the picture was like cellophane and I couldn’t see where I had already cut it to access the drills under other areas. Now I know to do a corner at a time.
#2. After I had put so many cuts in the clear covering, it just fell apart. I thought, I’ll use wax paper. Good idea, but the wax melted on my picture and made the paper stick. Now I know to use parchment paper, and use a damp cloth to get the wax paper remnants off.
#3. I had areas where the glue on the mat would not stick . I purchased a pin tip glue at JoAnns and just added a very small amount of glue to the canvas. The drills did fine after that.
I’m sure I will have other problems before I get this first one done, but I will be checking back here daily! Thanks Again for all of your help.
April 17, 2020
Patricia Fedele said:
Some t imes Addy decides she wants to sit right in the middle of the picture as I work./////?
April 17, 2020
Carol said:
I want to comment on 2 items mentioned. The first is the sticky area around the picture itself. Put a strip of tape around the edges of the picture, lifting 1 side at a time of the paper cover. Works easier than nail polish. The second is sealing the picture. I have found through Amazon, inexpensive wood frames. I have done about a dozen pictures. The picture sizes are odd , for example, 7 1/2 × 11 1/2. I buy an 8×12 and color the edge of the finished picture with black. It fits right in the frame with no white showing. The picture is shiny through the glass. Non-glare glass or plastic does not do the finished product justice.
April 04, 2020
Evelyn. Cabral said:
On the stickeness of the sides and top and bottom. They do get kind of dirty looking. I use liquid white out to make it blend in before framing
April 01, 2020
Evelyn. Cabral said:
On the stickeness of the sides and top and bottom. They do get kind of dirty looking. I use liquid white out to make it blend in before framing
April 02, 2020
jane Starr said:
I also have done a lot of Painting with Diamonds. For the line around the project that is sticky, I bought a roll of narrow (1/4") tape to put over this sticky area to keep my hand from sticking to it. Works like a charm!
April 02, 2020
SHIRLEY said:
just done my first one, lot of mistakes but biggest one was looking at the first row of numbers. once I taped it off it went a whole lot better. I used the middle row which are the symbols and the third row which is the drill/diamond number.
April 02, 2020
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April 17, 2020
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April 17, 2020
jackie said:
I have done a lot of diamond paintings. I agree with Joann about flattening your painting pull back one corner of the cover ,put it back down. Next corner repeat. Do all corners and its flat. now the wrinkles are from the glue. i have taken the bottom if my pen and smooth that glue back down , just were its crested , it helps keep the diamonds from popping up there. Another tip i have run into a lot , keep your extra diamonds. i keep mine in little tiny bags . I have had companys not send a color or i run out of a color ,and they say they will send you some more. they dont. Its maddening.
March 03, 2020
Sunni said:
I have used Spraynet to seal painting and to stick diamonds when no glue ie on edges!
Has worked so far and framed under glass protection is the best!
January 26, 2020
Cherie said:
Thank for let me know if happen what do next..
I finish 2 diamond art so far and what do after finish what use..? And where I can find frame fit that size??
January 26, 2020
Bambi said:
I did a Cinderellas castle to go with my Disney kitchen. I polyurethaned it to my kitchen island an it turned out beautiful.
January 26, 2020
Bambi said:
I love doing these. I did a large Cinderella’s castle to go with my Disney kitchen. I polyurethaned it to my island an it looks be
January 26, 2020
Carol said:
Which do you prefer- round or square, and why?
January 26, 2020
Jiffy Naumann said:
I have probably done a dozen pictures and of course I have made some of these mistakes. The worst mistake I made was when peeling the protective cover off, I went down to far and pulled up the tacky covering with the pattern on it. It totally ruined the picture and I had to re-order. A word to the wise, if you have long finger nails be very careful the first time you pull off the white covering.
January 26, 2020
Christie said:
I use the spray Mod Podge so seal my pictures. I’m sure the brush on would work. The spray is just easier.
January 26, 2020
Mary Bragg said:
https://paintwithdiamonds.com/blogs/pwd-insider/how-to-seal-your-diamond-painting That gives you the instructions
January 26, 2020
Beverly Burton said:
I have done about 10 of these now and all I use to “seal” them is CLEAR ELMER’S GLUE. I pour a glob of glue in the center and then take a diamond pen with a long end on it and that is what I use to spread the glue around. Once I make sure the whole picture is covered with glue, then I put it under my t.v. for a couple of days. And if I am giving it away to someone, I tell them that it’s covered with glue and try not to hang or put it in a place where the sun or heat is going to be right on it. Hope this helps.
January 26, 2020
Wendy Ugursay said:
Hi could you please tell me what sealant I can use as I have done quite a few and have never sealed them , I am doing a painting at the moment where the diamonds a popping up and I’m hoping to be able to seal this one to prevent this happening when I’m finished.
January 26, 2020
Wendy Ugursay said:
Hi could you please tell me what sealant I can use as I have done quite a few and have never sealed them , I am doing a painting at the moment where the diamonds a popping up and I’m hoping to be able to seal this one to prevent this happening when I’m finished.
January 26, 2020
Nicole said:
If you can, buy a floor mat if you work on a carpet. This can be a nice non-slip one for only about $10 at most office stores. Then go to a craft store and buy a round of thick trim edging, soft and flexible. It can be any shape, or make it decorative to match, just make sure its three diamonds tall. Glue the edges of the mat, but leave a space in the back in the middle the has a taped piece of edging or even sticky tack it on, just removable and the tape/tack removable. The space should be about an inch to two inches max. If you spill or knock the diamonds from the table, most will fall on the mat if the mat covers your area and about 10-15 inches on the sides. Pull the taped/tacked piece off along with what holds it down and move your chair. Simply roll the mat up from both sides. The diamonds will fall to the center as you roll, and then tilt the mat so they fall safely to the storage container from the open space. The mat will roll with flexible trim back up for storage, and you won’t need to vacuum each time you use it. It also then could go with you if you paint on the go. It works if you have carpet, textured carpet, or even wood and laminate. It saves you from picking crumbs, pet fur, or dust bunnies out when a spill happens too.
January 16, 2020
Deanna Rey said:
All these are on point!
One thing I would address is the adhesive between the design and the fabric canvas. There is a strip of tape that does not have a design but is still sticky. If it is not taken care of, it tends to collect dust and dirt – and it creates a brown gross frame around the design.
One thing I do is use white nail polish to paint over the adhesive. That way the new color of the adhesive strip blends in with the white fabric canvas, and it looks classy.
January 16, 2020
Maggie Howington said:
What sealant are you talking about-I do not think I had anything in my set to seal the finished product-I did the Blue Owl. Please let me know.
January 16, 2020
Chloe Ross said:
Hello, how do I know what will be the correct size for a photo because I have done pictures of these before and it didn’t come out detailed , it just looked pixelated
January 16, 2020
Sarah O'Brien said:
I have a light tip but its sealed at both ends. So im wondering how i go about using it?
January 16, 2020
Thiry kassuba said:
HUMOR: I never make mistakes! I thot I did once, but i was wrong…
January 16, 2020