We LOVE diamond painting. There's absolutely nothing better than unboxing a new kit, prepping your canvas and tools, and spending countless hours putting diamonds to canvas to slowly reveal a masterpiece of your own making.
Fortunately, we're not alone in our addiction to this amazing new craft hobby! The passionate folks over at the official Paint With Diamonds Support Group are always sharing progress, tips, and tricks that make paint with diamonds lovers absolutely giddy!
We've gone through hundreds of posts to find the best paint with diamonds tips and tricks. Read ahead for our favorites!
7. Use egg cartons to organize your diamonds
Raise chickens? Or did you just cook an omelette and use up all your eggs? Use the container to organize your diamonds! Courtesy of Niña Conklin.
6. Tape or glue your diamonds next to their symbol on the canvas.
Easily reference the diamonds you need at quick glance! Tip courtesy of Heidi Proctor and Angela Earley!
5. Use a marker to put the number or symbol on each diamond bag.
If egg cartons aren't your style, simply sort the diamonds into the plastic Ziploc bags included in your kit. Then write the corresponding number or symbol on the outside of the bag. Tip thanks to Kelsey Kelso Bjork!
4. Use a cutting board as a flat surface for your canvas.
Can't find a good surface to use to complete your paint with diamonds? Just tape the canvas to a normal kitchen cutting board! Just wash it first ;). Thanks for the tip, Suzie Pini van Deurs!
3. Use a multi-diamond applicator tool to speed up the process!
Don't be afraid to pick up more than one diamond at a time! Most of our kits come with a double-sided tool that lets you pick up one diamond at a time, or a bunch! Tip courtesy of Brooke Stubbs.
2. Flatten your canvas by sleeping on it. Literally.
This one comes straight from Ali King, who says, "put it between two pieces of cardboard. Put that under my mattress and sleep on it overnight. Works great! I do that once I'm done with it as well, just to make sure all the diamonds are fully adhered."
1. Stop static cling with dryer sheets.
Isn't it annoying when your diamonds stick to everything BUT the canvas? PWD fan Ariel Rocha recommends cutting up a dryer sheet and placing small pieces of it in whatever you are storing the gems in. Game changer!
Have an awesome tip that we missed? Leave it in the comments below! And don't forget to share this post with your fellow die-hard paint with diamonds fans!
Comments
Sue said:
I put my diamonds in pill containers. I number them 1 through 7. 8-14 & so on. They close tight. Works perfectly
June 20, 2018
Stacy said:
I use craft boxes for my diamonds and use a label maker to mark the numbers of the beads. Oh and use a mini spoon (cocktail spoon) to get some of your bead out of the containers. Works great.
June 20, 2018
Donna Christopher said:
These are some wonderful ideas!
May 24, 2018
Barbara said:
Any hints on the best way to frame your picture when finished?
June 20, 2018
Melissa L. said:
I use those little clear plastic condiment cups with lids to store my diamonds. Label each cup and lid with the number and symbol and I’m good to go.
June 20, 2018
Tonya Riddle said:
I am new to this whole thing but I can tell you one thing. I love it. But I have found that using the little cups that ppl use for making jello shots works wonders for keeping all of your diamonds safe and then you just use a dry erase marker to put the corresponding number, letter or symbol on it. It works great.
June 20, 2018
Tammy said:
Looking for some good sea turtle pictures. Any coming out in the near future?
June 20, 2018
Sheryl Beynon said:
Instead of an egg carton, I use a recipe box. Just put the bagged diamonds between blank cards with the number written on them.
June 20, 2018
Cheryl Warden said:
Would love to see a PWD Carousel or a Carousel Horse
June 20, 2018
Michelle Niemand said:
Working on my first project, Memory In A Jar! I am hooked on this, can’t wait to finish this one and start another. Only problem is it takes so long to arrive, I am not patient.
June 20, 2018
Nadene said:
Is there anything you can coat the finished work with to keep beads from falling off
June 20, 2018
Liz dowdy said:
I save our brown medicine containers and store diamonds in then. Ust black marker to put number on bottle.
June 20, 2018
Pamela W said:
While my order that I am waiting on will be my first from PWD I have done quite a few kits prior to this but not as large as what I have ordered. I would love to see more paintings that may be used for a child’s room? Boys especially as they love super heroes and more! I use 5 gram containers with screw on tops. I label them with the DMC numbers so that they can be used if needed for other projects. I only pull those containers that are needed for the current project I am working on and make up new ones for new colors. I also, because I have back problems use and Easel and a huge A2 light box which saves my back and eyes! Comfort is imperative when you have medical issues and this makes it a very relaxing experience for me.
June 20, 2018
Raquel Wright said:
What about doing professional themed kits? (i.e. teachers, doctors, lawyers, chefs, etc.) Any profession will suffice. Even sports themes, holidays, college teams, NFL, NBA, shopping, quotes….the list could go on for hours. I’m so addicted….i’d buy them all!
November 20, 2018
debbie said:
hey michelle macdiamond, check out a few of the diamond paining sites on facebook! i know ive seen some Harley pics, on at least one, but ive ordered from a few different ones i can rem which one i saw them on. they were really cool. my hubby and i are Harley riders ourselves. =) my tip is that i like to have several different colors going at once so i make small slips of paper with the symbol on it and put them my green trays so i can keep track of which colors/symbols are in each tray. that way i can keep going without having to stop to change colors so often and i put the little slips of paper in my diamond storage box with the diamonds it goes with. love the tips!
November 20, 2018
Sherry Simpson said:
I use a lightbox when working with dark canvas.It works wonders when trying to distinguish dark numbers that lay side to side..
November 20, 2018
Nena Martinez said:
My 6 year grandson did the little Four Color frog that came in one of my kits it took him a little over an hour he loved it and did a really good job. Plus we spent time together it was a memory he will love. You need more kits for little kids like that primary colours and small easy to do great for hand eye coordination and colours shapes. I need to find some more easy ones for him it is a reward for him and a blessed memory for me.
November 20, 2018
Jeanine said:
So wat do I do with the leftover diamonds that I have .
November 20, 2018
Vita Hardy said:
How do you frame your pictures
November 20, 2018
Carol Vance said:
Looking for St Michael’s Square, Venice Italy. I thought I saw it at one time.
June 20, 2018
Lisa Maxick said:
When you want to flatten the canvas out when you first get it and then also when you are done and want to keep the beads on the canvas place it in between two cardboards or anything else that is flat and hard and then place some books on the top of them overnight. I use yearbooks since they are so heavy and it works perfect every time. It really helps once you are done to keep everything in place and then you no longer have to worry about anything falling out when moving things around.
June 20, 2018
Rhonda said:
I purchased a 7 day pill storage container to store my beads in.
June 20, 2018
Cathy Shira said:
What does full drill mean?
June 20, 2018
Shirley said:
I ordered 2 peacock pictures today 4/19/18, I hope I didn’t make a mistake. I know I should have ordered one since this is my first order but I wanted a set. I love peacock birds, they are so beautiful.
June 20, 2018
Tammy Aclin said:
When I finish my beautiful PWD, my husband helps hold it still while I take a rolling pin and roll all over it to make sure all the diamonds stay put
April 18, 2018
Jeannette Young said:
After I’m all done I use a microfiber to wipe any excess of the pink glue off of the drills. Shines them right up!
April 17, 2018
Jennifer Standfield said:
When I am finished my painting I use a rolling pin (used only for painting) and roll it over the whole picture and that way you know every diamond is attached and sitting flat.
March 31, 2018
Jennifer Standfield said:
I use a 40 draw container (that you buy to sort out your screws,nails etc) to store my diamonds in and I numbered each draw 1-40 then when I get my picture I number it 1-40 top to bottom and I can store my pens wax and trays in it as well.You can get them usually from anywhere you can buy screw nuts bolts or cheap shops. I love the idea of sticking the colored diamond beside the number too. Thanks for the tips
March 31, 2018
michelle macdiarmid said:
it would be nice also if they did motorcycles harley davidsons and unique ones if possible how about clow in the dark ones that would be so awesome thank you
March 31, 2018
Holly said:
I use a pill box to sort my diamonds. I cut a little strip of paper in each section to label my diamonds
March 31, 2018
Allison Russo said:
If you have trouble getting two gems unstuck, use either your fingers to separate them or use tweezers.
March 30, 2018
Allison Russo said:
If you have problems getting a diamond with pen, then try using the tweezers.
March 30, 2018
Barbara Winters said:
These are some very useful hints here.
March 24, 2018
Barbara Winters said:
I use a pill holder, the box with different days for pills for 4 a day for 7 days. They have lids and are easy to get to. question? Do the larger pictures have a larger drill or are they all the same size?
March 24, 2018
Joan Mallin said:
Would love to do one with giraffes .
March 18, 2018
Cindy Stidham said:
I’m new to this but found out right away if you shake your diamonds gently in the green tray that come with, they will land right side up so it will be faster to get started! I was turning them all right side up with the tweezers one at a time but soon found out that if you shake them in the try they almost all land right side up!!!! I love it!!!!
March 17, 2018
Karen said:
Sharon from Feb 9, 2018 had a great idea about a copy of the pattern. My canvas had too many blurry symbols to be able to distinguish the correct color, I basically guessed on placing the tiles based on the surrounding squares.
March 12, 2018
diane desousa said:
I order a Christmas picture last year and I just love it It came out so nice that I would love to order more Christmas picture from you and have them done before Christmas and give them has a gift Why cannt I order any there are no picture to pick from
March 07, 2018
Dorothy L said:
I would like to see some patriotic pictures. Also, I love the square beads rather than the round ones. They provide a better coverage in my opinion. I also like the full drill pictures the best since I just love doing these, why do just a partial picture.
March 04, 2018
Tracy Kinder said:
I got an awesome top from my mom. I want to the dollar store and got a bunch of pill containers. I got the multicolor stackable, round containors. They come seven in a pack. Also put file tab stickers on the outside with the number.
February 28, 2018
helen said:
looking for picture of a scottie dog
February 19, 2018
Cindy Trosclair said:
Occasionally, I get wax coming out around the edges of the stylus and diamond when placing them on the canvas. If you take your stylus, put it on the back of your hand or arm, and twist it back and forth, the wax goes back up into the tip of the stylus!
February 18, 2018
Carol lackey said:
I have not received my kit yet and was concerned about what to use to sort my diamond colors. I am going to use fast food hot sauce tubs with lids. Won’t cost me any money either!
February 10, 2018
Sharon said:
It would be great if you could get a copy of the pattern that you’re working on (I ordered one with several grays and blacks) so you can enlarge it and make the coded symbols a little bigger. As a member of the “needs reading glasses” club, those symbols are TINY when you’re trying to decide between a $ and a %.
Otherwise, a very fun project.
February 09, 2018
Ashley Pohlod said:
I just dropped a bunch on the carpet and used a pair of pantyhose at the end of my vacuum and sucked them up! Highly suggest it if you drop some!
February 08, 2018
Sandra Gilders said:
would like to see any wolves,,
February 08, 2018
Margaret Fox said:
I hate all those crazy symbles that are used to mark color stones. Why not just use numbers and or letters. Would make it alot easier for the crafter!
February 07, 2018
Denise Jensen said:
Never tried it would like to join
February 01, 2018
Karen Scruggs said:
I used a mini muffin pan (24 holes) for the diamonds. Taped the number next to the spot and works well for storage.
February 01, 2018
Patricia Conner said:
Got my first kit a few days ago and love it. I read somewhere to use the Press and Seal and apparently did not use it correctly. Some of it got stuck to the adhesive backing on the picture and when I tried to peel back the Press an Seal it stuck an lifted some of the adhesive backing off, so now there are a few small areas where the diamonds aren’t sticking. What would be the best way to get the diamonds to stick in those areas? Thanks!
January 28, 2018