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
Ruth Rudolph said:
To avoid pop off beads, I roll over my completed canvas with a rubber roller and then paint over it with clear mod pudge, does not hinder diamond shine at all!
June 04, 2019
Darlene said:
after you are finished the painting do you put some thing to hold the diamonds in?
June 04, 2019
Bonnie Gallimore said:
I love my diamond art. I found to flatten the picture is the put books on it overnight. And then when done do the same thing. It helps to keep beads from coming up. I have framed all my pictures and none of the beads have come up. I tried to keep my beads in small plastic bottles but too hard to get top off without spilling them. So I use small plastic bags and mark each one with the number and symbol.
June 04, 2019
Lisa Oswald said:
What do people do with left over diamonds when their done?
June 04, 2019
Danielle said:
I love using Blue Tac instead of the pink was included in the kits. It last much longer!
June 04, 2019
Rae Hogsten said:
I too would like to know what to do about beads that pop off. One person mentioned midge podge. Does that take away from the sheen of the bead after application?
June 04, 2019
Lee Ann Hutton said:
I’ve done 7 canvases so far and there is never enough zip lock bags to put all colors in.
June 04, 2019
Tara L Monette said:
Becky Webb Horten
I had the same issue with my work popping out.
My sister suggested puzzle paint. At Walmart, I found clear semigloss spray on glue by Rustoleum in their paint section. Seems to work pretty well. Just make sure you use in a well ventilated area!!!!
June 04, 2019
Tara L Monette said:
After a while, the wax can get a bit tough to manage. I use a rolling pin to rework the wax and keep it supple!
I also use the rolling pin to secure my work! To me it’s just as important as the rest of my tools.
June 04, 2019
Tara L Monette said:
So I found out my diamonds will start to peel away from the canvas and start sticking to my hand or arm instead, ESPECIALLY after working with a canvas that is larger than my forearm long.
To fix this, I place a standard sheet of paper under my arm as I work. My diamonds stay in place and the paper glides easily over the placed diamonds.. win-win!
June 04, 2019
Lone Kristensen said:
When I finish a painting, I take my rolling pin and give the painting “a good roll” just to make sure every diamond stays in place before framing.
June 04, 2019
Lone Kristensen said:
When I finish a painting, I take my rolling pin and give the painting “a good roll” just to make sure every diamond stays in place before framing.
June 04, 2019
Rosella Beeman said:
My diamonds are hard to pick up what do I do
June 04, 2019
Michael Roush said:
My favorite is number 6
June 04, 2019
Carla Woods said:
I cut the extra edges off and I buy canvas for painting and use spray adhesive and then tacky glue along the edges. You can paint the edges or leave them. It is a less expensive way to frame. I also cut stiff foam board and glue the canvas to them (leave about half an inch to an inch of the edge of canvas and then when you get it glued on you can put a colored duck tape on the edges like a frame, then use a triangle hanger or glued piece of ribbon on back and a push pin to hold in wall. IA do this for those sizes that it is impossible to find a frame and if you do a lot of pictures it is very expensive to have them all custom framed. I also go to garage sales, thrift stores and look for frames. If they are a little big you can put scrap paper around the picture to frame it in the frame. I have found if I spill my diamonds on the floor a damp sponge helps to pick them up. If you find out that your diamonds won’t stick in a big areas of the canvas notify the seller and ask for a new one or a refund. The same for missing diamonds, there is nothing more frustrating then getting almost done and find you are missing diamonds even when you have the number of packets they say. Hope this helps. I have done over 40 of them in the last 9 months. Love them.
June 04, 2019
Nancy said:
Why aren’t there more round diamond projects. I seem to work with those better and if there are more where do I get those
June 04, 2019
Deb said:
When I have completed a picture, I use a rolling pin on the picture. That pops any loose diamonds into place then I paint on a thick coat of Mod . It secures the diamonds, then frame.
June 04, 2019
Tammy S. said:
For storing beads I use the daily pill boxes which is sold @ Walmart by the pharmacy. Very inexpensive .88cents for a pack which is individual 14 compartments but in 1 box that each lid snap open and close. It has Sun.- Sat. printed on them but I write the numbers on little pieces of paper, then tape them with scotch tape over the paper. I know it’s alot of piddly work, but it works well for me!!! Plus it’s portable!!! Sometimes a couple of the lids don’t snap close tight so I use scotch tape to keep it closed so you don’t loose your beads.
June 04, 2019
Tina said:
I have so many left over diamonds
from kits what can I do with them all?? I have them all numbered, bagged, per kit. An there they set.
June 04, 2019
Victoria Hensley said:
Using those lil baby food jars or pimento jars are great for holding diamonds.
June 04, 2019
Victoria Hensley said:
Using those lil baby food jars or pimento jars are great for holding diamonds.
June 04, 2019
Penny Costello said:
I had a few pop off also. I Modge podge them. They come in all different shine’s. As for framing, I make my own.
June 04, 2019
Marlena said:
I know everyone says to start from the top right corner, but I start from the bottom and work up. This allows me to keep my tray and hands on the section already worked as I move upward. Also, I recommed a light pad to anyone doing a diamond painting. It was a total game changer for me!
June 04, 2019
Denise A Moen-Bishop said:
I purchased a container of 28 cubes that are in rows of 4 that I put the diamonds in and label with the matching symbol from Amazon. They also have the light board and the container for all of your supplies at a reasonable price
June 04, 2019
Joan MacLean said:
To flatten your canvas just peel back each of the 4 corners and lay them down again and that will flatten your canvas. So far I have never found any canvas this does not work with. Good luck and happy painting.
June 04, 2019
Shelley Wilson said:
Mendi
You can buy “diamond painting accessories “ on any site that sells diamond paintings; or use that phrase as a search
June 04, 2019
Megan said:
I use an old plastic tackle box thats flat to store my drills (with baggies I bought from the pill section at walmart perfect size) and keep my pic flat on top! I also use the multi colored stickers from yard sales to put the number and icon on my baggies! That way the bags are reusable!!
June 04, 2019
Carol Kitch said:
I think it would be extremely helpful if the tool for square diamonds would be square shaped I do believe they would be easier to place them then the round tip one.
June 04, 2019
Terra Crouch said:
Has anyone found a trick to quickly turn diamonds right side up?
June 04, 2019
Doreen R Bilier said:
What is the best way to do square I have not had much luck with them and I just orderd three.
June 04, 2019
Mary Ann Mikkelsen said:
I had a problem with some of my diamonds popping out. After I was finished I put thin coat o water soluble varnish all over and let it dry complete before i framed it. Nothing has move out of place so far, and it idin’t diminish the sparkle of the diamonds at all.
June 04, 2019
Joan said:
What do I need to do if I have to stop for any real length of time ? So the canvas stays sticky …
June 04, 2019
Isa Atkinson said:
My kit came but the symbols on the canvas dont match the legend to go by. Help!
June 04, 2019
Dana Young said:
I mixed all my diamond from the first painting. Is something I can make with the9 left over?
June 04, 2019
Rhonnda Opoien said:
I use pill container and number them according to list on canvas..ie..310=1, 458=2 etc..much easier and won’t spill
June 04, 2019
Carol Baker said:
A video I watched said that a glue stick could be used to cover any areas of your canvas that are no longer sticky.
June 04, 2019
Dawn said:
Baby food jars are great for storing the diamonds as well
June 04, 2019
Glenna Stratton said:
I use the LED lite tablet. It so much easier to see the numbers and letters. I ordered the large one
Works great. I have done over 50 pictures. Still have 20 to do
June 04, 2019
Judy Cavalier said:
I use my empty pill bottles to store my diamonds in. I wright the number on the cap of the bottle as well as on the side. I place the bottles in a box or plastic tray lined up numerically. This makes it so easy to locate the next number that I need.
June 04, 2019
Breanna D said:
I use bead storage stackable containers that come in their own little plastic case to sort diamonds. Usually get mine at hobby lobby
June 04, 2019
Lana said:
I separate my diamonds by using pill organizers. I use a piece of tape on the lids to write the numbers of the diamonds. They are reusable and take up little storage space.
Also, it was suggested that I spray a light coating of craft glue over the finished canvas before framing. This seals the diamonds to the canvas so the beauty of our craft can endure a longer life against climate change.
June 04, 2019
Debbie said:
I tape my canvas on to a glass coffee table and put a small LED light under it so it is easier to see the codes in each square for those of us that have bad eyes but love doing this craft.
June 04, 2019
Gail Johns said:
hey Becky try using Elmers Bond glue it drys clear. Or puzzle glue same thing so after you have placed diamonds put the glue on.
June 04, 2019
June said:
After you’re done with your painting use a rolling pin on it to make sure all your diamonds are secure
June 04, 2019
Lorraine Nielsen said:
What do you do with a large canvas and some diamonds stick and some don’t. Or they seem to and when you hold it up they fall off
HELP NEEDED
June 04, 2019
Tarlie said:
Use Blu tack instead of the red wax strip, the sticky lasts longer so less time adding and more time painting
June 04, 2019
Janice said:
Try using clear (not light pink) fingernail polish. I found some at the $1 store and any time those little devildrills don’t like where I put them I dab a little polish on. This can be done on the pattern or on the drills after they are down!
June 04, 2019
Stephanie said:
I use the little 24 jar clear bead organizers with the screw on lids. I just write the # on the top with a sharpie, if I need to erase it, rubbing alcohol takes it right off.
June 04, 2019
Melanie Mills said:
I do all these except egg cartons, those get turned into Firestarter but all the rest doing em all! They all work well. So I guess it’s true… great minds think alike!
June 04, 2019
Patrish said:
I can’t seem to get the drills to line up in the tracks of the tray as I’ve seen on so many utube videos. How do I get them to line up????!!! Also I’ve placed little squares (1"X1") of softener sheets in with my drills and after a few days, the drills go back to sticking together. HELP!!!!!! Az Addict to Diamond Painting
June 04, 2019