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
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
Angelica said:
Hey Tammy with the nonsticky canvas! If you’re really fond of it and want to finish it you can use fabric glue to stick the pieces on. Just make sure to only do a little bit at a time though, fabric glue dries up fast!
June 04, 2019
John Weber said:
I have gone to using 2 diamond pens, one in each hand. One pen has the wax to pick up the diamond and I barely apply pressure, just enough to pick it up and dab it where it goes on the canvas. Then I use the pen in my other hand; which has no wax, just as it comes in the package and position it perfectly and then press it down. This technique makes it that there is no gooy wax on the diamond nor the the wax ooze out all over the diamond. Since I use minimal wax on the one pen, it lasts for hundreds of diamonds before having to re-apply wax and there is no mess. Anyway, this works for me and once you get in a groove, things move along very quickly and there is no messy wax and the beads are perfectly aligned.
June 04, 2019
Elaine Middleton said:
If you have parts of canvas that are no longer sticky try using double sided sticky tape. It worked for me and you can still see symbols through it.
June 04, 2019
Carolyn Woodard said:
My completed pics were mounted on backer board (sticky works best) then shrink wrapped. It looks great and does not take away the sparkle.
June 04, 2019
Bridget said:
They sell boxes for beading at walmart for six dollars. Two is enough to hold every color I need. Super handy. I use a clipboard lap desk for the canvas. This is my favorite new hobby! The only problem is I’m always losing the wax 😂
June 04, 2019
Rachael RK said:
When I’ve completed a painting and pressed it for 24hours, I will then spray it with a clear acrylic spray sealer. It will not only help seel the gems in place, but it will give it an extra little shine.
June 04, 2019
Melissa said:
After you’ve finished, give your canvas an all over good press and apply puzzle glue!
June 04, 2019
Lori Korbe said:
How do you get the diamonds to stay on after you are done with it? Please help!
June 04, 2019
Angela Felix said:
What great ideas,thanks alot guy’s for sharing them.
June 04, 2019
Sandy said:
Most comments are great. The dryer sheets work well with the static on gems. Just cut small piece and put in container. Also have been looking for alternative for wax and Tac putty was suggested. Hope I can find it. My suggestion to all that have questions concerning “how to do” and “what are” should go to Utube there are plenty of videos out there. This is not a QAA.
June 04, 2019
Jo Brooks said:
My thanks to Dena Miller who suggested using a checkerboard arrangement to keep the crystals even. It works like a charm! Thank You, Dena!!
June 04, 2019
Dawn said:
I do put the painting in between my mattress, I use bags and label them, I fill up the pen with the waxy stuff it lasts longer. I have done at least 25 and I’m still on the same square I started with. I just love doing them, square stones look better but I still don’t have an issue, well I do them too fast 😊.
June 04, 2019
tina said:
Leave a couple diamonds from the previous color in case you missed one or two. You discover mistakes as you go. Turn your canvas slightly sideways to see if all diamonds are facing upwards.
March 05, 2019
Debbie said:
@Rebecca, to use the pen: pull back plastic cover on the red sticky square that is in the kit. Then stick the point of the pen into the sticky square. Now just put the pen over the diamond and it will stick to the pen until you put it onto the sticky canvas
March 05, 2019
Gloria said:
I have found it easy to use ice cubes trays, empty the diamonds into the cubes, not too many, then keep a list of the colours to go by.
March 05, 2019
RENEE L PLANT said:
Simply cut your top sheet into quarters and pull them off one at a time and it will completely unroll without any other effort. Also I line my bags of diamonds up in the box it came in by cutting off the top and using a piece of that to put where I took the bag from, easy to put back.
March 05, 2019
Becky Webb Horten said:
Need a solution for popping diamonds. I dont have the patient to sit and clip them to make them fit better. When I pay good $$ for these I dont understand why this cant be stopped. I have tried double sided tape, glue and few other things but none really help. I have one framed and the framing cost me over $80.00 and now there is a diamond that has popped off behind glass, how do I fix that?
March 05, 2019
Kathy J. said:
I use those little plastic containers with lids that pizza shops put condiments in. You can purchase a bag of them. I put a label on each one. They are easy to pour that way. I use heavy craft board fro dollar general to tape my picture on while working. As for framing, il love the look of artist canvas. You can cut your painting to fit and even paint the edges to match.
March 05, 2019
Mendi said:
I just don’t understand why sites that are just for Diamond painting do not sell containers or something like it to store ALL of our diamond painting items, (Mainly the canvas)
March 05, 2019
Doyla Zuniga said:
I use old pill bottles to store drills. Works great and no chance they will spill once you close the cap and set them in a shoe box or container.
March 05, 2019
Patricia Deluna said:
Use scotch tape on the baggies to put your numbers on for your gems… that way you just take the tape off and you still have a “useable” baggie!
March 05, 2019
Carla Hart said:
I use $5 but put the number or symbol on washi tape so it can be removed.
March 05, 2019
Linda Clements said:
Before starting each colour, take time to create a tray fill of up the right way and good drills, i do 10 rows of 10.
I pick out bad drills and place them in another tray, i have doubled my speed as i can now always pick up 2 drills with tweezers, due to have my drill lined up ready to place, no more tray shaking .
March 05, 2019
Jeanne said:
I found that if I run out of the wax pads before my project is over that I can use CANDLE WAX and get the same results
March 05, 2019
Linda Dunivan said:
I bought the clear plastic case with the round containers in it at Walmart for around $5… holds 24 containers in one per case and ha ax a lid. I use masking tape on top of each container to write the number on top. Because the numbers (symbols are not universal across kits) in each kit is universal I can mix kits and it not bother anything so multiple people can be working from the same tray of containers. Once a container is empty, I simply remove the tape and the container is ready for a new color out of another kit.
March 05, 2019
Kathy Macke said:
U can also use foam boards from dollar tree to tape your canvas down.They are big enough to hold supplies and are fairly sturdy
March 05, 2019
Kathy Macke said:
U can also use foam boards from dollar tree to tape your canvas down.They are big enough to hold supplies and are fairly sturdy
March 05, 2019
Holly Miller said:
If you are short only a couple of jars use tic-tac containers. They sell lap tables and clip lamps on the internet. It takes the strain off your neck. The square diamonds are a little more advanced so I use thin rulers on the outside of the top and sides to keep everything alined. Then I use the ruler to finish my edges after completion. You can use strips of material for a finished look before framing. It will stick right along the border and stay there.
March 05, 2019
Tina Taylor said:
I bought plastic medicine keeper. It has 7 days which gives you 7 compartments to put diamonds in. I put the corresponding number or symbol on front. Buy them for 1$ a piece at dollar tree!! Makes for easy storage and keep up
March 05, 2019
Katharine Burnett said:
I’ve gone to thrift stores & purchased old ( but in good shape) picture frames to frame my finished project. Make sure to take measurements with you.
March 05, 2019
Susan Spangenberg said:
I am lucky. I find a board at the local lumber store, my hubby makes the frame for me. It’s only 4 cut’s and I have a frame fit to size.
March 05, 2019
Sally Reeves said:
I use the 7 day 4 times a day pill contains or 2 of the small ones. I draw the symbol & the letter or # on small labels for the top of each compartment. I put any used beads in small zip log bags with the labels on them in a bigger zip log with the small picture of the picture on it for those leftover beads for each painting. Once I put a label on the containers a cover them with a small Piece of tape to keep the label readable.
March 05, 2019
Patty Dudas said:
Try the Dollar store for frames!
March 05, 2019
Sharon Moore said:
I’m having a lot of trouble getting the dots to stick to the pen. Using the wax square doesn’t make a lot of them stick and I have to touch the pen to my tongue every time. Often the dots get flattened from trying to get them to stick
March 05, 2019
Dena miller said:
Don’t know if this was mentioned already, but the best tip I saw for keeping the square or round aligned is to place them in a checkerboard pattern, then go back and fill in the empty spaces. There is a good video of it on you tube. I think her name is Studio Sam, she is from Australia.
March 05, 2019
Tammy said:
I have an entire section of a canvas that is no longer sticky. It is not on the cover. What do I do?
March 05, 2019
Gay Lynn Whetton said:
How do I keep the diamonds from popping off? Every time I turn around I’m missing another one which makes me wonder how to keep them from popping off once I’m done and it’s hung? I even got a roller.
March 05, 2019