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
Tracy said:
I use foam board to attach my canvas to while I’m working on it. I adhere it with painters tape. Works great 😁
January 24, 2019
Tammy Bliss said:
I use a pill case. I found it a a dollar tree. It’s a 7 day with 4 spots morning noon evening and night. I wrote the numbers on each spot I ts the prefect size for each bag!! Oh and all days come In a plastic keeper!!
January 24, 2019
LAURICE L MAPLES said:
I use a clear spray paint on my finished product . Keeps everything in place
January 24, 2019
Elke Pacholl said:
I am new to this and right now am working on 2 different pieces. I am loving it and your tips are such a great help
January 24, 2019
Wayne said:
My wife and I bought bead containers at Walmart. They have little jars that come in a 24 jar box with lid. I am currently working on a 45 diamond picture so I’m using all but 3 of the jars in 2 boxes. I put a piece of tape with the sequence number on each jar so it is easy to change for the next picture.
January 24, 2019
Nicky said:
I use the tic tac containers for the gems. Using masking tape i write the number on it, then tape to the container. No worry of spillage.
January 24, 2019
Chris said:
Hi I am a Newby Xmas present I love it
January 15, 2019
Barbara said:
Best way I’ve ever come up with to store diamonds when I’m working on a picture: go to your pharmacist and get small prescription bottles with pop off lids…then write #s 1 -30 or 31 on the lids…use over and over…so handy when you need to get out one or two diamonds, just put your finger in and drag out what you need…then when you finish your picture empty them and store however you choose….
January 15, 2019
Candace Greenwell said:
I am doing one of the paintings just about done, and I ran out of my gem art #809 please help
January 15, 2019
Amy said:
Thank you for all the tips. They will help out amazingly. Thank you again.
January 15, 2019
HEIDI LARSON said:
get the daily pill organizers from dollar store or thrift shops to organize diamonds into. cheap, portable.
January 15, 2019
ditdit said:
any tip on aligning square beads? having so much difficulty which is why i prefer the round ones
January 15, 2019
Molin said:
Hi I am new to diamond dotz. What do I do with the leftover dotz?
January 15, 2019
Shirley said:
I have a brother p-touch. Type all thé numbers out, print, cut and then put on containers. The tape has sticky on one side
January 15, 2019
carol said:
I don’t know about anyone else but my eyes aren’t what they once were. I have found that a magnifier and light box help greatly. I had a light box I use for other crafts but received the one from paint with diamonds and it is wonderful. I highly recommend one if yo are going to do many of these wonderful pictures. As for framing you can buy diy kits for framing and cut to fit. Try to get some work done around the house once you receive your kit.
January 15, 2019
Heather Weekley said:
January 15, 2019
Linda Brandon said:
I use tip #5 all the time. I’m very forgetful so I started writing the symbol too. But I take it a step farther. I like to work small groups with multiple colors at a time. I include a strip of paper inside the bad with the number and symbol. That way if I’m working with similar colors I take the strip of paper out of the bag and put it in the tray with the gems. I can work a small space of multiple colors without constantly putting gems away. It also makes it easier to return the gems to the correct bag by matching the numbers up.
January 15, 2019
Karen said:
I have a great way of getting your square gems to fit and to not pop up, i use nail clippers to trim the excess plastic, and if they still pop up i just trim them to a smaller shape, works great…. no more pop up.
January 15, 2019
Sara said:
I bought a sheet of plexiglas and some under the cabinet tap on lights. I took velcro and put the lights on the bottom side facing the light towards me. It holds the project at a slight angle and lights it up from underneath. Then I have some super magnets I put on both sides of the plexiglas to hold the canvas in place. I have 4 small children and 2 puppies… I need to be able to quickly put it away.
January 15, 2019
Lesley Willis said:
I have managed to get frames from the range so I’ve just managed to
Frame a 40×50 and. A35x40 if I can upload pics I will
January 15, 2019
Jo said:
These are all awesome tips. Some I have already done and many more I will try. Thanks everyone!
January 15, 2019
Cheri Palmer said:
I just bought a light pad, so excited to try it out! But, before I had the pad, I would tape my project to a flat air-bake cookie sheet. I needed a bigger one at one point than the flat cookie sheet I have, so I used a larger traditional cookie sheet. I just flipped it over and taped it to the back side. When I wanted to work on it without a table around, I would tape the cookie sheet to my lap desk so it was held securely in place and I could work on the couch or wherever! Also, when I’m done with a project, I cover it with the plastic cover sheet and use my rolling pin and roll back & forth a few times to firmly press down the diamonds, being careful to not press so hard as to move them out of place. Hope these help. Happy painting! :)
January 15, 2019
Sharon Jackson said:
A plastic bag is stuck to my picture that I just got. Can I get it off, or do I need to just order another picture?
January 15, 2019
Angela said:
These are all great ideas when I’m done I use Aqua glue the bottle has kind if brush on end squeezing glue around a second spread
January 15, 2019
Sarah Bonora said:
I also cut around the number and put it in the bag, I find it extremely useful.
January 15, 2019
Cindy C said:
The extra diamonds I have are being used as accent pieces in my cross stitch projects. The diamond colors match the DMC charts and can be used to replace the thread or accent a cross stitch project. My projects look great!
January 15, 2019
Annette Garcia said:
My favorite thing to do is to use a clear plastic storage box (shoe, container, what ever is convenient) and throw a bright flash light under the box and poof I got a 15.0 light box and I can see the numbers and I can sit anywhere and do one. I’m hooked on these things. Im ready to start trying my own patterns. hooraaah.
January 15, 2019
Mima Bell said:
I purchased a light pad arrived today its magic when doing dark colours good buy
January 15, 2019
Judy Ogden said:
I am so addicted to this. I get started after work and have sat up till 3 or 4 o’clock working on them. So relaxing. I will say I’m going to finish this little section and just keep going. I have trouble finding frames also. Love doing this.
January 15, 2019
david couzin said:
I received a “pen” with a lot of “diamonds” in it. How do I use it?
January 15, 2019
Valerie Martin said:
I use a bead tray found at Walmart and JoAnn’s (it has small rectangle containers in it) and it allows me to keep numerical (I use a labeler to do the numbers so they are clear) and also move them as needed. I can also save according to the DMC numbers so I can use on future canvases if I mess something up and drop my diamonds (which I do frequently).
January 15, 2019
Lesli Mulligan said:
Could you please tell me the date my package should show up, I ordered it almost 6 weeks ago, I actually ordered two that same time, 1 came 4 days ago and no word on the other. I’d really like to know when it’s scheduked for delivery because I can’t find it when I look up the transaction. Please answer as this is the second time this week I’ve written to you about this. It’s a gift and I’d like to know when it will get to my home in Missouri USA
January 15, 2019
Kate said:
this is great! I have one blog related, “Creative Diamond Painting Techniques To Learn”
click to visit:https://www.showflipper.com/blog/search/Creative-Diamond-Painting-Techniques-To-Learn
January 15, 2019
Wendy said:
How do I unstick diamonds that are hard to get apart?
January 15, 2019
Serena said:
I am using dollar store ice cub trays to organize my diamonds. I wrote the number of each diamond color on a sticky note. I cut the numbers on the sticky note into small rectangles then stuck the number of each color above or below the corresponding color.
January 15, 2019
Christina Myers said:
Several hints: I buy my frames online from Herschners Crafts. They sell frames in pairs, so each frame takes 2 pair, one width, one length. You easily put them together. They come in choice of colors. I tape my finished picture to foam board and just push into frame. No other fasteners needed. I have done 6 this way. I also use spray ModPog from Walmart before framing to secure drills.
January 15, 2019
Claudia Mathews said:
I would like to spray some glue on my paintings, so they hold longer. Which glue do you recommend that won’t make the diamonds dull?
January 15, 2019
Kat said:
I have a question, I keep the diamonds in clear plastic containers and some of them have been getting wet. I’ve used these container for about 5 diamond painting already and have never had a problem. It’s not every color and I’m having to dry them out on a paper towel. Do you have any suggestions on how to dry them faster and keep them dry? Any help is appreciated thank you!
January 15, 2019
Terronda Zackery said:
I was able to find a chiropractor that does all my custom frames for us that price which is $18 each compared to our store custom frame this is wonderful and he does a great job.
January 15, 2019
Terronda Zackery said:
I too had a hard time finding frames for the paintings. What I have done, is contacte a Carpenter. He now makes all my frames for a very reasonable price.
January 15, 2019
Kymberlie said:
In re: silicone spray.
I spray my picture with clear acrylic gloss spray when I am finished. A few coats of this keeps all the drills adhered and ready for framing.
January 15, 2019
Valerie Manning said:
Amazon and Frame-It-Easy have a wide variety of frames at reasonable prices that so far have fit every project I’ve done. Just search for the specific area, i.e., 30cm x 40cm and see all available.
January 15, 2019
Pat M said:
I read one review that said the size she ordered, which was the smallest, was too small to really see detail. Is that the case with all images? I just realized that sizes are cm, not inches!
January 15, 2019
Rachel said:
I use plastic containers to store diamonds and I tape the number on the outside.
January 15, 2019
Heather Sorenson said:
I looked all over the house to find something easy to use to pick up drills off the canvas once placed, if fixes need to be made. The best item yet, an old fashion seam puller. Doesnt tear the canvas cuz it just pulls the drills right up without touching the canvas. Best fixer upper yet!!
January 15, 2019
Ruth Avrahami said:
I use Mod Podge gloss when I am finished with a piece. I put at least 3 coats on it. I also have my pieces professionally framed
January 15, 2019
RUTH AVRAHAMI said:
I use MODGE PODGE glossy
January 15, 2019
Regina Fitzgerald said:
Any idea to use leftover beads?
January 15, 2019
Heather said:
I use Modge Podge Glitter Spray after my picture is complete. It not only helps the drills stay on the canvas but also keeps an extra little sparkle to the drills before framing.
January 15, 2019
Dorothytellez said:
I had a hard time finding a frame. I used a good tacky glue. And used a matching color of sequins on a roll. Like in a string. I went around the picture twice. Then made sure no picture was left showing. I trimed down the excess. And put little gems in each corner. Then framed it in a double glass frame. So it looks like its floating. Its beautiful.
January 15, 2019