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DIY Corner: What’s Inside A Diamond Painting Kit? A Beginner’s Breakdown
Did you ever scroll through an incredibly beautiful, gemstone-covered canvas and ask yourself how such beautiful paintings are made?
That is the magic of diamond painting – a stunning mix of cross-stitch, paint by number, and shimmering gemstones.
Hobbyists, crafty individuals, and anyone seeking a calming hobby can enjoy diamond painting as a serene retreat that allows you to create sparkling masterpieces, one diamond at a time.
But first, it’s only natural to ask: what’s inside the box, anyway?
Knowing all the tools in your toolbox not only gets you up and running but also makes the process less difficult and more rewarding. From the tiny drill to the most essential canvas, every piece has a purpose that helps create the final product of glistening loveliness.
In this guide, as part of our DIY tips, you will learn all that is hidden in a diamond painting kit, and by the end, you will be ready to make your own work of glittering art.
Read on to know more!
1. The Canvas – Your Artistic Foundation
It all starts at the Canvas…Photo from Freepik.com
All diamond painting kits begin with the canvas, the foundation of your artwork. The color-coded chart printed on the canvas is your map, indicating precisely where each glimmering resin diamond is to be placed.
Each tiny square or mark represents a particular color of diamond, so it is easy and accurate to follow. All canvases have an adhesive surface covered by plastic, which keeps the glue layer moist and prevents it from drying out and becoming non-stick.
The adhesive quality itself is very good; it keeps your project neat-looking and prevents diamonds from falling off at some point in time. A high-quality canvas is wrinkle-free, lies flat easily, and makes crafting a breeze.
The moment you unroll it, you’ll notice the potential for glitter that can be unlocked, stone by stone.
Our Experience
We immediately found that pressing the canvas under a few heavy books overnight really helped flatten out the edges, making the whole surface much easier to work on. Don’t peel the entire plastic film off at once! Only reveal the small section you’re working on to keep the rest of the adhesive fresh and dust-free.
2. The Diamonds – Tiny Gems of Brilliance
Tiny Gems of Brilliance. Photo from canvasbynumbers.com
These are the stars of the show! The resin diamonds, or “drills,” are the ones that give life to your artwork. They have two big shapes: round and square.
Round drills are simpler to put in place and perfect for beginners, and the square drills cover more space, better suited to create a complete, mosaic-type effect.
Every color of the diamond has a special code on the canvas, and it is easy to set up your artwork. They usually put the diamonds into little tagged pouches, and some sets have extra ones to cover the inevitable spill or loss.
The sparkle of the stones also depends upon their cut; the more angles, the more they sparkle in light. Putting each diamond in place is itself quite fascinating, turning a basic printed canvas into a rainbow-colored, sparkling work of art that appears to sparkle every time you turn the page.
It’s this sparkle that makes diamond painting so rewarding and beautiful.
Our Experience
We personally preferred the square diamonds for the stunning, seamless mosaic look they create, though they take a bit more time to line up perfectly. When you open the kit, immediately transfer your diamonds into separate, labelled craft boxes or containers; this saves so much time compared to fumbling with the tiny plastic pouches.
3. The Applicator Pen – Your Precision Tool
Your Precision Tool…Photo from canvasbynumbers.com
Your applicator pen is the bridge between your hand and your painting. It’s lightweight, comfortable to hold, and precise enough for you to pick up and set each diamond wherever you want it.
Most pens have a hollow metal point that you work with a piece of wax, so that the diamonds will adhere temporarily until they are pressed into the canvas.
For extra convenience, some pens are equipped with ergonomic grips or multi-placer tips, where you can place a number of diamonds in one motion, a huge time-saver on large projects.
Once you get used to the pen, the movement becomes automatic, turning the task into a therapeutic sequence of pick, place, and press. The thrill of seeing the design emerge over time cannot be beaten.
Whether you’re working for hours or a few minutes a day, this simple yet effective tool ensures that every diamond finds its perfect place.
Our Experience
We found the multi-placer tips were a game-changer for filling in large blocks of the same colour, drastically cutting down the completion time for those massive areas. If your hands get tired after a long session, try swapping out the standard pen for a thicker, squishier one with a foam grip, similar to what you’d use for cross-stitch.
4. The Tray – Organization Made Easy
Organization Made Easy. Photo from canvasbynumbers.com
Working with hundreds of tiny diamonds, you will immediately recognize the value of the tray. This little but necessary tool will help you sort your gems straight and put them in place.
Constructed of lightweight plastic, it has ridges that assist in turning the diamonds inside out with a slight shake of the cube, making the picking and placing of the diamonds quicker and more precise.
There are even trays with spouts to make easy pouring into storage bags and reduce spills and mess.
By keeping your working area clean, you can concentrate on what is really important: the calming rhythm of work and the pleasure of seeing your sparkling creation slowly becoming a reality.
Our Experience
When using the tray, we learned the golden rule: only pour in the amount of one colour you think you’ll use in a short session to avoid accidental mixing! Tipping the tray back and forth gently works wonders for flipping the gems right side up and lining them up along the ridges for easy picking.
5. The Wax – The Unsung Hero
The unsung here…Photo from canvasbynumbers.com
Though it may sound like a little detail, the wax is essential to a smooth and frustration-free diamond painting experience. This is a typical pink or clear wax applied to your applicator pen to provide the right amount of tackiness to grab the tiny diamonds easily.
One has to press the pen tip into the wax every time they want to use it, and then it fixes the diamonds temporarily. Without it, picking up those minuscule gems would be a real challenge!
Some kits provide wax in small square sheets or convenient containers with lids to keep it clean and soft. With time, you will find yourself in the rhythm of reloading your pen when needed, and this way, you will find a continuous flow of creativity.
Though simple, this little accessory makes a big difference, turning an otherwise tedious process into an effortless, relaxing experience that keeps your diamonds exactly where you want them.
Our Experience
We found that pressing the pen into the wax hard enough to get a clean, full plug was the trick to getting the best grip on the diamonds, especially the tiny round ones. Remember to keep the little wax sheets wrapped up when not in use, as dust and fluff can quickly ruin the stickiness!
Bottomline
So now that you know what is in a diamond painting kit, you can dive into the glittery world of creativity.
Every tool serves as a different point of focus for what can be created when painting an otherwise dull canvas with shiny and illuminating colors.
So pick up your pen, pour out those gems and begin work on your sparkling masterpiece today!
