Diamond painting is a sparkling and soothing hobby for all ages. No artistic experience needed. New to diamond painting?
You’re in the right place! This guide will show you how to get started and create your first shimmering masterpiece. Let’s dive in!
What Is Diamond Painting?
Diamond painting first appeared around 2017 and has since rapidly gained fans all over the world.
Diamond painting is a mix between paint-by-numbers and cross-stitch. Instead of paint or thread, you use tiny resin “diamonds” to create a mosaic-like image on a sticky canvas.
Each canvas is pre-printed with a coded design, much like a paint-by-number pattern, and each symbol corresponds to a colored diamond. By placing the diamonds on the canvas, one by one, you fill in the picture and end up with a sparkling piece of art.
Why is it so popular?
For one, it’s incredibly easy and intuitive. You don’t need any special skills. If you can match symbols and colors, you can diamond paint. It’s also very relaxing and satisfying.
The gentle, repetitive motion of picking up diamonds and sticking them on the canvas can put you in a calm, meditative state. Many people find it a great way to unwind, relieve stress, and even practice mindfulness while creating something beautiful.
How does it work?
Each diamond painting kit comes with everything you need. You work on a section of the adhesive canvas, pick up the tiny diamonds with a special pen, and place them on the canvas following the color code.
Over time, the image emerges in full color and sparkle. Diamond paintings are sometimes called 5D paintings because the gems have facets that shimmer and catch the light.
The best part?
Diamond painting is truly for everyone. Kids as young as 10 and adults up to 70 or beyond can enjoy it. You can do it alone, with family, as a seasoned crafter, or even as a complete beginner with no craft experience.
It’s a no-mess, no-fuss hobby. No paint spills or complicated techniques. All it takes is a bit of patience, and you’ll quickly find your rhythm placing those glittering gems.
Why You’ll Love Diamond Painting
Diamond painting isn’t just easy to do. It also comes with a bunch of benefits and joys that keep beginners and experienced crafters hooked.
Stress Relief Relaxation
Diamond painting is often described as therapeutic. The repetitive motion of picking up and placing diamonds can be meditative.
Many people put on some music or an audiobook and get lost in the process. Before you know it, hours have flown by, and you feel calmer and more focused.
Easy for Beginners
You don’t need any prior experience to create beautiful diamond art. The canvas guides you exactly where each diamond goes, so it’s foolproof. This makes it perfect for absolute beginners or even kids.
It’s a great craft to start with if you’ve always felt “I’m not artistic.” Diamond painting will change your mind when you see the stunning result you created!
Creative Outlet
Even though it’s guided, diamond painting lets you explore your creative side. You get to choose a design that speaks to you. It might be a cute animal, a beautiful landscape, or a sparkling mandala.
Placing each diamond is like coloring a picture, and you get the pride of creating a gorgeous artwork you can hang on your wall or gift to someone.
Sense of Accomplishment
Finishing a diamond painting, even a small one, gives a big sense of accomplishment. It’s so satisfying to place the final diamond and see the complete image. That boost of confidence can be great for kids and adults alike. If you start with a smaller project, you’ll get that rewarding feeling pretty quickly, which can motivate you to try bigger, more detailed pieces next time.
Mindfulness and Focus
In our busy world, it’s hard to slow down. Diamond painting forces you (in a good way!) to focus on one small task at a time. Many fans of the hobby say it helps them practice mindfulness.
They focus on the present moment. You concentrate on picking up that one gem and placing it where it belongs, silencing the mind’s chatter and bringing a sense of calm.
All Ages & Abilities
Diamond painting can be a multigenerational hobby. Kids can do it with supervision for the tiny pieces. Seniors can enjoy it too. It is a lovely activity to enjoy as a family.
Even individuals with certain physical limitations can enjoy diamond painting. Tools such as a magnifying light or easy-grip pens are helpful if you have shaky hands or poor eyesight. It is a wonderful feeling to realize that even with challenges, you can create art.
Community & Connection
There is a huge diamond painting community out there. Once you start, you can connect with others to share progress photos, tips, and encouragement. Online forums and social media groups are filled with friendly folks who love seeing each other’s projects.
It’s fun to be part of this creative community. You might even make new friends who share your new hobby!
What Do You Need to Start?
One great thing about diamond painting is that you don’t need to buy a ton of separate supplies.
A single kit has everything necessary to get started. When you order a diamond painting kit from Made with Diamonds, you’ll typically find the following items inside:
- Canvas: Sticky printed canvas with a chart of symbols and a protective film.
- Diamonds: Resin drills in individual zip-lock bags, round or square, sorted by color. Extras included.
- Diamond Pen: Sticky pen for picking up and placing diamonds.
- Tray: Plastic tray to hold and shake diamonds upright.
- Tweezers: For adjusting or removing diamonds.
- Thumbtacks: For holding the canvas in place if needed.
- Glue: Extra adhesive for securing drills.
Everything in the kit is designed to make your first diamond painting experience smooth.
Made with Diamonds kits include high-quality canvases and drills, and all the tools above, so you can open the box and start right away. You won’t need to buy anything else to complete your project.
Optional nice-to-haves
While not required, a couple of extra tools can make diamond painting even easier. One popular accessory is a light pad.
This is an LED slim light board that you place under the canvas to make the symbols glow and easier to see. It is especially useful if the print is small or if your lighting at home is dim.
Another is storage containers or baggies for drills. If your kit’s diamonds come in small disposable baggies, you might transfer them to little jars or zip bags labeled with the color codes.
This can make it easier to organize your diamonds, especially for larger projects with many colors. But again, for your very first small kit, you can also just work out of the provided bags or tray.
Now that you know what you’re working with, let’s talk about choosing a kit that’s perfect for a beginner.
Choosing Your First Diamond Painting Kit
When choosing your first diamond painting kit, focus on a design that excites you. Pick a picture you truly love, such as a cute animal, a scenic view, or a colorful mandala. Loving the artwork will keep you motivated to finish it.
Next, consider size and type. Start with a small or medium canvas like 30x40 cm, which is easier to complete and less overwhelming. Round drills are generally easier for beginners, while square drills create a sharper, tile-like look. Both work well, so choose what feels comfortable.
Finally, check if the kit is labeled Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced. Kits for beginners have fewer colors and simpler details. Children’s kits and even custom kits from your own photos are also available once you feel confident.
Step-by-Step Diamond Painting Guide
Got your kit? Awesome! Now let’s walk through how to actually do diamond painting, step by step. It’s straightforward, and once you do each step a couple of times, you’ll get into a comfortable groove.
1. Set Up Your Workspace
Find a clean, flat surface where you can work comfortably. A kitchen or dining table works great. Good lighting is helpful so you can see the symbols clearly. Natural daylight or a desk lamp is perfect. Gather your kit supplies, maybe put a towel or cloth on the table if you’re worried about diamonds bouncing away, and have a chair that’s comfortable to sit in. You might be here for a while because it’s addicting!
2. Unbox Your Kit & Check the Contents
Open up your kit and take everything out. You should have your printed canvas, packets of diamonds, your pen, wax, tray, and possibly tweezers and an instruction sheet. Make sure you have all the drill colors needed.
There is usually an inventory chart on the canvas or a separate paper that tells you how many bags of each color you should have.
Tip: keep the diamonds in their little baggies until you’re ready to use that color, so you don’t accidentally spill or mix them up.
3. Flatten the Canvas:
Most canvases come rolled up. Lay it out flat on the table. If it doesn’t want to lay flat at first, you can put some heavy books on the corners, or gently roll it back the opposite way. Do not crease it too hard. Within a short time, it will relax and stay flat.
A flat canvas ensures your diamonds will go on evenly and the symbols will align properly. If it has very stubborn folds, as a last resort you can carefully iron the back of the canvas on low heat. This is usually not necessary for beginner kits.
4. Choose a Starting Point
It’s finally time to start “painting”! But where to begin? You have a couple of options. Some people like to start at one corner, such as the top left, if you are right-handed, so your hand does not stick to the canvas as you go.
Others pick an area with a color they really like. There is no strict rule. Just start with a section that’s comfortable. We recommend working section by section. You can even take washi tape and divide the canvas into sections.
5. Peel Back the Plastic Cover (a little at a time)
The canvas has a clear plastic film protecting the sticky surface. Do not remove the whole film at once! Very important. Only peel back a small section of the cover. This can be a square of a few inches or a labeled section to work on.
Exposing a small area keeps the rest of the canvas clean and sticky. If you peel off too much, the adhesive can dry out or get dirty from dust/pet hair, and then diamonds won’t stick well.
So just fold the plastic back and maybe cut it off for the area you’ll do right now, leaving the rest covered.
6. Check the Legend and Pick a Color
Look at the legend or key on the side of your canvas. It shows symbols, numbers, or letters and the corresponding diamond colors.
Each usually has a code number for the color. Identify which symbol is in the section you’re working on. For example, you might see a lot of “A” or a red square symbol.
Find that symbol on the legend, and it will tell you the number or code of the diamonds to use. Locate that bag of diamonds.
Pro tip: Only work with one color at a time when you’re just starting – it keeps things simple and prevents mixing up drills.
7. Pour Diamonds into the Tray
Open the little bag of the color you have chosen. Handle it carefully because those drills are tiny. Pour some into your grooved tray. Do not pour all of them, just a small amount, maybe 20 to 30 drills to start.
Give the tray a gentle side-to-side shake. You’ll see the diamonds flip shiny side up and line up in the grooves. This makes it easy to pick them up quickly.
8. Dip Your Pen in Wax, Pick Up, and Place Diamonds
Take your diamond pen and the wax pad. Peel back the plastic on the wax pad to expose the wax surface. Press the tip of your pen into the wax once or twice to fill the tip with a small amount of wax. This wax allows the pen to pick up the diamonds. Re-dip only when the pen is not picking up diamonds easily.
Now press the wax-loaded pen straight down onto the top of a diamond in the tray. The diamond should stick to the pen tip. If it doesn’t, re-dip the pen or press flat on the diamond’s top.
Next, identify the symbol on the canvas that matches the diamond color and gently press the diamond onto that spot. The canvas is sticky, so the diamond will adhere and stay behind when you lift the pen. Congratulations, you’ve placed your first diamond!
9. Continue with One Color and Section by Section
It is usually easiest to finish all the diamonds of one symbol in your current section before moving to another color. When one symbol is complete, choose another and repeat the process. Once you finish a section, peel back more plastic and continue.
Over time, you’ll find a rhythm. Some prefer rows, spirals, or random placement, and some use the checkerboard method for large single-color areas. Any approach works as long as diamonds are placed correctly.
10. Take Care, Finish, and Display
As you work, cover finished sections with the plastic film again to keep dust out. Keep diamonds in bags or use a tray stopper to avoid spills. If you spill drills, they can be gathered up with a damp cloth or vacuum. As you place the last few diamonds, admire your work.
Press down gently with a rolling pin or your hands to secure all diamonds. Check for missed spots and add diamonds if needed. Sealing is optional and can make the piece last longer, though it may reduce sparkle.
Finally, frame or mount your art on foam board, a wooden frame, or use magnetic hangers. Hang it on the wall, gift it, or share it with friends. You earned those bragging rights!
That’s it – those are the basic steps of diamond painting. It might seem like a lot written out, but once you start, you’ll see it’s very logical and simple. Essentially, it’s: pick a color, stick the diamond, repeat. Before you know it, you’ll be placing diamonds on autopilot and finding it almost zen-like.
Tips and Tricks for Diamond Painting Beginners
As you embark on your first diamond painting, here are some handy tips and tricks to make the experience even smoother:
- Expose Small Sections: Peel back only a little of the cover at a time. This keeps the canvas sticky and clean.
- Stay Organised: Work with one color at a time. Pour unused diamonds back before opening another bag.
- Comfort and Care: Use good lighting, take breaks, and keep extra diamonds safe. Simple tools like tweezers help with adjustments, and sealing can secure your art when finished.
With these tips in mind, your diamond painting experience will be even better. Over time, you’ll develop your own tricks and preferences.
The key thing is: have fun and don’t be too hard on yourself. Diamond art is pretty forgiving, and the end result will look beautiful once all those hundreds (or thousands) of tiny gems are in place.
Your Sparkling Journey Begins
We hope this beginner’s guide has demystified diamond painting for you and inspired you to start your own sparkling project. Diamond painting for beginners is about enjoying a simple, calming hobby and creating a dazzling piece of art.
Once you place that first diamond, you may find yourself saying just one more and suddenly an hour has passed.
It is enjoyable, soothing, and rewarding. With a beginner-friendly kit from Made with Diamonds, you receive clear canvases, sparkling drills, and all the tools you need.
Now it is time to give it a try. Visit our Beginner Kits section or choose a design you love and get started. Soon you will have a beautiful diamond art piece to frame, gift, or display. Most importantly, enjoy the process.
