No. 1 What is a diamond painting? A guide for beginners.

Just starting out in the world of Diamond Painting? No need to get worried – we’ve got you fully covered!

What is Diamond Painting Cross Stitch?

A unique mix between Paint By Numbers and Cross Stitch, Diamond Painting happens to be an amazing craft hobby. It began in 2015 and was specifically designed to be a more therapeutic, faster, and easier Cross Stitch alternative.

Thanks to Diamond Painting, it is possible to apply small resin ‘diamonds’ onto DMC-coded adhesive canvases for creating a vibrant and attractive mosaic painting.

It’s actually pretty easy and incredibly fun to learn, regardless of your age. By the time you’re finished with this article, you’ll know everything important about diamond paintings.

The finished work looks like complex embroidery, not just with crosses and beads, but with tiny diamonds💎

The most interesting thing is that the technique itself has no relation to embroidery at all. The point of the process is to glue diamonds of the desired colors onto the finished scheme😍

In fact, this is laying out mosaics, not embroidery or painting. But nevertheless, in order to avoid confusion, we will still use the name "diamond painting", since it is more common on the Internet than others😌

In fact, the technique of laying out the mosaic is very ancient. It has been known since the 5th century BC.

The history of the emergence of such a monumental art form dates back to the period of classical Greece under the influence of ancient Eastern samples of a long-standing culture😇

Initially people laid out various flower arrangements and patterns using special gemstones. So people used colored stones and smalt and the glue was made independently.

Italian city of Ravenna like no other was famous for such mosaic works. They decorated temples and palaces 🕌🕍  As time goes on, the use of such wonderful paintings spread more and more. People began to decorate the walls and vaults of churches⛪️ and after that one could even see such a mosaic painting in any public place and apartment building.

Diamond painting visually increases the real space due to its sparkling surface😍

But the Chinese craftsmen breathed new life into the old idea and began to produce mosaic kits with which everyone can create their own masterpiece 🤩

Now these kits are bought up by craftswomen for creating precious paintings with great success.

Instructions for Diamond Painting

1. Corresponding symbol table. Find the diamonds you want to paste.
2. Fill the pen with wax. Put the diamonds into the plate.
3. Use tge round end to stick a diamond and slightly press down.
4. Tear apart the partial film and stick the diamond to the canvas according to the corresponding number.
5. Tweezers could easily clip three diamonds, stick so fast.
6. After finished, slightly press down diamonds with hand or book to keep them firmly attached.

Difference between Square and Round Drill

As you dive into diamond painting, you’ll often find terms like ‘Round Drill’ and ‘Square Drill’. In the world of Diamond Painting, ‘drills’ are nothing but diamonds.

When we’re talking about square and round drills, it’s the diamonds’ physical shape that we’re talking about.

Should you choose the round drill or the square drill? There aren’t any right answers. The choice is completely up to you. Go for the shape that appeals to you the most.

Square Drills (AKA Square Diamonds)

• • They create a more complete and fuller-looking diamond painting
    • A square drill diamond looks slightly cleaner compared to a round drill diamond. They can be lined up easily and generate a fuller and attractive mosaic look if you view them from afar.
  • A Square Diamond Snaps into Place – which can be surprisingly enjoyable
    • It is often the tiny little things, which bring you the greatest joy. As you make progress and start filling the gaps in your painting, it makes a highly satisfying snap effect, which can give you an immense sense of happiness and achievement (Sounds dorky, I know, but it’s true!)

   

  Round Drills (AKA Round Diamonds)

• Picking these diamonds up and applying them is an easy and quick affair.
  • A round diamond also sticks better to your diamond pen, which helps you achieve a seamless transition
• However, the finished paintings don’t feel so ‘complete’
• The diamonds have a round shape, which makes the gaps between them more visible if you’re standing close to these paintings.

Different diamond painting techniques

When you’ve completed a ton of paintings, you might feel the need to shake things up. But no need to worry – our community members have come up with several diamond painting strategies and techniques, which everyone can do with ease!

• The Checkerboard Technique

Think about a checkerboard’s alternating black & white squares. You can use the same theme for your diamond paintings as well. Basically, mix everything up a little in places where the same colors stand out from the rest. However, that’s not all – It can be incredibly satisfying when the diamonds snap into place – which is why people love this technique.

• "Farm Plot" Method 

The key here is to think as a farmer does. Divide large blocks that belong to the one color into small ‘plots’, which you can harvest one by one. Seem too confusing to follow? Ensure that each rectangle is wide enough, which can help you place three to five diamonds using the Diamond Pen’s wide end.

• "One At A Time" Method 

It’s exactly what the name says – keep working on your canvas using only one single color at any given time. However, it might cause exposed areas to become less sticky as time goes by. But you should note that filling the canvas’s blank spots happens to be a more enjoyable experience compared to going at it one row after the other.

Note: In case air exposure causes any areas to become less sticky and lose their adhesive abilities, you can dab such spots using baby wipes or moist towels.

• "Work Your Way Up" Method  

This method requires you to start with the color of which you have the lowest quantity. You can finish with the colors that have the greatest quantity, thus leaving the best part for the ending. As you progress on your painting, it should start becoming progressively easier since you’ll be able to place multiple colors using your Diamond Pen Multihead, thus making the task easier.

• "The Dealer" Technique 

If you’re a perfectionist who can’t accept their diamond lines if they aren’t in a straight line, you can use old credit cards and run them through the various slots between drill lines. They will all fall into place easily and satisfy your OCD side.

Contents of A Diamond Painting Kit

Every kit contains a number of items, which you can use for starting your paintings immediately.

• A wax pad – which you use for picking up diamonds
• A couple of highly-sharp tweezers
• A diamond pen tool
• Diamonds assorted into different bags by their color
• A printed canvas along with a design chart (It will also have pre-applied adhesives)

When you order kits, ensure that you’ve thoroughly checked –

• Where it is being shipped from; and
• How it has been packaged

In case your kit’s being shipped from an international supplier, ensure that it has been packaged securely enough to withstand transit issues. Here at Diamond Painting Company, we stave off shipping troubles by wrapping the canvases around secure foam noodles, which can help avoid creases. All canvases also have plastic wrapping, which will protect it against water damage.

My Canvas Has Creases In It – What Should I Do Now?

A number of diamond painting kits get shipped in from international suppliers. We wrap the canvas securely around firm foam noodles to protect them from damage during transit. However, there might be a few creases when you start unrolling the canvas. How to eliminate them then? Here are some options -

1. Place your mattress over the canvas – You can use your bodyweight for ironing out the wrinkles and creases on your canvas.
2. Place the canvas under a bunch of heavy books – The same goes here as well. The weight exerted by the books can iron out the creases & wrinkles in no time!
3. Cut The Creases Using A Simple Crafting Knife – In case the creases don’t go away easily, you can use a simple X-Acto knife for releasing the air stuck between the adhesive layer and the canvas.

How to Frame A Completed Diamond Painting?

Once you start diamond painting, you won’t notice how quickly time goes by. You’ll eventually wind up with a number of completed Diamond paintings on your hands.

You can use special Natural Wood Stretcher Bars from Diamond Painting Company on your completed diamond paintings.

Ensure you’ve secured the beads using Mod Podge or any similar sealant before you follow these steps –

After the 6^th, 8^th, or 18^th kit, you will start noticing some secrets and features, which can enhance your Diamond Paintings to a whole new level. We’ve got some tips & tricks right here for you!

1. When you purchase a canvas, it usually has a parchment paper or plastic film covering it for preserving its stickiness. DON’T THROW IT AWAY OR REMOVE IT COMPLETELY AT ONCE! Peel it back slowly and start moving in a controlled manner.

Utilize egg cartons for organizing your diamonds – It’s cheap, easy, and incredibly simple!

Glue or tape the diamonds next to symbols as shown on the painting canvas. All you need is a glance to know where to place each diamond.

Utilize baby wipes for increasing the stickiness of certain areas. In case your canvas turns less sticky in some sports, simply dab it using baby wipes. It also works for removing pet hair or papers from your canvas.