You must be excited as you received the first diamond painting kit. You have already imagined the completed masterpiece you are going to make and it is mesmerizing!
Before you start the very first diamond painting, understand the steps and tips & tricks well. We are sharing some inside information from the crafter's world – these are the tips for learning how to do it perfectly. So, it's easier, more relaxing & pleasurable and facilitate you by controlling the amount of mess made.
Along the way of work, you will make many discoveries on how to do it flawlessly. Put these findings into practice and you will be used to those in no time.
Before you actually start the actual hobby and open the first kit, let's talk about some general ideas for this diamond painting.
● Set a specific place to do it. It will keep you organized in terms of tools, used and new kits, and work in process.
● Using an ordinary table and its drawers as a storage place has been great idea for many people. There is no absolute need to spend crazy amount on setting up a workstation. However, some people prefer to customize it to their personal needs and preferences. It all comes from a personal choice of way of doing the
diamond art. Whatever you choose, make yourself comfortable on what you are doing. Following are a few choices you can look from:
1. You may use an ordinary table with the size of choice. Its size must be larger than the size of the canvas. Usually, it's preferred to use a slight groove table to avoid more mess in case of spill ups.
2. Doing it with attached LED lights is a great idea.
3. A drafting table has been an awesome investment for crafter's, especially for those who do not want to bend more.
4. Bendable laptop bed table or over bed utility table. This is particularly helpful for those who suffer back pain.
5. Using easel can be another artistic choice.
Storage:
Storing the in-use and unused kits and tools in an arranged way is necessary to avoid mess ups. Here are some tips that may prove to be helpful regarding storage:
● Using plastic boxes with compartments to keep drills safe from accidents.
● Do not get attracted to the idea of pouring all the drills on the tray. Instead, pour approximately in a small amount enough to fill a section.
● You may invest in a diamond painting accessory case. It comes with 60 containers to store all the diamonds.
● You may use a pill storage tray for organizing diamonds in use. This helps those immensely who do it section by section.
● Along with storage trays, other economical options to organize in use and leftover drills are labeled zip locks, acrylic containers, and plastic Tupperware boxes.
Additional tools and accessories:
The basic kit and tools one receives in the kit are enough to complete a diamond painting. However, many people like to invest in various accessories to facilitate the process and make it more therapeutic. Few are mentioned here:
1. Magnifier glasses: For a clearer view and to protect your eyes, it is preferable to wear magnifying spectacles when working with diamonds.
2. Lightpad/ stand: Using a light pad has been a game changer for many people. Place it beneath the canvas and symbols/code shall be easier to read. It is recommended to use one with a dimmable setting and/or with a portable battery pack.
3. Extra lights: Make sure the room is well lit.
4. Diamond grinder: Diamonds often tend to stick together. Either, crush them between two trays to separate them. Otherwise, use a diamond grinder to get them apart.
5. Ottlite desk lamp: It is a surgical light which helps in focusing on a specific area.
6. Pick me up the pen: This tool has a sticky sort of tip to pick up small diamonds easily.
7. Extra square tip pen for square drills: Some people use a square tip pen when using square drills. However, it is a matter of personal choice.
In addition to above, some really useful crafter's items include:
● Blue tac: Many crafters have preferred using blue tac instead of red wax that comes with the kit. It is an adhesive material used to stick things together.
● Crafter's washi tape or a double tape: It is handy to cover the edges of the canvas to save it from catching any dust.
Some more tips:
Now you know,
what is Diamond painting, once addicted, people learn how to do it at a faster pace.
Artdaily has already shared some tips for diamond art but here are from some real addicts of diamond painting:
● No distractions: Diamond painting has to be done in a distraction-free environment to avoid any mistakes.
● Enough light: This cannot be emphasized more. Either you have weak eyesight or not, it is better to have enough light below and above your work setting.
● Easy sitting (e.g.a sofa recliner)
● Do not keep an open container of diamonds near your workstation.
● Understand the color code well. If needed, hang it nearby.
● Label every single color. Whether it is some leftover drills' pack or some unused one, it must be labeled.
● Try swapping leftovers/ unused drills with fellow crafters.
● Use a straight edge ruler to do the first line at the edge.
● Remove the covering film bit by bit. It protects the design from dust and other environmental factors.
● Prepare your canvas before starting by flattening it well. You may either put it overnight underweight (for example under heavy books). Another method of doing so is to unroll it and push it down as much as you can. Lift the top of the adhesive of one section and restick it. This will remove all the air bubbles trapped there.
● Stick to one flow; either top to bottom or bottom to top.
● Try the checker board method for larger areas of single solid color. This will help you in keeping the diamonds aligned in a straight line.
● Use a sharp blade to release the air bubble in case of any ridges. Lightly cut off the air bubbles and let the air go. Remember to do it lightly and not to cut the canvas.
● Use a wooden rolling pin to press any uneven diamonds.
● Once finished, look for an odd one out spot. Fix them by replacing them with a diamond of softer color that goes with the gradient.
● Seal the finished masterpiece with aqua glue or mod podge glue. A more professional way of finishing is getting it framed.
