Diamond Painting: How to do Diamond Painting | Tips for the beginner

 

Most people in my country were stuck at home for at least 8 months, starting from March until October 2020. It was a long period of lockdown and really hard to kill boredom. At the very least, I was able to add 20 minutes of exercise to my daily routine, which helped me maintain my weight while building my muscles, aside from working from home every other day. However, 20 minutes was not enough to make the day shorter, especially when it was my off-day. 

 

So, I thought of doing something productive while killing time and cross-stitch came to mind. Actually, I had been planning to work on a cross-stitch version of the “Last Supper” image for a long time. The lockdown gave me the perfect opportunity to do so.

The Last Supper design diamond painting. My first accomplished diamond painting in round drill. 

However, my interest was captured by a new trend in arts and crafts which is really similar to cross-stitching. I learned about Rhinestone Art, which is also called Diamond Painting, and how it uses the same art pattern as that of cross-stitch. While cross-stitch uses Aida cloth, needle, and thread; Rhinestone Art uses rhinestone, wax, and canvas. As soon as I found out about it, I ordered my first 2 Diamond Painting kits: The Last Supper and A Bucket of Sunflower. 

A bucket of sunflower. One of my first two (2) accomplished diamond painting in a full drill with square resins.

I figured it would be a great hobby to pursue and I was not disappointed. I have been enjoying it very much! 

 

What is Rhinestone Painting or Diamond Painting? How it is different from Cross-Stitch? 

 

My own definition of Diamond Painting is that it is an idea derived from the art of cross-stitching. It uses rhinestone (an imitation of the diamond) to complete the image on the patterned canvas. 

 

Diamond painting is easier and faster to do as compared to cross-stitch because it eliminates the copying process of the design. You don't need to copy the pattern because the layout of the pattern is already embedded on the canvas with adhesive. In addition, the adhesive surface of the pattern is used for the sole purpose of holding the stone attached to the canvas. 

 

Cross stitch uses a needle, thread, and Aida Cloth (a fabric designed to facilitate cross-stitch embroidery); while diamond painting uses diamond drills, pen & wax, and adhesive canvas.   

 

Both finished products have the same satisfying outcome. But diamond painting is more attractive as it shines and glimmers since it is made with rhinestone. 

 

What's inside the Diamond Painting Kit? 

 

When you order a diamond painting kit, all the essential tools (the first 5 listed below) you need are included in the kit to complete your craft.

 

You need the following materials to start working with your diamond painting. 

 

1.) Canvas -The canvas serves as the pattern itself. Unlike cross-stitch, the canvas and the pattern are two separate objects. Basically, diamond painting is simplified in form as the pattern is printed on the canvas with adhesive on it. (where you drill or stick on the stones).

 

This is a Diamond Painting Full Drill Canvas

2.) Drill or Rhinestone or Diamond Stones or Resin - These will give life to the diamond painting as they are the colors that will complete the image on the canvas. In cross-stitch, this is equivalent to the thread. 

The Diamond Painting Rhinestones or Resins. This is how it looks like. Notice that each plastic has its own marking which corresponds to each color symbol on the color chart. 

 

3.) Diamond Tray – This is used to facilitate the easy pick-up of stones for drilling on the canvas. It has parallel lines that hold the drill aligned and flat on its surface. 

 

The Diamond Painting Tray 

4.) Pen – It is like the needle in the cross-stitch. It is used to pick up the stones so you can stick them accurately on the corresponding symbol on the adhesive canvas. 

 

The Diamond Painting Pen has a hole on its tip. The purpose of the hole is for the wax to be still and facilitates the picking up rhinestones/diamonds.  

5.) Wax Pad - This is placed at the tip of the pen to pick up the diamonds or resin.

 

This is how diamond painting wax looks like

Other materials that can help you organize and facilitate your diamond painting creation faster are the following:

 

6.) Beads or Diamonds Organized - These come in 

        a. Square/Round mini bead organizer - It is a set of mini canister looks like a pill organizer that rests inside a larger, handy organizer case. 

 

Diamond Painting 28 Mini-square Bead Organizer 

        b. Ziplock Plastic – Ziplock plastic or bags comes in many sizes. It is very handy for me, especially when I bring my diamond painting somewhere. 

 

        c. Improvised organizer – such as egg cartons 

 

7.) Roller - I used the roller to flatten and align the diamond after finishing my handcraft.  

 

Diamond Painting Roller

8.) Tweezer - This item is very handy and helpful when you put the resin in the wrong placement. 

 

Tweezer used in diamond painting.

 How to do diamond painting? How does it work?  What is the step-by-step process? 

 

Creating diamond painting is really easy even if it is just your first time doing it. Once you have the diamond painting kit, you can start creating your art. Prepare your kit and let's begin the step-by-step instructions:

 

The Diamond Painting Kit. This is how it looks like when you received your diamond painting kit order.

1.) Unpack your kit and remove the items from the package. Review the kit and check if all the 5 essentials materials are there (canvas, diamond/resin, plate, pen, and wax). 

 

The Diamond Painting Kit consists of the canvas, diamond stones/resins/rhinestones, diamond painting plate, and pen & wax. 

2.) Lay the canvas to a flat surface. I recommend putting heavy objects like books on the surface to get rid of the fold marks and creases on the canvas. Let it rest for some time before you start sticking the resin.

3.) Review the canvas and the color code chart. Then, pick up the color you want to start. You can start from any of the 4 sides (from left to right; right to left; top to bottom; or bottom to the top), whichever you are comfortable with. 

 

The Diamond Painting Color Chart uses the DMC color standard (although not all canvas have DMC markings). The symbols on the color chart have a corresponding DMC color code number. So, it is very easy to buy one when you lack the supply.  

*DMC is a company the produces and sells embroidery floss, fabrics, and needlework supplies.

4.) Place the diamonds or resins on the plate and slightly shake it so the drill will fall straight on the grid of the diamond plate. 

5.) Take the pen and dip the tip in the wax. 

6.) Peel the plastic film in the area where you want to start. Remember not to take it all off because the plastic film protects the adhesive canvas. 

7.) Using the pen with wax, pick up the diamond on the plate and stick it into its corresponding symbol on the adhesive canvas. 

8.) Continuously do so until you are finished. And you are done!

9.) It is an option for you to frame it if you want. Or hang on your wall as it is.

  

What is the difference between a full drill and a partial drill? How about a square and round drill? 

 

Round & Square Drill

I noticed when I was just starting to do my first 2 sets of diamond painting, one kit has round rhinestones and the other has square beads. The first time I heard about diamond painting, I thought of only round diamond beads. So, I made some research and found out that the other type of rhinestone used for diamond painting is square. 

 

And I often encountered the words full and partial 'drill' as well as round and square 'drill'. It turned out that the drill is simply referring to the diamond or rhinestone itself. 

 

Square Drill uses square diamond. The output from the square drill painting looks more like a mosaic painting. Since the rhinestones are square, they fill all the white spaces of the canvas. 

Bucket of sunflower design square drill diamond painting.

 

Square Drill

Round Drill uses round diamond. This is faster and easier to do since there are no edges to align with, unlike the square drill. It is more glimmering, though the gap between the drills is more apparent when you look at it closely. I recommend round drills for children because it is easy for them to do. 

 

Round Drill

Full & Partial Drill

In my second set of orders, I was not paying much attention to the details as I ordered the designs I liked. Since my first 2 accomplished diamond paintings were full pictures drill, I thought all diamond paintings were the same. But, when I received my second order I found out that 2 canvases have only partial pattern marks. And that was how I learned about the full and partial drill. 

 

The face of the Lord Jesus Christ in full round drill diamond painting & Mother Mary design in unfinished partial round drill diamond painting.

Full Drill - the drilling covers the entire image on the canvas. 

 

Partial Drill - from the word itself 'partial', just a portion of the image is covered with diamonds.  

 

This is a sample of a diamond painting with the partial drill. Only the bicycle and the basket with flowers are diamonds. The rest of the image is just a background.  

So, when you buy your own, you can start a partial or full drill or round or square drill. 

  

How much does it cost? How much effort do I need to put into it?

 

Basically, the bigger the diamond painting, the more it costs and the more effort you need to put in.  

Based on my experience, the cost of the diamond painting depends on the size, the number of colors, and the type of drill to be used: round drill or square drill and also partial or full drill. I don't know why the square drill is more expensive than the round drill though.  

The price ranges from as low as Php150 to Php6,000 or more.

I made my first ever diamond painting (The Last Supper) for 10 days and with 6 to 7 hours per day for an 80cm x 30cm canvas size (with 74 to 24 drill area) full round drill. And the 30cm x 40cm canvas with 24cm x 34cm drill area was done in 4 to 5 days. 

 

The Last Supper design round full drill diamond painting. My very first accomplished diamond painting.

These two blue flower design diamond paintings are 30CM x 40CM in size. The drill area is approximately 24CM to 26CM x 24CM to 36CM

It can actually take longer if your resin is square. But there are accessories which can help increase the speed of your work. And also as you do it often, you'll find out better techniques yourself. 

 

What are the benefits of doing the diamond painting?

 

Diamond painting is an addictive form of painting that uses copied images. It does not require you to be talented or know how to paint beautifully. Rather, it will arouse your interest in handicraft and can be taken up as a hobby.   

 

A child is patiently doing her diamond painting. Photo by Arra Balita

Diamond painting is a good outlet for relieving stress; therapy for the weary and restless mind; an activity to cope up with boredom. Moreover, you will surely gain the virtue of patience. What’s more, it is a very good project for children. They will definitely enjoy it although they need to work hard in order to finish an image. 

 

Grace, my 8-year-old niece with her own diamond painting. Photo by Nerissa Vernick

Diamond painting is also a stunning home decoration. It is an inexpensive but elegant masterpiece. Its kit or a finished one is also a great gift for your family and friends.

  

Overall impression

 

This activity is fun although not all people have the same zeal in doing so. To finish one painting, even if it is only a small one, really requires patience and interest. 

 

It is a good activity for children too. When my 8-year-old niece, Grace saw my diamond paintings, she got interested in doing the same. At first, she was very fond of doing it, but later on, the child got bored. A little encouragement and telling her that building a character is like finishing a diamond painting changed her mind. She devoted 1 to 2 hours to it every day. Creating such forms of art will help children learn the values of patience, hard work, and responsibility.

 

I have an interest in art, one of the reasons why I enjoyed diamond painting. Aside from that, creating a diamond painting during this pandemic became my creative outlet. It is like therapy for me while battling boredom and adjusting to the new normal. 

 

For an adult like me, it was an outlet and stress reliever. As quoted by Jennifer Chu, director of sales and e-commerce for Diamond Art Club, "It requires minimal effort and can be extremely addictive as this creative outlet is great for relaxation, stress relief, and overall mental health."

 

Now, diamond painting has become my hobby and also one of my ways to augment my income. 

 

So, are you ready to start a new hobby? Why not try diamond painting?

 

Stay tuned for my next article on Art in the City.

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Special thanks to Andrea (Andrew) Pisan., mio bello e splendido fidanzato, who gave me an idea to write this blog and for continuously inspires me to write blogs about my passion and interests.