In this is a super-easy to follow guide, we’ll cover absolutely everything you need to know about getting started with diamond painting. We’ll give you full instructions with tips and trick along the way, and we’ll also take a look at some of the best diamond painting kits out there, with quick recommendations for choosing the perfect kit, whether you just want a quick project or are up for a bit more of a challenge.
So if that all sounds good to you, let’s get started.
And no problem, if you just want to choose a diamond painting kit and skip everything else – our recommendations are all right here in the table below.
| Type of Kit | Our Picks | Scroll |
|---|---|---|
Partial Drill Diamond Painting Kits  | 5D DIY Diamond Painting by Number Kits, Mandala Flower By Windale This is a gorgeous partial kit which means you won’t be filling the entire canvas with drills, but there are still tons of drills to add to keep you busy. An excellent choice for a first diamond painting – not too much of a time commitment but very sparkly and pretty. You can see more of this one in the video above. Size: 12 x 12 inches 5D Diamond Painting Kits for Adults – The Kiss Gustav Klimt This is another fabulous option if you are just getting into diamond art. Lots of sparkle and what’s not to love about a Klimt. Size: 15.75×19.68 inches | Read More |
Full Round Drill Diamond Painting Kits | Eiflow 5D Diamond Painting Kits for Adults Sunflower With this one, you will be filling the entire canvas with round drills. Round drills are a little more forgiving than square drills when it comes to lining them up straight. You will see a tiny bit the printed canvas in the background around the drills. Size: 12 x 12 inches | Read More |
Multi Pack Kits | 4 Pack 5D DIY Diamond Painting Full Drill by Nurkul A fabulous set of animals. With good detail when completed. And get 3 more to complete the set. This is a full round drill set. Size: 12 x 16 in (approx each) | Read More |
Full Square Drill Diamond Painting Kits | ANMUXI 5D Diamond Painting Kits Full Square Drills for Adults This is a full square drill kit. So you will be filling the entire canvas to make up the image. It comes in a range of different sizes and you get 2 drill pens with 3 drill placer heads for placing a line of drills in one go. Size: 12 x 12in | Read More |
Let me start out by saying if you are new to diamond painting, it’s pretty new to me too. It’s only been around for a few years, so it’s definitely not something I grew up with.
It was invented by a company based in China back in 2010 and took several years to really take off. Now it’s hugely popular and this is only the beginning.
How Easy is Diamond Painting and Will I Like It?
Below is a very short video to give you an idea of what diamond painting is all about.
If you already like cross-stitch or painting by numbers, you’ll love diamond painting. The principle is basically the same. Diamond painting even uses the same DMC color system using the 489 colors that you will be familiar with if you’ve ever done cross-stitch before.
But even if you’ve never done anything like it before, it’s just about the easiest craft you could choose. While it looks super impressive when your painting is completed, it’s one of the most stress-free creative activities you could do.
It’s also very easy to just dip into it every now and then – especially when you compare it to knitting or crochet for example. You see with diamond painting, you can see at a glance where you are up to and what you need to complete next.
And you can start or carry on anywhere on the canvas that you like.
Lastly, it’s so relaxing and meditative, and you don’t need to fully concentrate on it, so you can listen to music, a podcast, an audiobook, or watch something on tv at the same time.
And what a lovely activity to do with your children or grandchildren!
So what’s not to love?
If your canvas won’t lie flat, lift the film at each corner of your canvas and replace it. This simple trick should make your canvas lie flat.
How to do Diamond Painting
It’s super easy:
- Your canvas will come with a key. The key will be numbered and/or it may have symbols next to it. There will also be a corresponding DMC number. Match, and stick your diamonds (or drills as they are called) to the sticky surface of the canvas using the color key provided.
- Pour some drills into the tray provided in your kit and give it a gentle shake. This will turn all your diamonds the right way up.
- To make picking up the drills easy, a drill pen is provided with a hollow nib. Each kit also comes with a small piece of (usually pink) wax. Press the end of the nib into the wax.
- Pick up and place your diamond drills onto the canvas.
- You will notice that the canvas has a piece of film protecting its sticky surface. Uncover only the small area you are working on at any one time. This is to keep the canvas fluff-free and clean.
If you notice any areas of the canvas have a bumpy or uneven glue surface, use a sharp craft knife to score the surface until the glue evens out. This is important as it will prevent a visible ridge of uneven drills from appearing in your finished piece.
How to Choose a Diamond Painting Kit
There are really three basic types of kit you can choose between and we’ll run though those now:
A Partial Kit
A good way to dip your toes into diamond painting is with a partial kit.
By this we mean one that has high-quality ink inked background to which you add sparkle and detail with your diamonds.
And just so you know, these kits don’t just give you the odd diamond to add here and there. They have tons of diamonds in them for you to place. And the final effect is stunning.
Another good reason to choose a partial kit is that it’s generally much easier to see the symbols or numbers on your canvas.
Serious diamond artist tend to prefer full drill kits. The finished result of any type of kit has the potential to look stunning. But the full drill kits offer present more of a challenge.
A Full Round Drill Kit
These kits require you to fully cover the canvas with diamond drills. They are a little easier to line up because their circular shape means there’s is a tiny bit more space around them.
That means you will see some of the canvas in the background – but it will be printed the same color as your drill, so won’t be very noticeable.
A Full Square Drill Kit
Square drills are a little harder to line up straight. But there’s a handy tip to making it easier.
You simply place your drills in a checkerboard pattern and then go back and fill in the gaps.
If you choose a full drill kit, either round or square, you may find it a little difficult to see the symbols. Working over a lightbox or light pad can make things so much easier to see. They are surprisingly cheap too!
If you think you need a lightbox to see what you are doing, try to go for a dimmable one if you can.
If you choose a full drill kit you may find that the edges outside of the working area are sticky too. To keep the edges fluff-free and clean, it’s a good idea to lay a strip of washi tape all the way around the edges of your canvas.
Now it has to be said that if you are filling an entire canvas with drills, your finished picture will inevitably look pixelated to some degree or another. As a rule of thumb, the larger the canvas, the more detailed and less pixelated the final image will be.
Of course, unless you are up for a challenge, that’s not necessarily what you want to hear if you are just starting out. It’s a huge time commitment for a start and you may feel a bit overwhelmed with a large canvas and tons and drills.
The best advice I can give you is not to choose a canvas that’s too big unless you already know you’re going to be hooked, but do choose kits where real people have posted a photo of their finished piece. That will make it easier to judge whether or not you’ll like the final result. …And that, of course, was an essential factor in choosing our recommendations.
Store and label your spare diamonds when you have completed your kit. You never know when you may need a few extra ones in future kits. You can also use them to embellish birthday or Christmas cards etc. The possibilities are endless.
Partial Drill Diamond Painting Kit
5D DIY Diamond Painting by Number Kits, Mandala Flower By Windale
This is the kit I am working on now you can see it in the video above. I’m loving how it is turning out.
It comes with a mixture of different shapes and sizes of drills and the effect is super sparkly and pretty.
Although you only embellish the image, it’s kept me happily busy for about an hour each evening for the last couple of days and I’ve still not finished it as you can see (the finished project is shown above).
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Full Round Drill Diamond Painting Kit
Eiflow 5D Diamond Painting Kits for Adults Sunflower
If you look on Amazon you can see the photos of the completed painting posted by diamond artists.
We think it looks stunning.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Multi Pack Kit
4 Pack 5D DIY Diamond Painting Full Drill by Nurkul
Tons of color to brighten your day. These look fantastic when done.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Full Square Drill Diamond Painting Kit
ANMUXI 5D Diamond Painting Kits Full Square Drills for Adults
This one comes in different sizes so if you want more of a challenge, we say go for it!
For best results, a light pad may be the way to go but they are super cheap. Choose a dimmable one.
Check the latest price on Amazon.
Other Kits
Diamond Painting Bookmark by Ross Beauty
Fantastic gift. Super cute. What’s not to love?
SUSSURRO 9 Pieces DIY Diamond Painting Keychain
Adorable. I suggest setting these so that the diamonds don’t drop off. Mod podge or similar will work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to buy extra tools for diamond painting?
Although you can buy better quality tools, than those provided in a kit, if you are not likely to do more than a couple of diamond paintings. You really don’t need to upgrade.
Once you are hooked you’ll probably want to invest in a light pad so you can see the symbols more clearly. You may also prefer a better substitute for the pink wax and some storage pots are a very go idea.
Additionally you may find a roller helpful to set the drills.
That being said diamond painting is one of the least expensive hobbies you can do and none of the tools are too pricey.
Which is better round or square diamond painting?
It’s really a matter of preference but there are advantages and disadvantages to both. Round drills as a little easier to place but square drill give the fullest look.
Is Diamond painting easy?
It’s very easy. It’s very similar to paint by numbers but with tiny beads (drills).
What is the difference between full drill and partial drill diamond painting?
A full drill kit requires you to entirely fill the canvas in order to make up the image.
As a rule of thumb larger kits will allow for more detail and so the image will look less pixelated.
Partial Kits have a detailed printed image that you embellish with drills. They generally still have a lot of drills for you to place though.
We hope this list of the best diamond painting kits has been helpful. If you’d like to try more crafts take a look at our big bumper list.
If there’s anything good that you think we’ve missed, or if you have any questions about anything, then let us know down in the comments below.
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