The 12 Must-Have Diamond Painting Tools and Supplies
Although experienced diamond crafters the world over have found that quality retailers like VizuArts ensure that every diamond painting art kit they provide includes all that the diamond painter needs to create their masterpiece, crafters are also learning about the additional tools and supplies that can take this enjoyable new art form to the next level.
This post will explore the tools and supplies that come with the standard diamond painting kit before examining some of the additional art and craft supplies that make diamond embroidery even easier while helping the diamond artist ensure that their diamond painting is the best and most polished rendition of the dedication and skills of its creator.
What Tools Come With My Diamond Painting Kit (and How Are They Used)?
With so many eye-catching images, sizes, and options, choosing your first (or your twentieth) diamond painting art kit is already one of the more challenging parts of the whole diamond painting experience! As you consider which kit is right for you, let us review some of the options that can help influence your choice. While doing so, we will also take a look at the various tools included in the kit and how they are used to create original and glittering works of art.
What Would a Diamond Painting Be Without the Diamonds?
Drills (also known as diamonds, diamond beads, rhinestones, diamond dots, or crystals) are the characteristic material used to create these artistic masterpieces. Diamond drills are not minerals forged by carbon pressure over the course of years or decades (but can you imagine what a painting made with actual precious stones would look like?). Drills are man-made, and they are deeply pigmented, multi-faceted stones made from high-quality resin. The drills are flat on one side so that they can be affixed to the DMC coded canvas, and their surface is faceted just like a real jeweler’s diamond.
You may have seen the terms 3D and 5D when you are learning the various options for drills, but the differences are not as extreme or relevant as you might think at first. 3D diamond beads three facets on each side, and 5D diamond beads have five facets on each side. In the same way that precious stones reflect and refract light more brilliantly when they have more facets, the same holds true for 3D diamond drills vs. 5D diamond drills. Since 5D diamond drills leap off the canvas a bit more than 3D diamond drills, most of the DIY diamond painting kits on the market today contain exclusively 5D diamonds.
The diamond shape is more critical of a consideration than its facets, and diamond drills come in two basic shapes: square or round. Round diamond drills are a little easier to pick up with the diamond drill pen or tweezers, and they are a popular option for beginners and experienced diamond painters alike. Round drills provide a little margin for error since they do not have to fit so snugly against the other drills on the painting.
Diamond painters with more experience, as well as crafters with cross-stitch or embroidery experience, report that working with square drills can be a little more challenging, but they also find that the process and results are more satisfying. Square diamonds are easier to pick up with tweezers than round diamonds, so painters have found that they can alternate between using tweezers and the diamond drill pen to give their hands a rest from each tool.
In deciding between round drills vs. square drills, know that round drills provide a bit more sparkle and are easier to use, but square drills produce a finished diamond painting that looks more like a needlepoint that is polished and glittery. Square drills also provide that characteristic “pop” as they are snapped into place.
Canvases: Choosing the Size and Design That Works for You
Each and every diamond painting kit comes with an adhesive canvas that is coded with DMC symbols (which correspond to the individually labeled bags of diamond drills that come with the kit), and the canvas is covered by a thin plastic film. There are canvases available in a variety of themes, color schemes, and sizes. Canvases can be as small as 20 x 20 centimeters (8 x 8 inches), while others are as wide as 90 centimeters (36 inches) across.
If you choose a diamond painting art kit from a retailer like VizuArts, you will have a canvas that is heavy-duty and weather-resistant, which means that you will not have to deal with wrinkling or creasing. In addition, your finished masterpiece will be durable, long-lasting, and suitable for framing. No matter what strikes your fancy, whether it be a Paris cityscape or a quaint bicycle surrounded by heaps of flowers, you are sure to find a canvas that speaks to you. If you prefer, you may even choose your own custom image for a true one-of-a-kind creation. Your own cats lolling in the sunlight, your betrothed laughing on the beach, or a simple forest scene photo that you took on your last hike can all be transformed into a diamond painting.
Note also that all of VizuArts’ diamond painting kits come with a full-drill canvas, which means that the canvas is fully coded for diamond placement. Partial drill canvases exist, and partial drill means that part of the background is already colored in (so no diamonds will be placed on some of the background sections of the canvas).
Getting the Diamonds on the Canvas: Applicator Pen, Tray, Wax Pad, and Tweezers
Let us look at the tools for getting the diamonds on the canvas in the same order you might use them. First, there is the small, grooved tray. This tray allows you to pour a small number of diamonds in your chosen color into the tray for ease in sorting and picking up the drills.
The standard applicator tool that comes with each diamond painting kit is a diamond drill pen or stylus that the artist can use by dipping the tip in the wax pad, then picking up and placing the diamond drill on the canvas. The diamond drill pen included in most kits has a comfort grip, and many tools are double-sided as well.
The wax pad that comes in the kit is a standard square of pink wax that is malleable at room temperature. It provides enough stickiness to pick up the diamond with the drill, but not so much stickiness that you are not able to easily press and release the diamond drill onto its assigned spot on the canvas.
Finally, each kit also comes with a pair of super-sharp tweezers. These come in handy when working with square drills, doing detail work, or making adjustments to misplaced or crooked diamonds on the canvas. Tweezers can be used in lieu of or in conjunction with the applicator tool and wax pad.
That’s It For What’s Included in the Kit, but What Other Tips and Tools Are Out There?
As you can see, a good diamond painting kit comes with everything you need to get started on your diamond painting journey, and you can complete a diamond painting using only the tools and supplies that come in the kit. However, as the world of diamond crafting has grown, so have the tools, tips, and supplies that can make diamond painting even more enjoyable.
Below are some of the tools and supplies you may want to have access to as you work on your diamond art. Note that, in many cases, you likely already have the supplies you need in your home!
A Flat Surface, Just Like Some People Thought the Earth Was
No matter what size of diamond painting you choose, it is important that you have a workstation with a sturdy, flat surface where you can work on your diamond painting. Although you only work on one section of the painting at a time, you need to be able to fully lay out the canvas and all of your supplies. Some crafters find that a cutting board or a large piece of felt laid over the flat surface helps with traction and grip.
It’s All About the Lighting
As with any craft project that uses small beads, good lighting is essential. Sunlight or overhead light is good, but having an LED light pad is even better. The dimmable light pad is a great addition to your diamond painting workstation, and this tool is especially beloved by crafters who want to minimize eye strain or who do not have enough lighting to easily find and match the diamonds to their DMC coded sections of the canvas. The light pad comes with a standard USB cable that can be plugged into any USB port and has three levels of brightness so that you can adjust it to your liking.
Can You Really Ever Have Too Many Tools?
Just like having more than one roll of tape or an extra pair of scissors is invaluable during gift-wrapping marathons, having extra or premium diamond applicator tools and extra tweezers make the diamond painting experience even better. For example, this dual-sided premium diamond painting pen comes with a removable wax cone tip, a jazzy diamond-lined interior, and a wider, more comfortable grip than the standard pen.
Wax Alternatives and Extra Wax Pads Keep You Waxing On
In varying temperatures, the pink wax that comes in the wax pad can get too hard if the area is too cold or too melty in hotter rooms. An experienced diamond crafter always has an extra wax pad or two stashed in the refrigerator to rotate in when their current wax pad gets too soft. In addition to having extra wax pads, some crafters like to explore various wax alternatives.
Rolling Pins Are Not Just for Pies
When the diamond painting is complete, you will want to make sure all of the diamond drills on your 5D diamond painting kit are fully affixed to the canvas. To do this, use a rolling pin to lightly roll over the finished piece. This action pushes out any air bubbles and squishes the diamonds against the canvas for a firm grip and consistent finish.
Pantyhose and a Vacuum?
Surprised to see these items on the list of essential tools? If so, then you have been lucky enough not to spill a whole bag of diamonds onto the carpet and you may never have watched a tray of upended diamonds skitter across a hardwood floor. To pick up the inevitable spilled diamonds, simply take a pair of pantyhose (or something that is equally thin but not so porous that the diamonds can slip through) and pull one leg over the nozzle of your vacuum cleaner. Secure the material with a scrunchie or a rubber band, and vacuum up any spilled diamonds.
Put It Away, Put It Away Now
Any crafter worth their salt knows that storage, sorting, and easy access to art and craft materials can make the difference between a pleasant crafting experience and a negative one. Storage boxes can be DIY, and a good budget option is to repurpose egg cartons for diamond bead storage. Proper labeling is key here so that you will not forget the DMC code for each set of diamond drills. If you are looking for a sleeker, less DIY option, consider investing in a clear plastic diamond organizing tray that doubles as a storage container. The tray features 28 removable boxes, and each small box comes with its own lid. The small boxes fit into a larger, lidded box, and these containers can also be used for other crafts that involve jewelry or beading.
Seal It Up
Once you have completed your diamond painting, consider how to make sure your work is protected from dust and other elements. Since the shimmer of a diamond painting can be lost if framed under glass, it is important to use a sealer that is clear but that can also allow you to touch or gently wipe the surface of the diamond painting. Many sealers, like the ever-popular and ubiquitous Mod Podge, come in both matte and gloss finishes. You can find more about sealant options and methods in this post.
Multi-Diamond Applicator Tool
Sometimes working on diamond painting the background or a large section of a landscape can get monotonous, so some diamond painters like to use a multi-diamond applicator. They roll on around 9 drills at a time and cut back on the time spent on sections that are all one color. The multi-diamond applicator tool is also useful for other diamond painting projects.
A Piece of Damp Cloth Does Wonders
We told you that many of the items on this list were available in your own home! As with painting a wall or doing a paint by numbers kit, having a damp cloth on hand comes in handy in a variety of ways. When diamond drills get dropped or scattered, passing a damp cloth over them makes the drills easy to gather up. A damp piece of cloth also comes in handy to wipe off smears of excess wax or adhesive that can sometimes happen in the course of diamond painting.
Frame It All Up
When you have finished your diamond painting, the next logical step is to seal it and frame it. While there are lots of different ways to display your 5D diamond painting, by far the most popular way is to frame the diamond art in a custom frame. True DIY crafters particularly enjoy making their own frame, and frame kits are available in almost any size that a diamond painting canvas comes in.
Keep the Static Down
Since diamond drills are made up of high-quality polyresin, they can build up static cling when stored. If you cut up standard dryer sheets, you can slip a bit of anti-cling fabric into the individual baggies or storage containers along with your diamond beads. These bits of dryer sheet cut the static cling and make it easy to tumble the diamonds into the tray and to pick up with the diamond applicator tool or tweezer.
What Do You Think About Your Expanded Diamond Painting Tool Kit?
As you peruse your existing diamond painting supplies and dream of the diamond painting accessories that are still on your wishlist, we hope the suggestions and tips above will help you with your paint with diamonds journey. As you browse diamond art kits and select your next full drill diamond painting, consider which tools you can use to take your newfound hobby to the next level. Perhaps it is simply a new diamond pen or two in different colors, or maybe dryer sheets are the solution you have been seeking for staticky diamonds!
Even if the tools and supplies that come standard in each diamond painting art kit are all you need to create your next diamond art selection, perhaps you will discover some tips or tools that will help you enjoy your craft even more.