What I Wish I Knew When I Started Diamond Painting

[@janicehowell3096]

I'm a stroke survivor. My apartment manager who had a stroke a few years ago said that her cardiologist recommended diamond art for hand-eye coordinates. I started out slow, only doing a line at a time. Now I fill my small tray and don't stop until I'm done with that color. I believe I am starting to write because of it! Thank God!

[@RachelRaeCraft]

That's absolutely amazing! 👏😍

[@madicatgeniveve]

@@janicehowell3096 CONGRATS!!

[@harleytomlin9238]

My therapist recommended diamond paint as a cope for my depression and it helps me a lot.

[@letmeramble]

ok-

[@spoonknifey1015]

I’m so glad it helps !

[@KittyLovesGlover]

And I crossm stitch for the same reasons. so relaxing. :)

[@jac4680]

Same

[@keziahmathew7740]

Oh I hope it takes away your depression stay safe

[@foullily8325]

my personal advice *Dont feel like you have to complete the whole thign right then and there* its ok to take small steps, only do like 3 or 5 small rows a day. Rushing hurts yourself and makes the activity less fun and feel like a chore. Pace yourself~

[@V_098]

And the back painnnnn is horrendous 👁💧👄💧👁

[@FemkjeMW]

I just do it on colors

[@Cake342]

I do an hour nearly everyday. Usually right before bed (helps me relax after a long day at work)

[@Casey-uk3wy]

Mine is going on 2 years

[@lazy-me380]

Aww thx for the advice ur comment shows that care about others also very true

[@iipastel_i4926]

My therapist suggested me to do diamond painting from me to stop self-harming myself and it’s really helpful :)

[@lynetted]

I'm glad that diamond painting helped you. My adult daughter used to cut herself and I gave her a diamond painting kit of a kitten. She didn't have the patience for it and I ended up making it for her.

[@rosaleisle8081]

I’m autistic and it helps me to focus more and be really behaved

[@gwenhengel8980]

When I started doing diamond painting I kind of abandoned self harm. It really works it’s magic

[@annabranson260]

I’m so happy about that!

[@michelemahaffey2500]

That's brilliant. I think that would help with me as well.

[@annsowers4591]

I color to help cope with the loss of my Son. I just started diamond painting as well. Believe me when I say both of my hobbies have saved my sanity. I want to share my ideas for your fiished projects. 1. Nursing Homes have residents that Never have visitors or gifts brought to them. Think of the smiles you can put on someones face with a beautiful picture either framed or mounted on canvas! 2. PTA's love to have an assortment of gifts that they raffle off during festivals. Money raised from school festivals help Teachers with supplies, books, equipment, etc. One year our PTA raised enough to purchase new computers for the computer lab! 3. Last but not least is your local Humane Society or Rescue Shelter. Ours is very active, and would love to have anything to raffle or to sell in their Thrift Store. Both the PTA and Humane Society are tax deductible. I hope I have given you ideas to showcase your talent. You never go wrong when you give from the heart!

[@ziche.]

get better ❤️

[@Meimoons]

Good ideas!

[@jocobrat]

I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your son. My heart goes out to you ❤ Your ideas are FANTASTIC! Sending a big, warm hug!

[@ecslime3998]

I’m sorry for the loss of your son 😔but I hope that your diamond painting helps you nice advise!😁

[@edwinnewmaniii2092]

I’m sorry for your loss. You are not alone with grief

[@leighriego8385]

My dad bought me 5 of these so I can avoid using my phone

[@pandyfan9258]

Same

[@leighriego8385]

@@seirarararawr1012 omg 🤣

[@filipabrasil1951]

Mine bought 2

[@zahrasadat7080]

Lmao that’s the excuse I use when I want more

[@rozeneanikadigao6627]

Leigh riego ;~; I don’t have one at all. I want to have one tho...

[@bepis9766]

My dad wouldn’t let me buy them at first because it was so expensive with the shipment, but I used the excuse to use it as wall decorations. I’m gonna have some pretty covered walls 😄

[@amarisochoa1174]

I found some really affordable and high quality ones on the Walmart website, maybe you could try looking on there too ?

[@bepis9766]

Amaris Ochoa yeah, thanks!

[@kathie9823]

@@bepis9766 I just bought a beautiful tiger for my daughter from Walmart. It was only $5.

[@Inapeartree]

@@serenity1343 I just visited their site after you listed this. It looks like a great gift idea! Especially for like a wedding gift, new baby, anniversary...nice

[@serenity1343]

Christine CG, yeah I ended up ordering one but it didn’t come until 2 and a half months later, so yes the painting is beautiful but I suggest not getting one from them unless you prefer the wait and it might depend on where you live also.

[@baublemusic604]

grandma got me one of these for christmas we were cleaning her house after she passed and found it. i’m gonna start tomorrow wish me luck

[@b-dog3207]

Have fun with it. They’re addictive

[@lylaplumb7472]

Have u done it yet

[@deasinia]

Gl

[@cubberleycarrie]

So sorry for your loss. I hope you enjoy the painting ♥️

[@mymydaniels7111]

Sorry your lose and have fun

[@stephaniejaksic6223]

Completely agree with everything you mentioned. I’d add that it’s not a race to see how fast you can finish a painting compared to someone else. Enjoy the process!

[@halcyondays4922]

It’s a race between how fast I finish before my mom explodes. 😬

[@FemkjeMW]

I like doing it more than the result

[@Inapeartree]

I bought a very small beginner one for my 6 yo, thinking it would take her a few days. She was done in an hour, and she asked me for another one. Lol. I thought, "o crap, that was fast, what the...." A friend of mine told me it took her months to do hers. Granted, the one she did was a large diamond dot painting, however....months. Obviously more complex. I will need to buy more for my daughter, but not what we bought. That tiny one was on sale for $5. Where to find good cheap ones? I read that there are cheap ones that have unreliable glue bases that disintegrate after a year or so. Don't want that happening.

[@FemkjeMW]

@@Inapeartree i personaly buy from aliexpress checking the reviews allot because normal sized ones are like 3x the price in normal stores it's crazy

[@mahaylawest7701]

Idk anyone else who does Diamond painting I got it cause it looked fun to test my patience turns out it helped my mental health and made me a lot happier in a time span of 3 days.

[@lilylapitaya9319]

I started diamond painting today. I didn't even know this hobby existed. The kit I have is actually a gift. I took it out and 3 hours just flew by. It helped so much with my stress. I just magically forgot about my worries. Thanks for the tips.

[@sidekickster8917]

I JUST discovered this yesterday! I was intrigued by them when a lady at Hobby Lobby walked up & said she'd been making them for several yrs. Told me basically how to do it. I bought my first 2 today! Looking forward to trying it out

[@eleanorcooke7136]

I discovered it on KZbin today. I've found a pretty kit on Amazon for about £10 which seems like a good deal.

[@jofloresz]

Try temu cheap but the tools are just as good so far I love this hobby but You do not have to spend a diamond for it!

[@melaniephillips8556]

My top tip is: if you're doing square drills and doing single placing instead of multiplacing, use the checker board method. It helps it go faster and the clock noise you get putting the drills in between the ones already placed is so satisfying!!! I prefer and recommend using a table or overhead lamp that you can adjust to see the symbols easier. The light pad hurt my eyes, made them feel blurry, and I couldn't work on my canvasfor a long period of time. Section off what you want to work on for the day/at a time so you don't feel overwhelmed by your canvas. It's a good goal setter. I'm working on a canvas that is 120x90 (as big as my kitchen table) and it helps me to not feel so overwhelmed by the size and amount that needs to be done. Place finished paintings in an artist portfolio to keep them flat and free from dust. The bigger ones I have that don't fit I put on storage containers under my bed and cover them with foam board to keep them as flat as possible. Always seal your painting.

[@lindaduke13]

What do you seal the painting with? I am new and trying to learn all I can about it.

[@melaniephillips8556]

@lindaduke13 I seal with mod podge brilliant gloss... it's not water resistant and is white but dries clear. Then I hang out on hangers with pant hooks and hang it on my bathroom rod. Keep it tight and straight....It takes about 24 hours to cure, so put it somewhere that isn't really dusty. Make sure you use a roller to make sure all your drills are in place. Use a toothbrush to get all dust and debris out of it as you can put use a damn cloth to clean it before sealing

[@varyiaverner]

Recently I've been spending way too much time on my phone because of quarantine and not starting anything because of my severe adhd so i'm gonna try diamond painting thanks for the tips🤙

[@CatKotGato]

If you have ADHD then you'll get carried away easily from this

[@varyiaverner]

@@CatKotGato Not at all. I think it's important to share that I have diagnosed adhd and high-functioning autism so my traits of adhd may vary from the typical ones. I actually ended up trying it out and loved it. The first day I got it I refused to stop until I finished it (took about 14 hours.)

[@DarkWidow1110]

I have ADD if you lose focus easily get 2-3 too interchange

[@xtina22e]

​@@DarkWidow1110I do this also!! I always have 2-3 minimum on the go!!

[@xtina22e]

​@@varyiavernerhyper focus is definitely something I have realized that I do!! I relate to this comment so much!!!!!!

[@yuhuaa1843]

my first diamond painting is coming in the mail soon and i'm super excited! thank you for the tips!

[@RachelRaeCraft]

You're very welcome!

[@akudumb3021]

Where did you buy it? Btw, congrats!

[@yuhuaa1843]

@@akudumb3021 i got the first one from paintwithdiamonds and my second one from aliexpress since pwd is kinda pricey. they both came out great and i love it!!

[@akudumb3021]

amadaa That’s great! I’m very happy for you! I wanted to get a custom one from pwd, but before i do that i wanna try an aliexpress one so i for sure know that i won’t regret łatwe purchasing one from pwd! I think i might order the great wave off Kanagawa since i love traditional Japanese paintings~

[@Nita07030]

Same my first diamond painting is coming in 3 days I am super excited! Thankyou so much for the tips !!

[@hburke45]

Diamond art definitely helps keep me sober. Had 10 years of hard drug use. And boredom definitely didn't help. It keeps me busy, centered and after I'm done and finished I am proud of what I accomplished.

[@RachelRaeCraft]

Proud of you too!!

[@hburke45]

@@RachelRaeCraft thankyou!!

[@jonathankneller4316]

Here’s some inspiramytion for me! I’d rather not get into the details but I realized while doing a diamond painting my girlfriend gave me to try that I wasn’t thinking about using. I was too focused on the task at hand. Currently working on a baby Yoda one. It’s my first one and I’m not very far into it but so far it’s been a lot of fun!

[@hburke45]

@@jonathankneller4316 I'm proud of you!! Keep it up!! I'd say I have probably done almost 20 diamond paintings lol

[@pattycakecrochet1]

Congratulations on being sober. I started doing crafts bc I was asked to get a hobby to help in my recovery. Let me tell u. I've been clean for 12 years just a few days ago and my hobbies have helped me so much. They keep your mind busy and your hands busy doing something. The accomplishment u feel will help u to keep going. I've only just tried diamond painting and I'm just now working on my 1st canvas. Find something u enjoy and I promise it gets better and easier with everyday. You should be extremely proud you've came out on the other side. You r still here and u r still in the fight. God bless you and keep up the great work. You got this. Much ♥ from a recovering addict.

[@melm6797]

I’m addicted to diamond painting! I’ve done several both round and square drill. Here are some of my own personal tips (some are repeats of what was said in this video): - If the picture has a lot of detail, buy it in a large size. The larger the size, the better the detail. - Get a light pad! It’s the best thing ever for seeing the canvas! - Buy release papers. In my opinion they are so so so much better than the huge coverings that come with the painting. You will then be able to remove just one little piece of release paper and work on that small section without having to expose any other part of the sticky canvas to the air. - Buy a diamond storage case. When I first began, pill cases worked nicely. There’s all sorts to choose from out there. - Round or square? Round is a bit easier and faster. Great for your very first painting ever. Square fills every possible spot with color so it looks great! - Want to do more diamond paintings but don’t know what to do with them all? I do holiday themed paintings! I hang it on the wall for the holiday season and then it goes back in with the rest of the holiday decorations when the season it over. That way, each year I get to admire the painting all over again. I have my official diamond painting wall spot that I keep switching out paintings for each season/holiday. I’ve done Halloween, Independence Day, summertime, Thanksgiving.... I’m going to do Valentine’s Day next. Finally, they make fantastic gifts! Give yourself plenty of time to complete the project. Custom paintings are wonderful! I ordered a custom painting of the grandchildren for my parents. Most all custom designs are shipped from China and will take a long time to arrive so be prepared for that. Mine took 45 days to arrive. Enjoy!

[@Cheetagirl_1985]

A cheap solution I have for the thin pen and finger pain, (I'm 18, broke, and don't have money for a fancy pen) is put one of those cheap Grippies that you would put on a pen or pencil on it. It widens it and provides cushioning For your fingers. I prefer to use a foam one, but use whatever one you prefer

[@melbuttons8740]

Great idea

[@sarahlewis7669]

Excellent idea. Never thought of that. Fab idea. Keep up the good work. X

[@melodyluvsherhobbies9454]

In my opinion, a light pad is a must!

[@bhope777]

Can you recommend a good one?

[@KayBX]

Nah. A head lamp.

[@juliechevalier9859]

@@bhope777 There is good ones on Amazon. I got mine there. One designed for drawing is enough

[@kiwigirlNZ]

@@KayBX I love using a light pad, because the light shines up from underneath the project.

[@KayBX]

@@kiwigirlNZ fair enough. I hate light shining up at me lol

[@mannyg2145]

I m relatively new to this “hobby” and learning more everyday, thanks to the instructional videos. I’m ambidextrous but tend to favor my left hand for the most part. I found that using a small computer mouse pad to rest my hand made it more comfortable to paint. I recommend a pad in the size of 7”x7”, or close to that. That’s my 2 cents worth. Enjoy and stay healthy.

[@kourtneymelton1282]

Oh, I also bought one of those light boards. It's for artists and it has 3 different options: dim, light, and bright. I put my painting on top of it and turn the light on and it made a huge difference. It's totally fine if you have a big one too and the whole thing doesn't fit, you can do corner by corner!

[@deejustdee4752]

What do you mean by a "light board"? I haven't started diamond painting yet, just looking into what all I will need (accessories). Just wondering if I will need one. Where do I get one. Can you post a link, so I can see what you are talking about?

[@sweetstarrider3214]

You are correct about this hobby sticking around. I am watching this video 3 years later. Lol. I already have that anticipation feeling. I decided to try it and I ordered two paintings and want them be here already so I can start working on them! I’ve been watching videos, but it’s not the same as doing one.

[@charlottesmom]

@@sweetstarrider3214 I’m just starting Diamond Painting (getting my first kit today), I have one kit from 2 Christmas’s ago but it’s huge and intimidating so I bought something much smaller and simpler. I love that there are tons of new videos with good view numbers so I see this hobby sticking around for a long time. 👍🏻😊

[@DahliaNebula]

I took about a year to finish one 30*40cm diamond painting with circle drills but with square drills it took me about a couple weeks. The drills really do make a difference.

[@ExitSiign]

Drill quality matters. A few years later after starting mine (on blank canvas) I’m still picking out ones with holes and it creates so much extra work. I’d almost recommended a magnifier for checking the drills. Another tip I got from someone online was to funnel the containers when first opening the drill packets with a dryer sheet to reduce the static.

[@jamieantonsson8617]

Glad I’m not the only one who thinks “I need them all. Now.” 😂 I’ve just begun diamond painting, but I’ve crocheted for years and even though I crochet with yarn that has been around for as long as I know, I ALWAYS need to buy more than I need 😂😂😂

[@brennar928]

omg this is me xD I brought my first diamond painting today because it looks so fun and it took a lot of restraint to not buy multiple paintings and all the cool accessories xD

[@pattycakecrochet1]

I'm right there with u. I have tons of yarn n I could go right now and buy more. I wanted to try diamond painting for a while now and I just stared my 1st 1. So far I'm really enjoying it. I have found so many that I want to buy 2. I'm trying to keep my spending down this year and that's what is helping Mr to Not buy more than a couple small 1s to see if it's something I really like to do. The struggle is real tho. Lol 😂

[@svgstarlight]

wow, that night-bringer deer diamond art is so gorgeous 😭❤️

[@Ooobydoobydoo]

When I first started, I wish I knew about table top easels. Because I diamond paint on my dining table, I would get back and neck pain. Last Christmas my daughter bought me an easel, and it’s been a godsend. Another great tool that’s been useful is a light pad. It makes diamond painting at night a whole lot easier.

[@Inapeartree]

When I used to do a lot of art I loved my drafting table . I could maneuver it to whatever angle I needed for the type of art I was doing, or where my back wanted to be. Is the easel you're talking about an actual vertical easel? Or is it a much lower angle? I never liked painting easels, the angle always tired my wimpy wrists and arms after a couple hours.

[@AngelMarie85]

Just a regular easel or a special type?

[@emmaramos0]

there’s something so therapeutic and satisfying about doing diamond paintings

[@silviacoralricalde8739]

Some advices: 1. Before to but from some store, search for comments of other people. 2. If a canvas has rivers, bubbles, etc... there is plenty of youtube videos that explain how to fix it with a exacto, 3. If you have oily drills or drills with static, wash them with water and soap, then let them dry in absorbent paper, 4. If you buy a kit from aliexpress and there is any issue, first try to fix with the seller, if there is no way, open a dispute, 5. If you open a dispute in Aliexpress always be sure to put all the evidence and explain very clear.

[@Sam_Hedgehog]

Do you know if ones from Michaels and Walmart are good?

[@silviacoralricalde8739]

@@Sam_Hedgehog hi!! Sorry but in my country there is no Michaels... and Walmart doesn’t sell them 😓

[@Sam_Hedgehog]

@@silviacoralricalde8739 I see, Its okay! Thank you!

[@silviacoralricalde8739]

@@Sam_Hedgehog your welcome 😁

[@TheDuckLamb]

@@Sam_Hedgehog I got the Diamond Dotz from Michael’s and it was definitely better quality than the ones I got on Amazon. More expensive as well.

[@MsDEMONDROP]

I'm doing all my Christmas gifts now..only have 4 left to do..started in January!!!

[@KamoreeLove]

Very smart

[@jayleecota6917]

how’s it going ? Christmas is right around the corner

[@b-dog3207]

I got my first diamond painting 5 days ago. I finished it today.

[@The6TravelingShorts]

Where do you get yours from? How long did it take for them to come in?

[@cloeyWalpole]

My personal advice is don’t feel like you have to finish it as fast as possibly can. It’s ok to take your time

[@littlejedi9307]

Even though I have only done one diamond painting, I am now hooked. It is oddly relaxing. Some of the things you mentioned I was so confused. But they really helped me. Thanks!!

[@rygasmr6795]

In all honesty. This made me sleepy. Like just the talking and watching you "paint" it was so relaxing.

[@MissGreenTeaLady]

A little late, but thank you for this! I've been doing cross stitching for many years and I was always intrigued by diamond painting because of the similar idea of building up an image from those little squares (or circles).

[@skybluespike8373]

They call it SABLE, (supplies acquired beyond life expectancy) and it is typical of crafters. I have a rule of thumb to only buy a diamond painting when I am two thirds finished with a painting. Although I keep a small collection of "snacks" to do if I get finished while waiting. I only buy paintings from places I can get them from fairly quickly. I remember my first painting I did I thought I will never put this up in my house, they reminded me of the velvet painting craze from many years ago, tacky, tacky, tacky. But, I thought this is fun I'll do another one. Now they're on my walls in my closets and in portfolios. I also have a drawer full. I've been doing this for a year. I have more than a hundred paintings of all sizes. My favorites are the larger canvases. And I also have all the paraphernalia that goes with it. My advice, is not to buy the first one.

[@charlottesmom]

Uh oh, just bought my first one!! 😂 I also have a huge one from 2 Christmas’s ago but I’m saving that one for when I’m seasoned. Are you still Diamond painting?

[@_beyondherlens_]

As someone who is chronically Ill, diamond painting is a massive outlet for me. It served as a pleasurable pastime and a massive distraction from my IV treatments. ❤️ I highly recommend !

[@luposaudit]

I started diamond painting because my sister got a starry night one from Diamond Dotz, and did not like it. I find that if you like cross stitching- this is an AWESOME substitute if holding little needles is too much for your hands. And definitely recommend getting a pen that fits your hand better.

[@Chibizcus]

Thank you so much for the video! I used to love cross stitching for the past 2 years but ever since I started my apprentice as a gardener I started to get stressed and pain from stitching. I saw this recommended many times and finally someone told me its like an easier way to stitch and more relaxing than puzzeling. I really enjoy doing this as its way more relaxing and no pain comes with it. I have purchased one of those light pens as it really helps me see, cause I mainly work with poor lighting. I cant wait to learn more about them and the community!

[@flavia987]

Omg you're soo right on choosing the designs we like.. I'm soo picky about it... I don't like people dps.. I don't like fantasy ones.. I mean, if I pick a landscape it must be the most close to the reality as possible (I did an ever moment sundown at the beach that was FENOMENAL).. It's always super hard to choose but when you do it and than the Dp is finished it's soooo rewarding and satisfying!

[@lucid6067]

Diamond painting has helped me through the hell of drug withdrawal and keeps me sober. Can’t explain why it just works. I look forward to it when I get off work instead of getting high.

[@donnagilbreath6780]

I wish I had known how to use the multiplacer tip. I’ve been diamond painting for 7 years and just learned how to use it a month ago.

[@CatKotGato]

7 YEARS

[@alexandrailicic3568]

Wow! I’ve only just started using a multiplacer!! But it’s taken me two years to start using

[@detectivepinkerton3258]

Yeah I'm going on a year and I still don't get it

[@spectativealien]

These tips have been so helpful, your right, I just started diamond painting 2 weeks ago and I made almost 20 drink coasters for friends and my grandma and it’s so addicting and thanks for making this video, really truly helpful

[@beatriceley1838]

It doesn’t have to be perfect! I tell myself this all the time, because diamond painting is supposed to be fun and not stressful. Also take your time, if you don’t want to do it then don’t. Only do it when you want to or when you you need to de-stress. Hope this helps!

[@lunamoon8711]

A tip I would’ve given myself a year ago from now is, buy storage. Cheap sandwich bags or something because most shop/stores don’t include more then maybe 10 bags in a kit. Some don’t put any bags at all. So if your new always have enough storage even if it’s a cheap dollar box of sandwich bags.

[@alinagordyn]

Thank you so much for your advice. I just ordered my first painting and your tips are life savers. Please continue to giving us your advice from your experience. Thanks a million.

[@lelliott1709]

I began diamond painting probably also in 2018. I ordered a custom print of my son holding a duckling at 4 months old. To my horror upon receiving it, I realized it was all square drills which I was super afraid of! I’ve done a few round drill paintings and just finished one up. I finally decided to pull out anthem’s custom one and take a stab at it. The squares are a bit trickier, but so far so good. It really isn’t as scary as I thought it was going to be. So I totally agree that you just have to take on the challenge maybe you’ll love it, maybe not, but you don’t know until you try. (Totally going back to round drills after I finish this one though. Lol!)

[@flavia987]

My mum and my bro makes me feel guilty of my dps.. She always says that I've spent too much money and too much time! (I've done only 9 canvases) but i will keep doing it until I get bored (how could you get bored BTW) and u don't cares of what people says

[@mangot589]

Flavia R. Good for you. You shouldn’t care if other people don’t like/get your hobby! Whatever gives you pleasure is your own thing.

[@MsBettyRubble]

Your mother isn't very supportive. What a drag. Find a loving, kind surrogate as soon as you can.

[@87alsjth]

Too much time on a beautiful and healthy hobby? How silly! You keep creating these beautiful canvases!

[@emiharuna7251]

@@mangot589 Agreed especially if it’s your own money.

[@mangot589]

@@MsBettyRubble I have to say, that’s one of the best things about KZbin. You discover so many others that have the same hobby as you, which was pretty difficult before. There’s a community, and with crafting, everyone is so supportive, and lovely. Hands down one the most positive groups of people. Hobbyists.

[@zaiba8373]

I just bought my first diamond painting, and its going to arrive next week! I am SO EXCITED!!

[@karma7709]

I’ve only been DP’ing for a couple of months, but what I wish I knew at the beginning is what you mentioned about the size, but also my first one was a square drills. I had a hard time getting them straight. Now I know the checker board method and that’s helped a lot.

[@bostonlatina]

I just started my first project last week. I was using a tray to organize my open bags and my kitten jumped on the desk I sit at and all the beads fell on the ground. 🥴 I just ordered my 2nd project and containers for the open beads. Lesson learned.

[@kimberlee440]

I recommend investing in one of those little handheld plastic bag sealers. I just reseal the bags when I'm done for the day so they dont spill.

[@bostonlatina]

@@kimberlee440 Good idea. Ty

[@oreoday99]

Hi, I also have to mention for those who are really crafty but thrifty, don't be afraid to make your own pens. Polymer clay, oven baked clay and makes some really cute pens for yourself. There are videos on youtube on how to make them and it's a great way to recycle all the extra pens from all the kits you'll receive. I'm currently trying to come up with a way to convert all those little DP trays into storage holders. :-) BTW, great video and very sound advise. Thank you

[@RachelRaeCraft]

Thanks for the tips! If I had some clay I'd totally try for myself. :) It's fun to reuse things and make thrifty, practical stuff too!

[@lindaduncan1775]

@@RachelRaeCraft I use Blue Tac with my pens,lasts a bit longer in use than the wax :)

[@JacquiHartnett]

Cannot tell you how much I love this hobby! Cannot get enough of it!!! So so happy I have found this.

[@RachelRaeCraft]

Glad you enjoy it!💜

[@TdawnT]

My thing is being organized before I start a painting. I bought some small sets and a small organizer but found myself putting all my extra diamonds into my jewelry baggies. So... I had to break down and buy a bigger organizer with the smaller dispensers (like seed beads come in). After doing a few more paintings, I had to buy yet another larger organizer! After that, everything is labeled by color number, although I've found that some diamonds of the same number can be off a few shades so they have to be in their own container. Sorry for the rambling, but the most important thing is to get all your tools and diamonds organized/labeled before you even begin. That way you can just grab a color and go for it!

[@charlenebarnes6152]

I am addicted to these. I absolutely love watching it come to life. I am guilty of rushing because I’m tooooo excited to see the end result 😊

[@gloriahufnagel5556]

YEP... I’m addicted to it after just ONE!😂💕.,. But I am pleasantly surprised there’s an ENTIRE community that dig it.. but WHY are u only doing one at a time? I like to go for as many as I can.. everyone has their methods!

[@dotcassilles1488]

You rock! You answered the questions I had about diamond paintings. I was having trouble with the pink pen as I use diamond paintings as a way to distract myself from chronic pain. Anything fun interrupts the negative thoughts that can often spiral down or snowball into depression. I am diagnosed with bipolar spectrum disorder, TMJD, Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome so I have to balance my life by managing my health challenges. In the past, when one of them flares-up it often lead to all of them being set off in a spiral downwards and became a never ending cycle. Catching the flare-up before it creates chaos in my life, and then finding ways to interrupt the cycle, helps to pull me out of the negative and help me to enjoy life as much as I can. Even just watching videos like this one have helped me out and I just want to say I am grateful for the information and videos you (and many others) make. Blessings from South Eastern Australia, Dot

[@lisabradley7136]

As someone who has to wear glasses I'd say to myself get a light pad lol

[@lindaduncan1775]

I have a light pad,theyre brilliant :)

[@daehyeonswife]

@@lindaduncan1775 what's a light pad?

[@lindaduncan1775]

@@daehyeonswife Its a device that's plugged into your laptop,slim and flat and is placed underneath diamond paintings to give a backlight to your work,making it easier to see the symbols.Mine has 3 brightness levels and I find it really useful :)

[@savannahrose1535]

Linda Duncan where did you get yours? And is there different sizes or only one?

[@shanar7404]

@@savannahrose1535 sorry, I know the question wasn't directed to me so I hope it's ok I answer it. Idk about different sizes of the lightboard. I bought a diamond art painting, plus the lightboard for 16 bucks off of amazon! Was much much cheaper to buy it together than to buy the painting and the light separate. Light board is an absolute must-have..in my opinion.

[@benitaaningalan7649]

I have Parkinson's disease and diamond art relaxes my shakiness. It makes me focus and relaxes me

[@kitzandkabootles]

My advice to myself is : Don't be afraid to try a difficult pattern. It's easier than you think and will look beautiful !

[@jessfidler2356]

For me, do it, but only till you get bored. Then have a break. Don't rush it. And, you don't need to have all of the nice fancy equipment. Just some cheap pots and the stuff that comes with it. I have had a lot of circle ones now I have ordered my first square. Baby yoda

[@lindaduncan1775]

I started the hobby just in the past few weeks,and I'm already hooked :) It's mind numbing(in a good way) in that when I'm concentrating and relaxing with one then I'm just focussing on it.I love it and am always trawling Amazon and E-Bay looking for something to catch my eye.I'm on my third painting now,and have more coming in the next couple of weeks :) Got a new one this morning and have started it,really enjoyable and a great way to spend a bit of quiet me time :)

[@chrisgreek4285]

Thank you for these great tips! I especially appreciate when you reminded me that it’s ok to take time to enjoy our craft - whichever craft(s) we practice. My rookie mistake was that I thought that link pen was all there was available (noob!). LOL! My tip to my past self would have been to invest in proper storage from the get-go. I refuse to think about how much time and money I wasted…….. On an entirely different thought - although related - for anyone that RV’s: have you seen the new fifth-wheels with the craft rooms….. or the RV equivalent? One has a desk in the bedroom, but the one I’m really excited about is the model with the hidden craft room (or office as they call it). There is a good size work surface with LOADS of storage. I was positively giddy when I saw this as we are retiring in a couple of years and Mama needs her craft time! Just a little FYI for all you crafty Glammas out there❣️❣️❣️❣️

[@Kwpn.Mayline]

I diamond paint to help me with my Anxiety, Panic and Stress! It helps alot😁 I really like the large paintings because it makes me feel like i have more time to do it. With a little one i feel like i have to finish it quickly because its so small!🙈 Im gonna order a Toy Story diamond painting tomorrow! Im really excited to be working on it!

[@lisabennett7257]

Thankyou so much, you are amazing! With Everything wrong with this world, people pass away without "passing information and tips on". We need more people like you in this world.

[@liezevds4683]

I speak Dutch so I don't speak English very well, but I just ordered my first diamond painting and I am really looking forward to it and thanks to these videos I get even more excited. very nice video by the way!!

[@FemkjeMW]

It's amazing which ones you getting?

[@vanessamellor4754]

Thanks so much fir this video, I ordered my 1st one last week it’s a custom one of my 10 month old Grandson, he’s sat on the floor and seeing bubbles for the 1st time, it’s such a beautiful photo and memory, it’s a black n white photo and I think I ordered it very big lol 75 x 80 comes to mind, but I wanted a special treat to myself as I’m moving into my flat soon and I’ll no longer be living with my 3 children and beautiful Grandson. I’m having to move due to my mobility issues getting worse, so I thought this would be nice. It can’t come quick enough and watching your video has given me the inspiration, this is the 1st video of yours that I’ve watched and I’m very eager to go and watch your other videos. That picture of the night time stag you showed is superb, I really hope I enjoy it as much as you do. I also love colouring and I’m hoping to do both to keep me sane, as colouring really has helped me relax and stops me stressing about stuff that’s not worth stressing over but that’s part n parcel of my Mental Health issues. I hope you watch many more of your videos and hopefully one day I’ll share my 1st completed diamond painting with you. Cheers Nessa xxx

[@imsleepingbeauty]

I discovered Diamond painting in 2019. It was one small blue and yellow butterfly from diamond dotz. I usually do paint by numbers or cross stitch but I wanted to try something different and it was on sale. That one little art piece got me COMPLETELY hooked! I found out that Hobby Lobby carries them and they're usually on sale for 40-50% off. Needless to say I have purchased about 20 intermediate and advanced Diamond art paintings and they helped me survive lockdown. I seriously don't know what I would have done without them. Now I just need to figure out what to do with the extra dotz lol Happy dotting ya'll! 😁

[@001100kathy]

Those are still useful advice in 2023. Your video helps me to get rid of FOMO so i will just order one as a beginner. Happy easter everyone!!

[@donnamartinez6201]

I only have 3 diamond paintings on hand at this time. I'm working on one. I've only completed 2 (small) partials, which was how I started. The one I am working on is the first one I bought that I am absolutely in love with, because it's a design done by one of my favorite artist you tubers, (Baylee Jae). I have another one of hers, which is NEXT. Before these, I really hadn't found a DP that called to me. I just wanted to do a diamond painting. I am not very creative and Diamond Painting allows me to be creative with someone else's creation. It makes me FEEL creative and it's easy enough for even me to do.....so, I'm quite happy. I will say, having the right DP pen is a game changer. I think I saw one of your videos and found Jim's pens and bought 2 of them....Such a difference. I have now had a few 5 hr DP sessions with no hand cramping. I am also now using an artist desk easel...ANOTHER Game Changer. My husband builds model airplanes, dinosaurs, trains....(you get the picture)...and he has at least 150 models on hand. He works on multiple projects at a time. I cannot do that, so I will keep my "collection" small. Once I finish two of the three, I'll look for more. I love your videos; your tips are very helpful. Thank you for sharing!

[@juliahenry-barron9733]

Only just started my first one, thank you for being there to talk me through it all.

[@hashyc6011]

I just got my first diamond painting kit in the mail yesterday, I can’t wait!

[@lisagreenway8410]

I am new to diamond painting and bought one the other day to relax with as I am extremely creative but I never thought about gifting them, so that is definitely something I am going to look at doing. Thank you for the inspiration xx

[@alesiarichards5664]

I am about to start diamond painting and I could not be more excited. These tips are really helpful and the video helps fill in a few questions I had about diamond painting. I only ordered square drills for my first few paintings, but I plan to do this as a hobby so I have lots of chances to try rounds. I am so excited to try this out!

[@danaglick444]

Welcome to diamond painting ❤ I have done both round and square. The one I am doing right now, us my first square. I actually love the square better because they "lock" together better. Cleaner lines, and easy to work with. I like both, but square is nice. I use the round pen, not tweezers. But each person is different.

[@aasthapatel31]

For me, I love diamond painting, but last year when I first started I would complete one whole diamond painting and then I stood another one and I would hate it and I just stop. I think the biggest tip for me that I think it helped so much is I got a storing system that is like a toolbox, kind of thing or like a cubbies and there’s one little cubby for each drill colorand I put a tray in it with the rest of the colors and a label it and every time I get a new one I reel it. It works perfectly because everything’s already perfectly. There is a mess. Oh well I’ll get cleaned up. that’s my personal opinion, but I really think that helped.

[@heyitsrave2130]

I got into diamond painting the last 2 years but I haven't done anything and my art desk in my basement has not been touched and has been collecting dust for months, I've been wanting to get back into diamond painting because I really liked it so I took all my old gems that I finished my paintings with and put them into a container so I have motivation to keep filling that container.

[@vickipeterson3422]

A tip I have is to be mindful of size because framing can get expensive. There are a lot of alternatives such as stretch bars, magnetic frames, pulled canvas and more. Some people just hang their paintings with command strips. If you want a traditional frame, know that bigger is more expensive, if it has to be a custom frame, that’s more. Do you want matting? That is more but there are also alternatives like duct taping the border, or washi rape or acrylic paint or removing the border altogether with acetone and Mr Clean magic erasers. The point is, there are many options, so do some research, watch tutorials, read guides.

[@LoriClaire-yp9mt]

Yard sales and thrift stores for frames.

[@missmisiowa]

Your place is so quiet! I can hear the birds singing in the background. It's a paradise. I wish I could live in a place like that.

[@ooknittylou]

Don’t promise a diamond painting to anyone. Once you promise it, it begins to feel like an obligation instead of a joy. Finish it first and THEN promise or give it to someone.

[@sharondreisbach1107]

Same for any handcrafted item you produce in your hobby. Once you start committing to finishing on a deadline or a certain quantity it stops being a pleasant pastime and becomes an obligation

[@Lizabethmoore-ow6mw]

I've done every craft there is and this is, by far, my favorite. The addiction is REAL.

[@mangobitties1152]

I just got my first one, and this helped a lot. I was really confused and didnt want to mess up

[@silverthediamondwitch]

Just remember. There is no REAL way to mess up. There are about as many ways to do this craft as there is Diamond Painters. What may work for someone else may not work for you... As long as you're having fun, that's all that REALLY matters. And.. Welcome!!! ;)

[@Hermes2423]

A friend of mine showed me what's up with diamond painting. I saw the craft and fell in love. I bought a partial diamond dots image at hobby lobby and some 30 x 30 images online to get some practice. Yes. The addiction is REAL. I've bought some MUCH bigger images to make for myself and my mom that I cant wait to start. Your channel helped introduce me to the craft. I bought some multi-placers and big trays and good wax and I'm off... thanks for the hard work you do Rachel. Great content.

[@MorriganSteel]

One thing I would have told myself when I started diamond painting is that I should have bought one of each round and square to see which I liked better. I started with rounds and bought a number of them before trying a square. I fell in love with the square and find it hard to make myself do rounds because I like square better. Now I have a number of rounds that I might not do because of my love for squares. I now double check and even triple check before buying to make sure it's square. Sometimes it's not marked so if I'm not sure I don't buy.

[@michellebanaszak3822]

I'm a 30x30 or 30x40 driller. I like to finish them in 3 or 4 days. My advice is have a space to DP that you don't have to put it away. It can stay put and you can go back to it anytime with no trouble, even a small cardtable.

[@CraftyMax001]

I wish I knew how additive this craft was before I got hooked and that it’s expensive

[@julianalopez5050]

I love diamond art it has helped me get through ruff times in my life

[@caitlinjanelle9967]

Thank you for sharing! I have recently gotten into diamond painting, and I agree, the addiction is real hahaha. Thanks for all the advice! It is greatly appreciated!

[@RobsWife4Ever]

I just recently started diamond art & I am totally addicted!! I find it’s so relaxing

[@complicatednailogical3901]

What I like to do is make seasonal ones - Halloween, Christmas, Easter those kind of things because then u can either make it a challenge to finish it before that celebration comes or if u don’t finish early enough then u know it will come around the next year and u can hang it up then. I find that’s really helpful to give u a purpose of doing it. I’m one of those people who can never really enjoy something if I’m doing it just for the purpose of enjoyment there has to be a reason. Idk why😂😂.

[@gabukas5]

I wouldn't consider myself a veteran diamond painter, but I've done several large diamond paintings and this is some advice I have - Try smaller paintings, bigger paintings, round diamonds, square diamonds, different tools and all that. Don't rush to finish it, enjoy the process. If you just got a new diamond painting and you want to spend several hours a day on it - that's ok. If you aren't feeling it one day - that's ok. If you are just starting out with your diamond painting - aliexpress is your friend. You can get a huge diamond painting for pretty cheap, plus they have all you could need when speaking about tools for diamond painting. Sure, you might need to wait a while, but I think it's worth it. Spend some time figuring out a technique that works for you - do you like to work in smaller sections or larger sections, is it more comfortable for you to start at the top and work your way down or vise versa and other things like that. And finally - your working space can make or brake the whole experience, so make sure that you have a table that is a nice size and height, a comfy chair, good lighting and ect.

[@Gina-jd3nw]

Get light pad it’s way easier to see the tiny simple especially for me cus my eye sight is trash:)

[@lindak1768]

I just saw a Facebook ad for these. I had never seen these before! I thought I might get a couple of them to do with my 92 year old Dad when I visit him. Gift him one and have one for myself. We do jigsaw puzzles now. I was looking at Amazon for a couple of kits and then decided to watch KZbin for tips.

[@pamcam4385]

Oh girl, magnanimous does not mean big, but rather lofty, generous, courageous. Look it up.

[@SheriTracey61]

Girl, preach! Everything you said is right on target! This video made me smile big time!!

[@drew8282]

You should have put the hashtag #relatable! Omg everything you said is so true. Say hi to your family (chickens included) for me!

[@haileyledger2973]

I love your voice!! It's so calming and I love your wip and chats!!

[@babygirl46342]

You have some wonderful tips. One tip that I found helps me is to use wasabi tape on the sticky edges so that it doesn't stick to you or get a bunch of fuzz on it. You are absolutely correct that you should always try to have your next one on stand by. If I ordered too late and don't have one ready to start when I finish my current one I get too frustrated and antsy lol. I might need some help with my Diamond Painting addiction lol :-)

[@staceydailey6394]

I know this video is 2 yes old but I'm giving it some love! I have just gotten into diamond painting. I actually got my first kit years ago and never opened it. 2022 was full of heartbreak for me as my 19 yr old genius son studying cyber security engineering with full scholarships fell dead at work one night without any warning. Thank God his best friend found him and started cpr, and an ambulance was getting gas across the street. He was dead at least 10 min. Before the ambulance tech brought him back. He is now in a nursing home fighting to get back but still paralyzed only has a handful of words. His facility is 2.5 hours away from our very rural home. Yes I going somewhere with this... lol... my boy loved Rick and Morty. His dorm was dressed in it too, at the end of 2022 Temu showed up and I saw a Rick and Morty diamond painting. I thought it was something I could do while visiting him as I often spend the night, the weekend, or more with him. I finally opened and started it this year, and I was hooked! Omg I having been this excited since I started watercolor painting! I have already bought several pens, differ trays ect. And im really excited by this new adventure. I find that my brain goes into hibernation when I'm doing it... I'm lost with the only thought being "b b b b b b b" 😅 temu has some great items, so does shein. Both are super affordable! Thanks for the video! Maybe I will try not to keep buying discount paintings... lol.... but they are so so tempting! ❤ happy Easter!

[@RachelRaeCraft]

Many hugs to you and your son 💜💜

[@cjsmama1012]

It is addicting!! I finished my first one and I’m gonna start one for my sisters wedding

[@tiffanysalling4272]

I just started doing this and what I do is throw on some Lo-Fi music on youtube up on my TV or computer and I'll work a section at a time. I'm halfway done with my first one and for me I justified the purchase by simply wanting to try my hand at it to see if I could do it. ALSO: ANY Cross stitch pattern can be turned into diamond art there are a lot of sites that do that - the same is said for the Diamond Art pattern it can be turned into a cross stitch pattern which is why the color numbers also correspond to the thread color wheel

[@gwendolynnunez368]

I really like this video, as a person that needs assurance for everything. >.> While I agree that you should always have a good number on hand, I don't think having a lot is necessarily bad thing. I like having enough, for me, to have something to fit any mood when I decide the next one, but as always, everyone's mileage may vary. My piece of advice? I think you covered all the major points. Maybe just trying not to fuss too much about the small stuff like major gapping or if a row is completely straight or really if it's not "perfect" or like "I should have sized up" . A lot of the pieces I was worried about I checked up on the other day and I was like "whoa! nice." and forgot what my issues were in the first place, because most of the time it's just about the big picture amusingly enough. So too long, didn't read: just relax, it'll turn out good! I rarely ever see a diamond painting that looks terrible from the a step back 🌻 This comment turned out long... Anyway, thanks again for this video, it made me feel better about my hobby 💓

[@dmcamp610]

You couldn’t be more spot on and adorable. Thank you for sharing

[@Alex-bv6yg]

I found your channel a while ago on my recommended and I decided to try it out and let me just say I was obsessed and I did like two diamond paintings in a row and I loved doing them but I did kind of lose it for 2 months then thanks to you I started up again!!

[@RachelRaeCraft]

Woohoo!

[@beautiful8184]

THANK YOU for all the tips!! I am a first timer. And I have not even completed my very first project yet. I am working on it right now infact. And this is SOOO HELPFUL!! LOVE IT!! 😍

[@RachelRaeCraft]

You are so welcome!