Our community's most popular working methods
Diamond Painting is more than a hobby for many: it is a moment of relaxation, creativity and fun. But there's one question we hear often: what is actually the best way to get started?
The short answer: there is no one right way – there are many! In our Facebook community, fans share their favourite techniques and approaches every day. In this article we show you the most popular methods in practice. Feel free to try them out for yourself and discover what suits your style best!
Which technique do youWhatever you choose, three things always make working more pleasant:
- an accurate Diamond Painting Pen,
- a handy storage box for your stones,
- and a roller to give your work a nice smooth finish.
Just getting started? Then read our guide first “How do I start with Diamond Painting?” for a flying start.
Start tight with theruler trick
Laying the first stones is always a special moment – your work of art comes to life! But how do you ensure that the first row is nice and straight? Simple: use a ruler!
Place the ruler along the edge of your canvas and place your first row of stones flush against it. This way you immediately have a straight base on which you can align the rest. This tip is especially useful if you start on the outside without stones as a reference.
Hint: Has a row become a bit crooked? No worries – with a rhinestone corrector you can effortlessly slide entire rows back into place. Neat, fast and stress-free!
Stones crooked? No problem! If you notice that some stones are not sitting straight, use our practical rhinestone corrector. This allows you to straighten several stones in one go. Ideal for those who want a sleek and even result!
The chessboard technique – perfect for large colour areas
This method is popular among experienced Diamond Painters – especially with square stones. The approach? You do not stick the stones directly next to each other, but always leave one box free. This creates a pattern that resembles a chessboard.
What does that mean? Simple: the stones fit better and fewer gaps occur. In addition, you stay focused because you have to keep switching between the open spaces - ideal for large areas in the same colour that can otherwise become a bit boring.
This is how it works: Fill firstonly in every second place. Then you go back and fill in the empty spaces. The result? A super sleek and even final image!
Extra tip: Practice this technique on a small area first. This way you can get used to the rhythm and see if it suits you.
The farming method – "harvesting" piece by piece
The name may sound a bit unusual, but the technology is super handy. You divide large, even surfaces into blocks of, for example, 10 by 10 cells. Then you work on these blocks one by one – as if you were harvesting them. Hence the name!
The advantage? You maintain an overview, prevent your motivation from sagging and you see your progress clearly growing. This is especially nice for monotonous parts such as air or water.
Good to know: This method works great for both round and square stones, especially if there are few colour changes.
Extra tip: Use washi tape or an erasable marker to mark out your blocks on the protective film. This way you stay organized without damaging the surface.
Do you prefer to work in blocks or strips?
Remove the entire protective film in one go? We don't recommend that - unless you are a turbo-savvy painter! With larger paintings it is smarter to work in sections. But what suits you best: blocks or strips?
The block method
With this method you divide the canvas into squares, for example 10x10 cm. You can mark these with a ruler or partially cut the protective film. Then you workbox by box, by colour or row by row. Many people find it motivating to see each box being checked off.
Our tip: Use coloured washi tape to tape off your blocks. This way everything stays neatly in place and you don't accidentally pull the foil loose.
The strip method
With this approach, you divide the canvas into horizontal or vertical strips. Ideal for paintings with clear lines or colour gradients that run through the entire image. Start from top to bottom or from left to right – depending on your preference.
Note: Are you right-handed? Then start on the left so that you don't wipe over your work. Left-handed? Then start on the right side.
Which method you choose depends on your preference, the size of your canvas and the type of image. There is no right or wrong – only what works for you.
Do you have your own method?
Our community is growing every day and is bursting with creative ideas! Do you have a method that works great for you? Please share it with us. And do you want to get started with one of these techniques right away? Then take a look at our most popular categories:
Have fun trying – and remember: there is no 'right' way, only your own!
