10 Diamond Painting Tips For Beginners

Diamond painting has become one of the easiest and most relaxing crafts to pick up, even if you are not a frequent crafter. With simple tools, sparkling resin diamonds, and a color-coded canvas, this hobby is perfect for unwinding after a long day or creating beautiful gifts from your favorite memories. If you’re just getting started, these beginner-friendly tips will help you avoid frustration and enjoy the process even if you've never diamond painted before.

1. Choose the Right Beginner-Friendly Canvas Size

For your first project, smaller and medium sizes are your best friend. A 30x40 cm  or 40x50 cm canvas hits the sweet spot, as its detailed enough to look great but not overwhelming for a beginner. Every 10 cm you add is probably an extra 1.5 hours of work.

2. Start With a Clear, High-Quality Image

If you're creating a custom diamond painting, image quality matters more than anything. Blurry, dark, or low-resolution photos make it harder for the final piece to look crisp. Good images = better diamonds = better results. If you want to turn a personal photo (pets, family, landscapes) into a sparkling diamond painting, try our custom diamond painting kit.

3. Organize Your Diamonds Before You Start

Organization is the difference between enjoying the craft and spending an hour looking for drill colors, which wears out even the most dedicated diamond painters.

A few simple steps make everything easier:

• Keep diamonds in small containers or labeled bags
• Group them by color or number
• Use a separate tray for each color when working

Some crafters even use pill organizers, super cheap and extremely effective.

4. Work One Section at a Time

Do not peel off the entire adhesive cover the first time you start working on your kit. Peeling the entire adhesive exposes the canvas to dust, reduces stickiness, and makes the diamond placement harder to keep track of. Instead try peeling back a small square of adhesive paper, complete the entire section, and then move on to a different color.

5. Use the Right Lighting Setup

If you're not careful, diamond painting can cause a significant strain on your eyes. Clearly being able to see the symbols on the canvas without straining your eyes makes the entire process much more enjoyable. Good lighting helps reduce eye strain and improves accuracy.

Ideal lighting options include:

• A desk lamp
• A ring light
• Natural daylight
• Light pads (optional but helpful for darker canvases)

Your eyes will thank you for doing this by the time you are done. 

6. Apply Diamonds Using the Best Wax Technique

The wax is what makes your applicator pen pick up the drills. Here’s how to use it properly:

• Press the pen tip into the wax gently
• Pick up diamonds with light pressure
• Refresh the wax if diamonds stop sticking

A little wax goes a long way, you don’t need to reload it constantly, just make sure its visible on the drill.

7. Fix Crooked Diamonds With Tweezers

Even experienced crafters get crooked drills throughout the course of their diamond painting. Tweezers make it easy to straighten out misaligned drills, removed misplacements, and tighten rows for a cleaner look. PaintMeLike includes tweezers in all our kits so if you go with us you should be good to go. 

8. Keep the Canvas Cover On to Prevent Dust

Only expose the part you’re actively working on. Dust, hair, and debris can stick to the adhesive and cause diamonds not to sit properly.

Bonus tips:

• Store your canvas flat
• Keep it away from liquids (drinks, pitchers, etc)
• Keep pets away (unless you want cat hair art mixed in the canvas)

9. Use a Roller to Secure the Diamonds When You’re Finished

Once the canvas is complete, gently roll over your finished piece with a small roller or brayer. This pushes the diamonds firmly into place and keeps them from popping out later. This step takes less than a minute and dramatically improves the final result.

10. Seal Your Diamond Painting for Long-Lasting Results

While sealing your diamond painting is technically optional, it’s highly recommended if you plan to frame your piece, gift it, or display it long-term. Sealing helps lock the diamonds in place, prevents “popping” drills, and protects the adhesive from dust, humidity, and everyday wear. You can choose between two main types of sealants: brush-on sealants, which create the strongest and most durable finish by filling in gaps between drills, and spray sealants, which provide a quick, lightweight layer of protection without altering the texture as much. Regardless of the method you choose, a properly sealed diamond painting can maintain its sparkle, structure, and color vibrancy for years. If you want your artwork to last as long as possible, especially if it’s a custom piece, sealing is a smart final step.

Frequently Asked Beginner Diamond Painting Questions

How long does a beginner diamond painting take?

A small 30x40 cm canvas typically takes 6–10 hours depending on speed.

Should beginners choose round or square diamonds?

Round diamonds are easier and faster, great for newcomers.
Square diamonds give the sharpest detail but take more precision.

Can kids do diamond painting?

Yes! Kids love it, and it’s a great way to build focus and fine motor skills. Choose simpler designs for younger children.

What tools come in a PaintMeLike Diamond Painting Kit?

Most beginners aren’t sure what to expect when they open a diamond painting kit, but most kits come with everything you need to get started. In a PaintMeLike kit, you’ll find an applicator pen, a grooved tray for holding drills, wax to help the pen pick up the diamonds, tweezers for adjustments, a pre-printed adhesive canvas, and extra drills in case a few go missing.