Diamond painting is the hottest new craft and we love it! It's been an emerging craft trend for a while so we thought it's about time we explain to you what diamond painting is, where you can buy diamond painting supplies and give you a round-up of our best diamond painting kits on the market. Buckle in because you're about to learn all about the world of diamond painting...
What is diamond painting?
Diamond painting is becoming increasingly popular in the craft world with both adults and kids. It was created in 2015 and gets crafters to apply mini resin rhinestones to a board by following a pattern. It's similar to paint by numbers, where users create an image by filling in individual sections one at a time but instead of paint, it's resin diamonds! It's also similar to cross stitch (check out our modern cross stitch kits if you're a fan) as the design is coded. Each symbol or number is related to a different coloured diamond which makes it really simple to follow.
Much like other crafts, diamond painting has been known to have a therapeutic effect (learn more about why crafting is good for mental health in our article) calming the mind and making you feel a sense of achievement once you've finished your piece! It's a fab craft to try especially since there are so many diamond painting kits that come with everything you need to get started. Diamond painting kits come in a range of styles, skill levels and sizes meaning you can start simple and work your way up to huge canvas sized pieces.
There are a few things to look out for if you're new to diamond painting so we've created a mini-guide below to help you on your journey. We've also recommended 18 diamond painting kits (11 for adults and seven for kids) below to help you choose your first creation. For all you advanced diamond painters, there are plenty of additional accessories you can buy online to help you create your masterpiece and we've rounded up a few must-haves at the bottom of our article.
How to choose the best diamond painting kit
There are several things to consider when buying your diamond painting kit. Every kit is different in terms of difficulty and with so many on the market, it can be a little overwhelming knowing which to choose. Here are a few things to consider when selecting your kit or buying a kit for a loved one.
Square or round diamonds?
Diamond painting kits will either come with resin square diamonds or resin round diamonds. There's no difference in terms of ease of use, application or price, simply decide which one you like the look of more.
Square diamonds give a slightly more 3D effect and were the first type commonly found in diamond painting kits.
Round diamonds give a smoother, finished look.
You'll often be able to tell just by the image on your kit which one it uses but if you're buying your kit from an online retailer it's worth checking the description to see which one is included. It's worth noting that some diamond painting kits will include different sized diamonds and gems for texture but the standard round or square diamonds will make up the majority of your design.
Difficulty level
Many diamond painting kits come in a variety of sizes and bigger doesn't always mean more complicated. While bigger designs will take you longer to complete, crafters with visual impairments or back problems may find it easier to choose a large design. Large designs can easily be propped up or rested on a stand (we've linked one below) which will save you crouching over a tiny design and allow you to stand back and see the overall image from afar.
If you're a newbie to diamond painting then we recommend you choose a kit which uses only a few colours or uses blocks of colours. The fewer colours the easier it will be to find the right diamonds and the more blocks of colour mean you won't have to keep swapping diamond colour. The mini kitty pillow we've linked below is a great starter project because it uses two colours in a simple but very adorable design.
For more beginner projects, read our list of the best contemporary tapestry kits for beginners.
Does it have everything you need?
The majority of diamond painting kits come with everything you need but it's always worth checking, especially if you're buying it as a gift. These are the following items you'll need if you're new to diamond painting:
- Diamond dot picker pens (used to pick up and place your diamonds)
- Glue Clay (you'll dip your pen with the diamond attached into the glue before placing on your design)
- Tray/Container (trays make it easier for you to pick up individual diamonds)
- The design
- The corresponding diamonds to each design
If your kit includes all of these items you're ready to go! If you're a more advanced diamond painter have a browse of our accessories to step up your crafting game.
Best diamond painting kits for adults
We've rounded up eleven of the best diamond painting kits in a range of styles and skill levels so you can find your perfect one. If you're after even more kits for adults then make sure you read through our best paint by numbers kits for adults.
Tree diamond painting kit
If you're after an explosion of colour this is the diamond painting kit for you - a fun project to get stuck into on a dull day. Use every colour of the rainbow to create this tree in full spring bloom.
The kit comes with a set of round diamonds, a canvas, clay, a diamond pen and a diamond tray.
This is another diamond painting kit that would make a stunning piece of wall art for any hallway, living room or bedroom. Gift to a fellow crafter in need of a new project, or treat a loved one to a homemade housewarming gift!
Feeling festive? Explore our list of Christmas diamond painting kits.
Cards diamond painting kit
Turn your diamond paintings into cards for your loved ones with this kit. Scarlet Ribbons sells a whole host of diamond painting card kits including this tropical flamingo one. These are great for those of you new to diamond painting. If you enjoy cardmaking and papercraft we'd recommend looking through our best die cut machine post to find yourself a new toy to play with.
Bookmark diamond painting kit
- Buy now from Etsy (£13.00)
Use your love for reading and make two fabulous bookmarks with this diamond painting kit. Everything you need is included along with these funky tassels so you'll never lose your page again.
Lotus diamond painting kit
- Buy now from Etsy (£9.99+)
This gorgeous design is by Beautiful Art Painting and will make a beautiful piece of wall art in your home. Choose between round or square diamonds and then select your canvas size. The bigger the diamond painting kit the better we say!
Personalised photo diamond painting kits
- Buy now from Etsy (£14.03+)
We love this concept by Craft Diamond Painting. Send in your favourite photo (family photos, pets, holidays, scenery) and they'll turn it into a template with corresponding diamonds. The price goes up depending on which size you select but this would make a great Christmas gift for a loved one. Diamond painting kits for the whole family!
For more festive projects check out our Christmas gift ideas for quilters and our Free Christmas decoration crochet patterns.
Abstract cactus diamond painting kit
This diamond painting kit is a favourite because of its textured, painted look. Go in and add the diamonds for extra sparkle then hang it proudly on your walls. We love the mix of funky and eye-catching colours used for this diamond painting kit and reckon it would make a lovely gift for any plant, craft or art lover!
Wowdecor offer a range of diamond painting kits designs - from ballet dancers to starry night scenes - so you can choose your favourite.
Don't forget to pick up a matching frame so you can hang your work with pride.
Koi Mosaic diamond painting kit
This detailed diamond painting kit is perfect for fish lovers and more advanced diamond painters. Measuring at 41cm x 41cm this is a large piece that will give you a huge sense of satisfaction when you finish.
Starry Night diamond painting kit
- Buy now from Etsy (£19.94)
Recreate Vincent Van Gough's famous Starry Night with this diamond painting kit. Everything you need comes in the kit allowing you to become an artist with ease.
Kitty Glow Mini Pillow diamond painting kit
This adorable beginner diamond painting kit lets you turn your creation into a mini pillow! Everything you need is included apart from the pillow stuffing.
These ying-yang kitties would make a lovely gift or if you want to keep this kit all to yourself, check out our rug making kits for beginners which is full of creative kit ideas.
Harry Potter diamond painting kit
This diamond painting kit is for all the Harry Potter fans out there. Make this beautiful picture of the Hogwarts crest to hang on your walls. It would make a brilliant gift for a Potterhead!
For more Harry Potter crafts, check out our list of 35 magical Harry Potter crafts.
5D diamond painting kit
This pretty London bakery scene is perfect for pink-loving diamond painters. There's a few different diamond painting kits to choose from in this selection including a sweet car bursting with flowers or a close up of the bicycle with a basket full of flowers.
Best diamond painting kits for kids
If you want to get the kids into diamond painting then here's seven of the sweetest diamond painting kits money can buy. We also have a full round up of the best craft kits for kids right here on Gathered.
BeYumi diamond painting kit
This adorable 34 piece animal set is great for kids 3+ and includes a range of animal templates. It also comes with the corresponding diamonds, two diamond trays, two pen tools and two pieces of glue clay AKA everything they need to make their own animal kingdom.
Explore our list of the best Lego tables for kids.
Panda diamond painting kit
This diamond painting kit is ideal for your older kids. Aimed at ages 6+, it's a kit that will keep the kids entertained for ages. For more crafty projects for your tweens check out the 42 best crafts for teens post.
Unicorn key chains
Suitable for 5+ these unicorn keyrings make a cute, wearable project for your teens and tweens. This diamond painting kit comes with gem-shaped diamonds as well as the usual colourful diamonds to give your unicorns a more textured look.
Garden birds diamond painting kit
Replicate the natural world and teach your little ones bird names with Scarlet Ribbons' diamond painting kit. It's suitable for ages 8+ and can be turned into educational entertainment if you wish. If you’re looking for more kids crafts then check out craft ideas for kids round-up and our paper crafts for kids blog post.
Superheros diamond painting kit
This one is for all the superhero fans out there. If your little one is obsessed with the Marvel series pick up this kit which includes nine superhero templates and their corresponding diamonds. Hours of fun to be had!
Fruity diamond painting kits
- Buy now from Xyzbeads.com (£16.12)
This fun and fruity kit comes with six designs and will teach your little ones all the different fruit names. There are also a number of animal kits to choose from too, so you can find a kit to suit your children's interests.
Diamond Dotz butterfly diamond painting kit
This simple diamond painting kit is perfect for little kids and would make a great stocking filler.
Where to buy diamond painting accessories and supplies
Diamond painting supplies can be picked up from a number of online retailers. We've mentioned some of these brands above but here's a list of places you can pick up more diamonds, glue clay and any other extras you may need.
- Amazon (for accessories)
- eBay (for diamonds)
- Etsy (for clay and kits)
- Wish (for accessories)
- Ali Express (for American kits)
Once you've got all your supplies it's time to level up your skills with some diamond painting accessories! There are lots of different gadgets you can buy that'll make your experience even more enjoyable so to help you out we've rounded up our top five diamond painting accessories. These would also make wonderful gifts for any diamond painting enthuses you know.
Diamond Painting Stand
Hunching over your diamond painting designs is a thing of the past with this nifty stand. It has six levels of tilt adjustment meaning you'll be able to lift and lower your design depending on your needs. We love the vibrant pink colour too.
Diamond storage box and organiser
Keep all your diamonds neat and tidy with these colourful organisers. Each container has it's own lid so there's no chance of your colours spilling or mixing. This is a practical present for all those organised and on the go diamond painters.
Diamond painting roller pressing
Ensure all your diamonds are secured in place with this handy roller press. Once you've finished your piece simply roll firmly over the top to press all the diamonds into place.
Diamond painting multi-boat holder
Many diamond painting kits will come with one tray to keep your diamonds in place while working. If you have lots of different coloured diamonds one tray alone can be too small to hold all your colours. This is where these multi-organiser trays will save the day. Keep all your colours separate and easy to pick up with these bright green trays.
Diamond Painting ruler tools
It can be tricky to get all your diamonds into a perfectly straight line using only a diamond pen and tweezers which is why we'd recommend these diamond painting rulers. There are three different ruler designs to suit the shape of your diamonds. Place your chosen ruler on top of a section of your design, fill with diamonds then slowly peel away. The plastic rulers are for nudging any stray diamonds into place!
We hope you've enjoyed learning about diamond painting and are all ready to buy your own diamond painting kit. For more crafty kits check out our craft subscription box round-up and our guide to the best punch needle kits on the market.
