Written and tested in-studio by practising makers
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12 years of finished-canvas notes
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How to Start a Diamond Painting

You have your kit and a free evening. How to set up, read the canvas, and place your first diamonds so the first hour is calm rather than fiddly.

You have your kit and a free evening. Here is how to begin well, so the first hour is calm rather than fiddly.

Set up

Find a flat, well-lit table. Unroll the canvas and let it settle — if it curls, weigh the corners down or press it flat under books for an hour. Lay out the diamonds, the pen, the wax and the tray within easy reach.

Read the canvas

Each square shows a symbol, and each symbol matches one diamond colour on the legend. Pour a small amount of one colour into the tray and shake it gently so the diamonds sit flat, faceted side up.

Place your first diamonds

Peel back a small corner of the protective film — work in patches, never all at once, so the adhesive stays tacky. Dip the pen tip into the wax, touch it to a diamond, and press it onto its square. Work one colour or one small area at a time.

Find your rhythm

There is no rush and no wrong pace. Many people start at the bottom and work up, so a resting hand never sits on open adhesive. Beyond that, do what feels good — see our beginner's guide.