Diamond Painting Kits - Craft Club Co Review
Read my full review of two diamond painting kits from Craft Club Co.
I’d never tried diamond painting before I got my hands on these kits, but I’m so glad that I did!
In this review I explain exactly what diamond painting is, how to do it, and whether the kits from Craft Club Co are worth buying. I also consider the quality of the materials, how easy the activity is, and whether they provide good value for money.
Keep reading to find out what I thought, and receive an exclusive discount code.
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What Is Diamond Painting?
This unusual sounding hobby has become super popular over the last few years, having been invented by the Chinese company Guangdong Dazu Yueming Laser Technology Co in 2010. It might sound odd but the concept is simple and produces eye catching results.
Essentially, this activity involves attaching small resin diamonds to an adhesive surface. Painters are usually provided with a numbered canvas, which shows them where to place each colour, and a special wax pen for applying the diamonds.
This technique can be used to produce artwork that ranges from small and simple to large and complex, depending on your chosen difficulty and skill level. I decided to finally give diamond painting a go when Craft Club Co released a set of three wall hangings earlier this year, and I’m really pleased that I did, as the designs are beautiful.
What's Included in a Diamond Painting Kit?
Any decent diamond painting kit will contain the following tools and materials:
A printed canvas that’s self adhesive with numbered sections
Resin diamonds in colour coded bags
A plastic tray with ribbed grooves - these help the diamonds to lay flat
An applicator pen with a wax pad
The Craft Club kits that I’m reviewing also come with a small mirror that can be fixed to the canvas after painting, as well as wall hanging materials.
Diamond painting: Step-By-Step
Step One: Organise Your Diamonds
This is an important step that will help you to keep your diamonds tidy.
The best way to do this is to open the coloured packets one-by-one, tip the gems onto the plastic tray, and then pour them into one of the provided plastic wallets. Make sure you label each colour with the correct number/letter, so you know which colour is which.
Step Two: Load Your Wax Applicator Pen
To do this, open the pad and push the applicator pen into the wax. Don’t be afraid to use too much - the kits provide plenty of wax and you can easily remove it if you use too much.
Step Three: Remove the Plastic Covering from the Canvas
To start with, just remove a small part of the plastic covering from the canvas. The idea is to uncover it bit-by-bit as you apply the diamonds across the piece.
This protects the sticky canvas and ensures that it won’t wear off before you finish adding the diamonds.
Step Four: Attach the Diamonds to the Canvas
Add the diamonds to the canvas one by one, matching the colours to the numbers. The wax on the applicator pen lifts the gems, and the adhesive on the canvas is what keeps them fixed in place.
This is the main part of the process, so make yourself a cup of tea and put on your favourite comfort TV show while you work.
Step Five: Hang on the Wall and Enjoy
Once you’re finished, hang your piece on the wall using the wall hanging materials provided and enjoy your hard work!
If you’re creating one of these Craft Club Co kits, make sure you add the mirrored section using the glue dots provided in the pack.
Craft Club Co Diamond Painting Kit Review
For this review I completed two of Craft Club’s wall hanging mirror kits: In Bloom and Enchanted Forest.
Above: In Bloom
Above: Enchanted Forest
Diamond painting kit design and style
These designs are both absolutely beautiful and are what convinced me to try diamond painting for the first time. They’re small in size, which makes them great for beginners, and the mirrored elements naturally blend into the design.
Quality of the diamonds and materials
As a complete beginner, I felt that the materials included were good quality. The printed canvas was sturdy and didn’t lose its adhesive as I worked through the project.
My only criticism is that the diamonds would sometimes be inconsistent in size, with a few smaller or misshapen gems in each pack. This wasn’t a huge problem as each kit included extra diamonds in each colour, and I could just avoid the smaller shapes, but it feels worth mentioning.
How easy Are the kits?
These kits were super easy to use, and come with instructional videos for every step. The hardest part of the process, for me, was getting the hang of filling the applicator pen with wax.
Once you’ve mastered that, sticking the diamonds to the canvas is pretty self explanatory.
The finished diamond painting result
I’m absolutely in love with the finished results of both of these kits! The designs look absolutely beautiful, and I currently have both hanging on display in my office.
How long does a diamond painting kit take to complete?
These two kits are small and can easily be completed within a single weekend. I worked on each one over the course of two sessions, each lasting several hours.
Pricing
These two kits currently cost £23 each on the Craft Club Co website.
Don’t forget to use my discount code ‘JULIAMITCHELL10’ at the checkout for 10% off your entire Craft Club purchase.
Are the Craft Club Co Diamond Painting Kits Good for Beginners?
As a diamond painting newbie myself, yes, this is such a good craft for beginners.
These are great kits for anyone who’s new to crafting, or for more experienced/intermediate crafters who are looking for a calming project.
Pros and Cons of Craft Club Co Diamond Painting Kits
Pros
These kits have beautiful, eye catching designs that look great hung up on the wall
The materials are great quality, with plenty of spare gems and wax
At £23, these come at a very reasonable price point
This is a really easy craft that’s fun to complete with a short learning curve
Cons
Diamond painting can be messy and requires good organisation
Some of the gems were inconsistently sized
Final Verdict: Should You Buy a Craft Club Co Diamond Painting Kit?
If you’re thinking about trying diamond painting for the first time, then yes, you should definitely get your hands on these kits.
Not only are the finished pieces pretty, but they’re fun to complete and easy to get started with. At £23 I think they’re great value for money, as one of these will keep you entertained for an entire weekend!
Personally, I loved making these and really hope that Craft Club release some more diamond painting designs in future.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy making your next Craft Club Co project!
Don’t forget to use my code ‘JULIAMITCHELL10’ at the checkout for 10% off your entire purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions About Diamond Painting
What is the best diamond painting kit for beginners?
In my opinion, any of the Craft Club Co diamond painting kits are great for beginners. Not only do they include everything you need, but you also receive clear video instructions.
Is diamond painting easy to learn?
Diamond painting is really easy to learn, and only involves a few simple steps, as explained above.
How long does a diamond painting kit take?
This really depends on the kit you choose. I spent one weekend on each of the kits in this review, but Craft Club also sell some smaller mirror kits that you can choose from.
What tools do you need for diamond painting?
All of the tools you need come inside the kit. This includes the adhesive canvas, coloured diamonds, applicator pen, wax pad and gem sorting tray.
Are diamond painting kits good gifts?
The kits themselves make perfect gifts for beginner crafters looking for a new project, as well as more experienced makers hoping for a relaxing, mindful experience. You can also gift the finished kits themselves, as they look fab hung up on the wall.
Can you reuse leftover diamonds?
The leftover diamonds are yours to use however you please. The Craft Club kits come with plenty of extras, just in case you need them.
Thanks for reading, and make sure you check out some of my other Craft Club Co reviews below.
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