Diamond Painting: A New Mindful Crafting Hobby

Diamond Painting: A New Mindful Crafting Hobby

Diamond painting is the latest craft phenomenon, but what is it, and how do you do it? Use this handy guide to answer all your questions so that you can get started.

What is Diamond Painting?

Diamond painting is the art of placing tiny pieces of resin onto a waxed chart. You can make stunning pictures, and it is very fashionable right now. 

Diamond painting kits contain everything you need to complete your design. There are endless pictures to choose from; anything from animals to fairies to flowers, you’re sure to find something you love.

How Do I Do It?

  1. First, you peel back the plastic covering the area you want to work on.
  2. Then, you dip the nib of the pen into the block of adhesive and use the tool to pick up one of the resin pieces. 
  3. Gently place the resin piece in the appropriate place on the canvas (it will be printed with squares labelled by colour).
  4. Nudge it firmly with the end of the tool to ensure it has stuck down.
  5. Pick up another piece and add that to the design too.
  6. Keep going.

Why Do Diamond Painting?

  • It’s fun! 
  • It’s easy and very cheap; the kits cost hardly anything, and just one kit will last you a long time. 
  • Diamond painting is also calming, relaxing and is great for mindfulness. It takes you out of the hectic day-to-day stresses and gives you a little oasis of peace. Great for your mental health and managing stress!
  • Everyone should have something creative to do, and diamond painting is another option to try. Being creative has proven benefits for your health, and this is so much fun you’ll have a blast doing it.
  • You’ll have something beautiful to hang up in your home or give as a gift afterwards. Definitely an achievement.

Who Is It For?

Everyone! It’s an easy enough concept for even children to get, you just have to watch the tiny pieces. If you have really young kids there are kids’ kits available, or you can go for mosaic art instead, which is a similar concept. Mosaic art even comes in stick-on kits, so there won’t even be any mess for Mum or Dad to deal with.

Diamond painting is excellent for teenagers. There are designs for everyone, from lots of fantasy or space kits, animals and much more. If they love the vans at places like Manchester Van Sales why not get them a van-themed diamond painting to do?

For adults (like me) it offers an easy, fun and mindful activity that appeals to the creative side and helps you let go of the day’s stress.

Loved this? Find more of my craft content here: Cordless Glue Guns For Crafting on the Go.

13 Spring Sewing Projects

spring craft projects

Spring is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to get your closet up to speed with some spring sewing projects. When sewing something new and exciting ourselves, we often look for the latest fashion trends for spring sewing inspiration and ideas. But keeping up with current fashion can be quite tricky sometimes.

Here’s the good news. I have here a list of 13 easy spring sewing projects that’ll help you impress your most fashionable friends. My youngest sister Lauren is an absolute whizz at things like this. She’s my go-to girl if I ever need anything stitching. I might give a few of these a go myself though as they seem easy enough (I know where she is if I need help unstitching myself from material or fixing a sewing machine)

  1. Simple Reversible Bag

Love carrying a reversible bag? Then you’ll love this reversible bag tutorial. You’ll notice it’s simple and easy to make. All you need is pick your favourite fabrics and get ready. Who says a girl can never have too many bags? 

  1. 3D Triangle Pillows

Want a fun little pillow for your kids? Simply follow this simple triangle pillow tutorial.

As you’ll notice, making these funny looking pillows is really easy, all you have to do is gather your favourite fabric scraps and start stitching few of them together. A very easy one.

  1. Picnic Bowl Covers

This potluck bowl cover tutorial is a weekend project. Once completed, go outside in style this coming spring for the first outdoor parties and picnics of the year (if the weather agrees).

  1. Button-Up Window Shade

Make this easy to sew window shade quickly, and lift up the window shade into two heights to allow different shades of light into your room.

You only need buttons, twill tape, raw linen… and French ticking.

  1. Oilcloth Lunch Bag

Have an unused oilcloth cover on your kitchen table? Then follow this oilcloth lunch bag tutorial to transport your children’s lunches (or your own) in a leak-proof style.

  1. Knee Pad

Thinning, weeding and planting require a great deal of effort, and your knees often get hurt the most. But, with this attractively neat and stylish knee pad tutorial, you can prevent your knees from getting injured.

You’ll notice that the pad in this easy to follow tutorial is made from a sturdy and water-resistant acrylic, with a wide range of colours.

  1. Outdoor Pillows

Don’t just throw away those cheap-looking vinyl kitchen cloths. Why? Because they can be used for purposes other than just picnics – to make excellent materials for outdoor pillows that are super easy to clean.

  1. Handkerchief Valance

This tailored men’s handkerchiefs will turn more heads than just looking great in your pockets. If you have a set of vintage or new hankies, follow this easy handkerchief valance tutorial… to turn them into the most stylish valance.

  1. Raffia Window Curtain

Stitch a series of tufted raffia bow ties on a curtain with matching thread, and add freshness and sunniness to your windows, almost overnight! I might do something like this in my dining room.

Here’s how to create a raffia window curtain.

  1. Ruffled Coin Pouch

This spring, make yourself fall in love in head over heels with a cutesy ruffle coin pouch.

Creating this coin pouch is easy, too: All you need is little ruffle here and there… and everything will start to come together.

Here’s how you can create a pouch with a zipper.

  1. Chiffon Maxi Skirt

Last year, I realized that the chiffon maxi trend was starting to become really popular. This year, however, I’m sure it’s going to pick up a full momentum.

Maxis make excellent sewing project for spring and the summer.

They’re simple to make and comfortable to wear! You’ll find them in double maxi designs, either worn as a skirt or a dress. Here’s a simple chiffon maxi skirt tutorial to help you stand out from the pack.

  1. Simple Skirt

Do you know what’s popular on the spring runway these days? It’s the sweaters paired with circle skirts.

Recreating this look is quite fun and easy, too. Simply follow this simple skirt sewing project. You’ll realise you’ll only need some fabrics, some elastic bands to go around your waist, and thread.

Once it is sewn, pair it with your sweater and a pair of flats to look really, really ‘cool’ this spring.

  1. Day Date Dress

Do you want midi skirts that’ll turn heads without making you look “too granny”? Good.

Here’s a simple tutorial to make a day date dress.

Pay attention to how you wear it, though. To grab the attention of the most stylish friends, you can, for example, pair this easy midi skirt with heels, and accessorize the look properly!

Do you have any spring sewing projects planned? I could probably manage a few of these and the reversible bag is top of my list to try.