Diamond embroidery for beginners. Photos of finished works, video lessons

Popular hand-made needlework technique using crystals is diamond embroidery. In the photos of finished works you can see various thematic paintings - landscapes, still lifes, abstraction, images of people and animals. The peculiarity of handicraft is skillful embroidery without needles and threads.

Unlike other techniques, even a novice master can handle the creative process of mosaic laying. Before you start filling the picture with diamonds, you need to familiarize yourself with the existing types of sets, instructions, algorithm, as well as the features of laying out the elements.

Brief description

Diamond embroidery, or artistic mosaic, is a process of filling patterns partially or completely using acrylic crystals. For comfort and simplicity, beginner needlewomen can use ready-made patterns that are also suitable for cross stitching.

Unlike classic embroidery techniques, diamond mosaic does not require a needle and thread, and less effort and time is spent on production. As a result of laying out a pattern with rhinestones, the picture turns out to be voluminous, textured, and the diamond shine gives a special luxury to the finished works.

The stones are attached directly to the surface of the canvas, which has a thin adhesive layer applied beforehand. The algorithm of such unusual painting with colored rhinestones has its pros and cons.

The main advantages of the technology include:

• ease of execution, which allows you to create a hand-made masterpiece without prior preparation;
• shorter turnaround times compared to traditional cross stitch or satin stitch;
• the spectacular shine of finished paintings, which is achieved through the special cutting of rhinestones;
• volumetric appearance and texture;
• ease of storage, since finished paintings do not necessarily need to be protected by glass.

The relative disadvantages include the following:

• the process of laying out crystals is long and painstaking, requiring skill;
• the price for ready-made kits with diagrams and materials is quite high;
• the presence of defective elements with inconsistencies in shape, inclusions of other shades, air bubbles inside the crystals.

Despite some shortcomings, the technique is distinguished by its creative novelty and simplicity. In order for diamond painting to ultimately bring pleasure, be done professionally and have a neat appearance, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the layout algorithm, as well as select the optimal set with a ready-made scheme.

What shapes are rhinestones?

Diamond embroidery (photos of finished works can be seen below) is a modern type of handicraft, where the main element in creating paintings are rhinestones. Manufacturers offer material of various bright and nude shades, textures, effects and shapes.

Depending on the effect you would like to achieve in the end, you must first select the optimal shape of the shiny elements. It should be noted that finished paintings created according to the same scheme, but using diamonds of different shapes, will look different.

According to shape, crystals for painting are:

• square;
• round.

In addition to the basic form, there is a separate type of material - 5D and 3D square or round. There is no clear answer as to which form is better for work. Experienced craftswomen recommend that beginners familiarize themselves with all types of rhinestones to determine the most convenient option.

The choice of shape and texture is individual, depending on the effect you would like to achieve in the end. Round and square rhinestones have their own characteristics that beginner diamond mosaic masters need to know about.

Square

Diamonds have a regular square shape, so this type of material is best chosen by beginners. The elements are easily grasped with tweezers and laid out in even lines, tightly adjacent to each other.

Each element has a small cut. The material is made of high-quality durable plastic, presented in a diverse palette of shades, which allows you to create beautiful visual color transitions in the paintings.

Round

Round rhinestones are intended for paintings that need to be given a special shine. These can be landscapes with images of the sea, sun glare, dew on flowers, sparkling winter landscapes. All round crystals have a cut with 9 or 13 transverse and diagonal facets.

Due to their special texture, round rhinestones have a reflective property, which allows you to create a beautiful effect of lively shimmer. The elements are made of acrylic, similar to glass, so they have a special transparent-colored structure.

With 3D and 5D effect

Diamond embroidery is a type of creativity where diamonds are laid out on the canvas according to a given pattern with a layout of shades. In the photo of finished works, you can see the differences in the layout of round and square elements. In addition to classic diamonds for painting, manufacturers offer material with a special 3D and 5D texture.

The elements are shiny 3D Glass Diamond and 5D Round Diamond diamonds with a foil base. The marking indicates the number of dimensions. The 5D indicator includes several dimensions that determine the width, height, convexity, several types of chamfers, and cuts of mosaic crystals. 3D diamonds have fewer dimensions, so the work looks less voluminous.

The peculiarity of the material is that D-type crystals in the same color have different directions of edges, creating the effect of beautiful geometry, due to which the shimmer of the picture is more natural. Such material is used to fill mosaics with partial stitching.

This allows to give the product a special brightness, volumetric effect. For production, 3D, 5D crystals of 2.7 to 3 mm in size are used, stitch size is 9 ST.

Special sets

For beginners and experienced craftswomen in the technique of diamond painting, manufacturers offer ready-made kits with schematic drawings applied to a plastic or fabric base. Working with such a kit is simple and convenient, the entire process is organized by instructions and a ready-made scheme.

Each creative kit necessarily includes 3 elements:

• Canvas with a color key scheme applied.
• A set of colored acrylic or plastic elements, selected in a special palette of shades and textures for this painting.
• Instructions for making a mosaic with a “legend” - a list of crystal shades by numbers, as well as corresponding symbols.

To simplify the process, an adhesive layer is applied to the canvas in advance, securely covered with a protective film. According to the instructions, the color number is applied to each package with decorative material, and the corresponding symbol is indicated on the diagram.

The main flagships of goods for diamond mosaic embroidery are considered to be manufacturers from Korea, China, Russia. They can differ in the quality of the material, complexity, cost.

The most popular manufacturing companies are presented below:

Brand name	Country	Equipment	Price
Granny	Russia	The set includes a roll of canvas, fully filled key patterns, and a set of shades of square rhinestones.	2000 – 4000 rub.
"Diamond Painting"	Russia	The set includes a canvas base, a key with full or partial stitching, a set of round or square textured decorative elements.	500 – 2500 rub.
Snow White	China	We offer sets with canvas without a stretcher or on a solid base, with full or partial stitching, various shapes and textures of diamonds.	1500 – 2000 rub.
ANYA	Korea	The budget set includes a canvas in a roll, patterns with partial or full insertion, a set of round or square diamonds.	800 – 1100 rub.
Color Kit	China	A wide range of kits for making paintings using any layout method and all types of diamonds to choose from.	1400 – 2800 rub.
Transformed	Russia	Thematic sets for making icons with hot-melt rhinestones. The set includes a hard base or canvas in a roll, a set of hot-melt and sewn-on rhinestones.	500 – 1800 rub.

Among the wide range of prepared sets, you can buy key patterns with different motifs, with any type of mosaic crystals, for full or partial filling of pictures.

Some companies offer services for creating schemes based on the customer's sketch - family photos or any other subjects. When choosing, it is important to consider not only your own taste and wishes, but also the degree of complexity of the future mosaic.

Materials and tools

To make a panel using the diamond embroidery technique, you need to prepare the following arsenal of tools and materials:

• Stylus. A special stick is used to lay rhinestones on the adhesive layer. This can be a wooden stick with a sharpened end or a plastic pencil with a metal tip. For professional work, you can use a tool with a soft nozzle.

  

• Tweezers. It is recommended for beginners, the tool provides a strong grip on the decorative element. It is especially convenient to use the tool for filling plots with square crystals. Such tweezers have a thin curved grip. Metal devices are more convenient to work with, they hold the element better. Plastic tweezers are inconvenient because the parts slide off the smooth surface.
• Stationery knife. It will be needed for fragmentary removal of the protective film on the painting. This way the adhesive layer can be protected from premature drying.
• Container for decoration. This can be a saucer or any other container. It is better to use a special plastic tray with high sides, on the bottom of which there are convex stripes for easy turning of diamonds.
• Glue. The kit often includes a special adhesive solution, which will be needed in situations where the adhesive coating begins to dry. The glue can also be used to lubricate the base of the stylus or pencil to better pick up small elements.
• Rhinestones. The main element of the picture, depending on the choice, you can achieve one or another decorative effect. Rhinestones can be round, square, glossy or matte, plastic or acrylic, filled with color or translucent.

Ready-made kits include all the necessary tools, decorative materials. Having prepared everything you need, you can start working on diamond painting.

Basic steps of execution

Diamond embroidery, photos of finished works of which can be seen below, is a step-by-step process. In order for the work to be neat, voluminous, and to convey all shades and color transitions as naturally as possible, it is necessary to follow the layout algorithm.

Main stages:

• Preparatory.
• The main stage with laying out the elements.
• Varnishing the finished painting.
• Painting design.

Each stage has its own specific implementation features, so beginners are advised to strictly follow the instructions.

Preparing for work

At the preparation stage, it is necessary to properly organize the workplace, prepare materials and tools, conveniently arranging them in the order of use. It is also necessary to create good natural lighting, since when painstakingly working with small details, the eyes can get tired.

It is advisable to place all the stones in a special organizer, sorting them by color. You can sign numbers and symbols on the sorters according to the laying scheme. It is important to read the instructions before the embroidery process.

Main stage

Having prepared the workplace, materials and tools, you can proceed to the creative part - filling the canvas with diamonds. To do this, the paintings need to be removed by sectors of filling, and then, according to the algorithm and in accordance with the key, lay out the elements.

Having finished one fragment, the flap of protective film is removed again, and the work is repeated according to the given algorithm. If the adhesive layer does not provide a sufficiently tight adhesion to the diamonds, it is necessary to additionally apply a little glue to the base.

When laying out rhinestones, do not press too hard on the elements so that in case of a mistake you can replace the rhinestone. It is only after all the work has been completed that the diamonds need to be pressed firmly.

Varnishing

Varnishing the finished diamond painting is a must. This technique is necessary to create an aesthetic completeness, as well as to securely fix the rhinestones on the canvas.

For varnishing you can choose:

• artistic varnish with a matte effect;
• glossy acrylic coating;
• crackle varnish.

Gloss is best suited for diamond embroidery, as it will further emphasize the spectacular shine of cut diamonds. The main rule when varnishing a picture is to apply the composition in a thin layer, taking a little varnish on the brush. Otherwise, it will flow between the elements, forming air bubbles between the diamonds.

Design

At the final stage, the painting can be framed or stretched on a stretcher. This can be done in a special workshop or independently, by aligning the finished canvas on a strong base and securing it on the sides with a stapler. To make the work look richer and more beautiful, you can frame it with a passe-partout - a special insert between the work and the frame.

Methods of laying out a picture from diamonds

Diamond paintings can be standard or in the form of a triptych - 3 separate parts that form a single composition. Beginners should initially choose smaller-scale paintings to gain experience and skill in working with small details. According to the method of laying out, diamond embroidery is divided into 2 types - partial and full filling.

Each type of work has its own characteristics:

• Painting with partial layout. The peculiarity of this technique is that diamonds are laid out in separate areas of the canvas, and the picture itself is already applied in advance using a printing method. Beginning masters can begin their acquaintance with creativity by performing partial diamond embroidery. Round translucent rhinestones are often used as the main elements for partial laying out, which allow you to give the finished work additional volume.
• Full fill embroidery. This technique involves completely filling the pattern with rhinestones. Such pictures look especially luxurious, visually reminiscent of bead embroidery. For uniform complete filling, square-shaped diamonds are often used in sets.

In addition to standard sets, manufacturers also offer ready-made patterns with a combination of handicraft techniques. In such pictures, individual fragments are filled with diamonds, and others are embroidered with a cross, ribbons, beads, and a French knot.

Working with round diamonds

Round rhinestones are often used for paintings with partial or full layout. As a rule, the material is made of transparent acrylic, so the rhinestones look like sparkling crystals. The range of manufacturers includes a diverse palette of translucent shades, as well as chameleon rhinestones that change color.

There are also elements with a matte opaque structure made of plastic. Pictures with partial layout can be chosen by beginners, since the full layout of round elements requires special skill. Diamond embroidery with round rhinestones, made in accordance with the instructions, always looks spectacular, sparkling and shimmering with crystal facets.

Working with square rhinestones

Painting with laying out pictures with square rhinestones is a more convenient way to fill schematic drawings. The correct shape of the elements allows them to be laid in even, neat rows, so it is more often used in the technique with full filling.

Square rhinestones are made of durable plastic, which is given the desired shade to create a finished composition according to the color key. The key pattern is included in the set. The peculiarity of such paintings is the effect of a three-dimensional image, as well as an exquisite glossy shine and textured surface.

Tips for Beginners

Diamond embroidery, photos of finished works of which will help beginners to get acquainted with creativity, is a laborious and painstaking process. So that novice craftswomen To make it easier to choose your first diamond embroidery kit, follow a few simple tips:

• You can start with works where diamonds partially fill the design.
• For your first creative experience, you can buy a set with square rhinestones; they are easier and more convenient to work with.
• As a motif, it is recommended to choose simple themes with a minimum set of shades.

It is ideal to start acquaintance with diamond painting with landscapes. Natural lines are initially devoid of symmetry, so small mistakes of beginners on such canvases are less noticeable. The base can be of 2 types - plastic or canvas. It is easier to work with a hard plastic base, but on canvas the picture looks richer and more natural.

Handling canvas

Any diamond embroidery kit necessarily includes a base. It can be plastic or canvas. It is much more convenient to work with a canvas pre-stretched on a stretcher. After the layout is complete, the work is ready to decorate the interior.

But there is also a significant disadvantage: during work, the stretched canvas can be damaged, stretched, deformed by pressing with tweezers or a stylus on the fabric. If the set includes a canvas without a stretcher, rolled into a roll, it must be prepared for work. The fabric must be ironed from the back with a slightly heated iron or placed under the weight of books for several hours.

Subtleties of working with protective film

The protective film is the main element in the production of diamond mosaic. Its main function is to protect the adhesive layer applied to the canvas from drying out and getting dust particles. It is not recommended to remove the film in advance. The layer is removed gradually and in fragments, carefully cutting with scissors or a stationery knife in the area that is filled with crystals.

If the film was removed with a margin and the adhesive layer has dried, to fix the decor, you need to use a glue gun to securely fix the rhinestones thermally. If dust particles get on the canvas during the process, they need to be removed with a cotton swab soaked in water. Rhinestones are attached to this area using glue, applying it alternately to each element.

How to take a rhinestone correctly

Faceted crystals are easy to hold with tweezers. Smooth round pieces are more difficult to work with. They can be grasped with a special soft-tipped stylus. A beginner's kit should include not only tweezers with a thin metal grip, but also a glue stick with a sticky tip, with which you can easily deliver the element to the desired filling area.

How to choose a tray for diamond mosaic

The diamond embroidery kit includes a tray for rhinestones. Beginners find it easier to work with a special organizer - a plastic box divided into separate compartments for storing rhinestones of different shapes and colors. For working in this technique, there are special trays with a textured bottom, so that it is easier to turn the crystal over during the process of grabbing.

How to align rows of rhinestones?

If the adhesive layer applied to the canvas is of high quality, it will hold the stones firmly. The base is flexible, so individual elements can be easily moved during the laying process. At the beginning, the rows may not be even enough. To align them, you can use a ruler as a trowel and move the stones that have slipped into an even, straight row with the smooth side of the tool.

What to do if you run out of stones of the desired color?

The set includes a sufficient number of crystals of each color, the manufacturers put them in with a reserve. In rare cases, if the stones of the desired color are over, and the area is not yet filled, you can use elements from the set that are close in color.

If you can't find any, you can buy more rhinestones at a craft store.

What to do with leftover rhinestones?

If the painting is ready and there are rhinestones left, you can decorate the outline of the painting or the frame with the remaining crystals. It is better to place rhinestones in the corners so that there is no excess of stones around the perimeter. Moderate concentration is needed so as not to distract the viewer's gaze from the plot of the painting to the elements of additional decor of the finished work.

Do you need a protective glass?

Diamond embroidery (photos of finished works can be seen below) is a fascinating process of handicraft. The special structure of crystals and the material from which they are made create a finished look of the work without protective glass. Diamonds are not afraid of ultraviolet rays, the shades do not fade.

To care for the painting, simply brush the dust off the surface. If you cover the painting with glass, you can ruin the aesthetics of the work, as the noble gloss and shine will be hidden under the coating. Protective glass may be required only in the case of matte mosaics. This technique will create a shining effect.

Easy to perform diamond embroidery allows you to create beautiful plot paintings, still lifes, original abstraction, without using a needle and thread. For beginners, photos of finished works can become motivation and a visual aid for making mosaics.

Article formatting: Vladimir the Great

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