Bought A Sampler Cross Stitch Kit Today

Well, I went to the local craft store just to look around and bought this cross stitch kit titled Proverbs.  I've always wanted to do a sampler and here it is! 

My first sampler!

I used my old plastic "The Able Stretcher" bars to hold the fabric.  I even made my own needle minder from two large magnets and covered them with gold washi tape.  I just had to stitch the kit right away.  I plan to do diamond painting during the day and cross stitching at night.  Maybe sneak a different craft in between. They say to rotate projects to avoid boredom.....and so I am LOL.

Started My Fourth (and largest) Diamond Painting

Hi there!  Well, so much for continuing making my mini album.  I placed it aside along with other pending crafts.

Pending.....

Below is the traditional cross stitching project I also placed on the back burner.

Pending.....

Why????  Because I want to continue diamond painting.  It is so relaxing, easy and addictive.  I've already started on my fourth kit.  It is also the largest that measures 24" x 32" which is a Nativity scene.  I figured it'll take me close to Christmas to finish it.  Nothing better than to start Christmas in August!

Starting at the top left corner.

Photo from the symbol chart.

Third Diamond Painting Kit Completed

Hi there!  Well, I finished my diamond painting "The Cross" on August 20th.  A little bit disappointed because the words are kinda blurry due to the small pixels but it still came out good.  I didn't know back then when I ordered this third kit that it is important to get a larger size for better clarity if there are words and/or the image is intricate.

No worries, still looks pretty and it was fun.  The painting measures approximately 12" x 16".

One Last Note On Diamond Painting

Hi there!  Okay, there is not much more to write about diamond painting except for this last one.  Future posts will only show the completed painting.

This is my portable work tray that holds everything I need for diamond painting.  Besides the light pad and the canvass, I take this tray with me also.  I tend to switch between dining room table to my craft room table to do the painting.  Currently working on my 3rd kit, the Cross.

Bead mat tray of goodies.

Once I finish a painting, the leftover unused square resins are placed in another storage system (by DMC numbers).  In case I need to replace a diamond that fell off the completed painting because you just never know!  Below are the unused square resins from my 2nd kit completed.

Leftover resins in tiny trays identified with DMC labels.

Each diamond painting manufacturer uses their own symbols on their reference chart.  So before I start a kit, I refill my empty round containers with their square resins according to their colors/symbol chart.  But first, I number each symbol/color on the chart to coincide with my numbered round containers.

Chart I'm referring to (3rd kit, the Cross).

I keep track of all the diamond painting kits I order in these two binders.  I number and file the charts as I receive them as kit #1, #2, etc.  Each original chart from the kit is noted with date received, the manufacturer's name, the title, the cost, inventory check marks (by me) of the diamond resins that came with it, date I started and then completed.  If there was any problem with the kit, that too was noted.

Yup, lots of charts from kits in these binders.

I have color charts to refer to for my stamp pads, color pencils, watercolor and acrylic paints, etc.  So why not for these diamond resins!  I found a website that you can order the complete color line of all diamond resins according to DMC numbers at a reasonable price.  Of course they are small packets, but I got all the colors (I hope).  It took me hours to organize them in these plastic pockets with the DMC numbers but it was so worth it!  I haven't yet seen anyone organizing these 440+ packets like I have in DMC numerical sequence!

Oh so pretty!

So, that's it! Check out the internet for more info from other people.  Every crafter has their own system.  Just wanted to share mine!  Sorry for the dark photos but you get the idea!

I'm taking a break from diamond painting and gonna play with paper making a mini album, or traditional cross stitching, or making cards, or whatever crafting I'm in a mood for!

Blessings and have a wonderful day!

Tools I Use For Diamond Painting

Hi there.  Here are the tools I use to do my diamond painting.  Starting at the top left clockwise.

My tools!

Dryer sheet, square drill pen, pill crusher, magnifying glass, little spoon, 2 large trays, pink wax from kit, tweezer from kit, round drill pen from kit and two green bead mats on the bottom.

My favorite tool to make diamond painting fun is this flexible metal square tip pen.  It picks up the square drill perfectly and I can place it precisely on the canvass, pressing on all four corners of the drill, so it stays put!  With the round drill pen, it moves the drill somewhat askew when placing it down and I have to finagle to get the drill placed squared on the canvass.  Sorry for the confusion.  I just love this pen.

She is so cute and happy!

Metal tip is square and has a protective cover.

Cross Stitch Combined With Paint By Numbers Concept

Hi there.  New craft version called diamond painting of an old craft of cross stitching in combo with paint by numbers.  Instead of floss, needle, aida cloth and an embroidery hoop, you place drills (diamond faceted resin tiles) on a canvass mat of a painting covered with a strong bonding glue.  Same concept of following a chart using the appropriate symbols and matching tiny color tiles to do the painting.

All kits come complete so you can start diamond painting immediately.  There are two types.  Partial round drills and full square drills.  Drills are identified as round or square.  Partial means the background does not have any adhesive and only the main object has the strong glue to place the round drills on.  Full means the entire painting is covered with glue for square drills to place on.

There are lots of videos on this trend of diamond painting so check them out.  I got addicted to this craft the last week of May this year.  My first kit was a partial round drill of red poppies in a vase.  The second was a full square drill called sunset glow.  Currently working on my third kit full square drill of a Cross.  I prefer and order only full square drill diamond paintings.  If you are a traditional cross stitcher like me, you may enjoy doing this.  Once it's framed, the painting will be beautiful and sparkling like tiny diamonds!

Completed Sunset Glow Full Square Drill (16" x 22")

Unfinished Cross Full Square Drill (12" x 16")

Completed Red Poppies Partial Round Drill (16" x 20")

Using Leftover Card Stock To Die Cut Leaves and Flowers

Hi there! Three of these leaves were placed on the front cover of the mini album I'm working on.  The leftover card stock was from the making of the inside of the cover.  The pink flowers were die cut from the leftover card stock of a birthday card I made last night.  All small pieces that can't be used goes into the recycle bin.  After die cutting, the cutting mat had a lot of paper fibers embedded.  So I used a baby wipe to clean it (eventually I'll wash it with soap and water).  I always clean my tools so they will be fresh and ready to use next time.  That's just me!

Leaves

Pink flowers from same die set.

Cleaned mat (sort of).  Paper fibers on baby wipe.