Diamond painting adhesives and fabrics are specialty diamond painting supplies that offer you versatility when it comes to taking your diamond painting hobby beyond an all-inclusive diamond painting kit. You’ll use these types of products when you begin Freestyle diamond painting, or diamond painting using a chart or pattern of your choice.
In this guide, we’ll talk about the different Diamond Dotz diamond painting adhesives and fabrics that are available, and how you can use them to make your diamond art projects more creative, and more personal than ever.
WHAT ARE DIAMOND PAINTING ADHESIVES?
Diamond Dotz diamond painting adhesives come in two formats: Dotz Stick brush-on liquid, and Sandwich Adhesive rolled double-sided sticky tape.
Both types achieve essentially the same end: they are designed to be applied to a variety of surfaces and then dotted upon using sparkling Dotz gems, a diamond painting pen and wax. They are what make your sparkling Dotz “stick” to your surface. Each does have a couple of its own features and benefits, so choose which adhesive is better for your specific project.
HOW TO USE DOTZ STICK BRUSH-ON ADHESIVE FOR DIAMOND PAINTING
Dotz Stick brush-on adhesive is primarily used for Freestyle diamond painting, which is a technique in which you brush the glue onto your own surface, and then dot that surface using the diamond drill colors and patterns of your choice – think swirls, stars, stripes, flowers, whatever! See how to Freestyle diamond paint with Dotz Stick. It’s easy to do, and it’s a great way to use extra drills and tools leftover from diamond painting kits (so remember to save them!).
When to choose Dotz Stick brush-on adhesive: if you are diamond painting on clothing, shoes, home accessories, holiday décor and jewelry. Dotz Stick works on surfaces that flex slightly, have tight work surfaces (like small pieces of jewelry), and clothing items that need to be washed. It’s very forgiving and you'll want to use it on everything!
HOW TO USE STICKY SANDWICH ADHESIVE FOR DIAMOND PAINTING
Sandwich Adhesive is a double-sided sticky tape that is “sandwiched” between a clear sheet and a piece of white backing paper. It comes on a roll in a couple of different sizes. There are two different application methods for the Sandwich Adhesive.
Use Sandwich Adhesive with a charted design or pattern: this is where the innovative aspect of this adhesive really shines. You can use the adhesive with many types of charts or patterns to create a sparkling piece of art (a flexible “decal” of sorts) to apply to many surfaces. This process makes Sandwich Adhesive really unique!
Apply Sandwich Adhesive directly to a surface: first, cut it to size, then peel back the clear sheet to reveal the adhesive tape; stick it in place. Next, peel back the white paper to reveal the other side of the adhesive tape. Begin dotting, covering the exposed tape completely with diamond drills - there's no mess, and no dry time, just immediate dotting satisfaction.
When to choose Sandwich Adhesive: the key benefit of Sandwich Adhesive is its ability to be used with charts and patterns because you can see the chart/pattern behind the clear sheet as you dot. It's also great for quick projects when applied directly to a surface because there's no wait time - just apply and dot.
WHAT ARE DIAMOND PAINTING FABRICS & FILMS?
The most important Diamond Dotz diamond painting fabric is the Gridded Fabric with Adhesive. It’s essentially a sticky grid that you can dot right on to by following a charted pattern or by creating your own design right on the grid. The fabric itself has a nice feel to it – it is substantial enough to dot upon, but flexible enough to bend and fold when done; it is essentially the same canvas fabric found in standard Diamond Dotz diamond painting kits.
Diamond Dotz Protective Film keeps creations safe between work sessions. It’s the same film found in our diamond painting kits, so it’s an essential supply when you’re diamond painting without a kit.
HOW TO USE GRIDDED FABRIC WITH ADHESIVE FOR DIAMOND PAINTING
To use the Gridded Fabric, you’ll use a counted dotting method that is similar to counted cross stitch – the difference is you’ll be using Dotz gems instead of embroidery floss. (By the way, this is also an excellent way to use extra Dotz drills.)
How to follow a charted pattern: print a charted diamond painting pattern, and work the chart simply by counting and placing the Dotz onto the gridded fabric. When you are done, just give the dotted area a quick trim with a pair of scissors. Tip: because you do need to trim the finished piece of diamond art, charts that have straight edges work best (so square or rectangular designs).
HOW TO USE PROTECTIVE FILM FOR DIAMOND PAINTING
In between diamond painting work sessions, cover your work-in-progress diamond art with the Protective Film. Simply cut a piece of film slightly larger than your piece of art and cover it when you’re not working to prevent dust and pet hair from settling on your canvas. That’s it!
Elevate your diamond painting experience by understanding how to use the variety of Diamond Dotz diamond painting adhesives and fabrics in clever ways. Experiment with different supplies and discover all the creative ways you can diamond paint – with unique surfaces, personal colorways and bespoke design patterns. The sky is the limit, and armed with this knowledge, you'll reach it!