How to Start a Diamond Painting: Your Ultimate Lorsch DIY Setup Guide

Hey everyone, Emily here! There is absolutely nothing quite like the thrill of unboxing a brand new Lorsch DIY canvas. But if you’re a beginner (or just looking to refine your crafting routine), looking at that blank canvas and thousands of tiny diamonds can feel a little overwhelming.

Today, we are going back to basics. I'm going to walk you through my exact routine for getting started with diamond painting. Grab a cup of coffee, and let’s get your workspace set up!

1. Taming the Canvas (How to Flatten It)

To protect your painting from permanent creases during shipping, Lorsch DIY canvases are carefully rolled. Because of this, the edges might curl up a bit when you first unroll it on your table. Don't panic! You don't need to pile heavy books on it for days.

The Quick Fix: Simply peel back the clear plastic cover about halfway, hold the canvas flat against your table, and smooth the plastic cover back down. Repeat on the other side. The tension of the plastic will instantly force the canvas to lay perfectly flat. Voila! Emily’s Pro Tip: Place a small piece of washi tape or a sticker on the top right corner of your clear plastic cover. When you peel it completely off later, you’ll always know which side is supposed to face up (so you don't accidentally stick the wrong side to the glue).

2. "Kitting Up" (Organizing Your Diamonds)

Before you place a single drill, it’s a great idea to organize your colors. In the crafting community, we call this "kitting up."

Your Lorsch DIY kit comes with everything you need, including small plastic ziplock bags. Take a few minutes to transfer your drills from their original packaging into these baggies. Crucial rule: Transfer and label them one by one. Write the symbol and the DMC code on each baggie with a marker. If you try to open all the bags at once, you risk a massive color mix-up (and trust me, sorting mixed drills is not fun!).

3. The Big Debate: Working by Color vs. By Section

When it comes to actually placing the diamonds, there is no "right" way to do it. It all depends on your personal preference.

• Method A: Working by Color. You pick one symbol (let’s say, the one that appears the most), fill your tray with that color, and place every single drill of that shade across the whole canvas. The downside? You have to keep pulling the protective cover all the way back, which exposes your adhesive to dust over time.

• Method B: Working by Section. You use washi tape to section off a small 4x4 inch square on your canvas. You only peel back the plastic for that one square and complete it entirely before moving on. The upside? Your adhesive stays perfectly clean and protected. The downside? You will be switching diamond colors in your tray very frequently.

Try both methods and see which one feels more relaxing to you!

4. How to Store Your Work in Progress (WIP)

We don't all have dedicated craft rooms. If you are working on your dining room table, you need a way to move your project safely when it's time for dinner.

I highly recommend doing your diamond painting on top of a large, flat serving tray or a drafting board. This allows you to pick up your entire setup—canvas, tools, and drills—and move it in three seconds.

Want to store it out of sight? Here is my favorite hack: grab a pants hanger (the ones with the two clips) and clip the top of your canvas to it. You can hang your unfinished diamond painting right in your closet! It keeps it perfectly flat and safely away from curious pets.

What about you? What is your personal ritual when starting a new canvas? Are you Team "Work by Color" or Team "Work by Section"? Let me know in the comments below!