The Ultimate Diamond Art FAQ with Links
(A continuing series of excerpts from my Amazon Kindle Book)
Previous Question Answered: Finishing Your Diamond Artwork
Next Question to be Answered: Framing Your Diamond Artwork
Sealing the surface of your diamond art is designed to lock everything permanently in place to prevent any future lifting, shifting or popping off from the canvas. It also covers any exposed tackiness due to uncovered adhesive so that the painting resists dust sticking to it between the drills.
However, this step is both optional as well as controversial. Some people always seal their diamond art, while others never do it for fear of harming the sparkle of the drills. Some people will cover the painting completely with a sealant and claim it makes the drills shinier, while others water down the sealant so that it only seeps in between the drills to do its job, and they wipe any residual sealant off the gems before it dries. Some use a gloss sealant, others may use a matte or satin sealant, and some even use glitter sealants to add even more sparkle. (GUILTY, here!)
Ask 10 different diamond art hobbyists how they seal their paintings and you will get 10 different answers…and 10 different products.
Is the ink on the commercial canvases water soluble?
No, if it were, you would be unable to use water soluble sealants on them, and nearly every diamond art sealant is water-based. This is also true of the glue that is used on them.
What can we use to seal a diamond art painting that won’t harm the sparkle?
There are a lot of different products, and some make your drills cloudy, while others seem to make them sparkle better than they did without them. Read the reviews carefully on all products, and test out any new product on a small magnet, keychain, or free-style test sample before using it on a major work of art. This sample set of 8 Mod Podge types (not all that are available are represented) will give you a good idea of how different formulas affect your diamond art. Everyone has their own tastes, and many diamond painters swear by Mod Podge for all kinds of crafts. The 2-ounce bottles can always be refilled for travel versions. Personally, I add a little bit of water to the gloss or sparkle versions, by the drop, until it is just runny enough to seep between the rhinestones, rather than sit on top of the drills. I then use a fragrance-free baby wipe, any brand, and lightly wipe the surface clean of the remaining sealant, especially over any large, special shapes, crystals or metallic rhinestones. For the solid color opaque acrylic drills, brushing the sealant over the top of them can enhance their beauty and even add texture. https://amzn.to/4biZJ6f
Unless your sealant has an attached applicator, which the Mod Podge does not have, you’re probably going to need brushes to apply it. https://amzn.to/4ciWURV
This sealant does not affect the sparkle of crystal rhinestones and has a built-in sponge applicator to make it easier to use and less messy than using a brush. I have never felt the need to wipe this one off the top of the larger gems like I do with Mod Podge. https://amzn.to/4vbUzkd
I do NOT like the idea of sealing rhinestones, but I'm working on my first acrylic suncatcher, and the drills are sliding around much more freely than they ever did on a fabric canvas, so I guess I have to bite the bullet and seal this one. How can I put the sealant on AND wipe it off the top without the drills moving out of position during the process?
I've worked on several of these myself, and it seems that most acrylic kits require sealant to keep the drills from moving when they are handled or stored, so my answer is VERY CAREFULLY! I use watered-down Mod Podge, and a very small brush with few fibers to get the sealant around the the drills. I also wait about 10 minutes before attempting to wipe any of it off of the drills (praying that gravity will pull it all to the base of the drills). The next day, I look at it carefully and push any drills that may have moved, back into position, while the sealant is dry, yet still pliable. If you don't have the patience for the tiny brush, then I would suggest using a sealant with a sponge applicator, and move it up and down ONLY to avoid dislodging any drills. Check your project in 12 hours for any that may have moved, and get them back into position before the sealant dries.
Previous Question Answered: Finishing Your Diamond Artwork
Next Question to be Answered: Framing Your Diamond Artwork
I have been doing diamond art for over 10 years. My book was published under my pen name. You can contact me through my blog here at https://ei-kan.blogspot.com if you have any additional questions to add to this section or to notify me of any dead links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualified purchases. This book is available in its entirety on Amazon Kindle and there are some discount coupon codes for up to 15% off your purchases at select websites near the end of it And yes, I earn a few pennies from a few other sites mentioned as well, but not all.
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