Every Dazzle Dots canvas kit comes with the basics you need to start: an applicator pen, wax, a sorting tray and bags for spare diamonds. But walk into any diamond painting community and you will soon hear about multi-placers, putty, light pads, cover minders and more.
Do you need all of them? Not at all. But the right tool can make your crafting time more comfortable, faster and more enjoyable. In this guide we explain what each diamond painting accessory does, who it is for and which ones we would buy first.
The essentials (already in your kit)
Before buying anything, it helps to know what you already have. Each kit page lists its exact contents, but a typical canvas kit includes:
- A pre-printed adhesive canvas with a protective film
- Diamonds, sorted into bags by colour
- An applicator pen for picking up and placing diamonds
- Wax (a wax pad or jelly wax) to make the pen tip tacky
- A sorting tray for pouring out and turning diamonds
- Ziplock bags for spare diamonds
That is a complete starter set. Everything below is an upgrade.
Diamond art pens
The pen is the tool you hold the most, so it is often the first thing crafters upgrade. The basic pen in a kit does the job, but a chunkier, better-balanced pen can be much more comfortable over a long session.
Our Marble Piping Diamond Art Pen has an ergonomic resin body and comes with 6 plastic tips. It is multi-placer compatible, so you can place 3, 6 or 9 diamonds at a time, and it works with standard round and square diamonds. It comes in 5 colours, which is handy if you like to colour-code your tools.
Browse all pens in Diamond Art Pens & Nibs.
What is a multi-placer?
A multi-placer is a pen tip with a wide, flat end that picks up several diamonds in a row at once. It is brilliant for large blocks of a single colour, such as backgrounds and skies. It takes a little practice, so we suggest getting comfortable with single placements first.
Metal nibs
Plastic tips wear down over time. Stainless steel nibs are a longer-lasting alternative. Our Stainless Steel Pen Nibs (10 pcs) are screw-type nibs numbered 1 to 10, and there is also an 18-piece set. Check that the nibs suit your pen before you buy.
Wax and putty
Your pen needs something slightly sticky on the tip to lift each diamond. Kits include wax, but many crafters prefer putty.
Diamond painting putty is a soft, reusable adhesive. Press your pen tip into it to refresh the grip whenever pickups become unreliable. We stock it in a 15 g pot and a 30 g pot.
Tip: Use only a small amount. Too much wax or putty can leave residue on the diamonds and canvas.
Tweezers
Tweezers are the tool you did not know you needed until you have to fix a mistake. They let you lift out a misplaced diamond, straighten a crooked square or pick up a single stray diamond from the table.
Our Diamond Art Tweezers in Chameleon have precision tips and an ergonomic grip, and the colourful finish makes them easy to spot on a busy craft table.
Trays
Every kit comes with a tray, but having a few extras lets you keep several colours ready at once without mixing them.
Look for trays with a ridged base, which helps turn diamonds facet side up when you give them a gentle shake, and a spout for pouring leftovers back into their bag or bottle. Browse Diamond Trays, including the Diamond Painting Tray Set and the 3D Tray.
Light pads
A light pad is a thin LED panel that sits under your canvas and lights it from behind. It makes symbols much easier to read, especially on dark colours and tiny symbols, and many crafters find it reduces eye strain during evening sessions.
We stock an A4 light pad and an A3 light pad in Light Pads. Choose A4 for smaller canvases and cards, or A3 if you like to work on larger sections at a time.
Tip: Light pads work best with canvases that let light through. Even when they do not, the bright, even surface can still make it easier to see what you are doing.
Storage and organisers
Once you have finished a kit or two, you will have leftover diamonds, and once you start a large kit you may have dozens of colours to manage. Good storage keeps everything sorted and stops spills.
Options in our Storage & Organisers collection include:
- Bottle organisers in several sizes, such as the 24-bottle organiser, with numbered compartments so you can match each bottle to a colour code
- Bag storage racks, such as the Diamond Bag Storage Rack, for keeping the original bags upright and visible
- Desk organisers and storage boxes to keep your tools in one place
Tip: Label everything with the colour code and symbol. Many shades look almost identical in a bottle.
Tools and toolkits
Our Tools & Toolkits collection has the handy extras that make crafting smoother:
- Toolkits, such as Toolkit-36, which bundle several useful tools together
- Rulers, such as the FY Ruler set, for keeping square diamonds in perfectly straight rows
- Anti-slip mats to stop your canvas sliding around
- Mini vacuums designed for picking up spilt diamonds
Magnets and cover minders
Cover minders are decorative magnets that sit on your canvas or tray to hold the protective film back, keep your place or simply add a bit of personality to your craft space. Browse Magnets & Cover Minders.
Washi tape
Washi tape is a low-tack decorative tape. Diamond painters use it to hold the protective film in place, tape the canvas edges to the table, mark the section they are working on or label storage bottles. It peels off cleanly and comes in lots of pretty designs.
Sealer
When your canvas is finished, you may want to seal it to help hold the diamonds in place, especially if it will not go behind glass. Our Diamond Painting Sealer (120 ml) is made for finished diamond paintings. Read our guide on how to seal, frame and display a finished diamond painting before you start.
What should you buy first?
If you are building your toolkit gradually, this is the order we would suggest:
- Putty, for more reliable pickups
- Tweezers, for fixing mistakes
- A comfortable pen, for longer sessions
- Storage, once you have leftover diamonds
- A light pad, if you craft in the evenings or work on detailed kits
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy tools to start diamond painting?
No. Our kits include everything you need to begin. Accessories simply make the process more comfortable.
Is putty better than wax?
Many crafters prefer putty because it is soft and easy to refresh, but both work. Try both and see which you like.
Does a multi-placer work with round diamonds?
Our Marble Piping Diamond Art Pen works with standard round and square diamonds. Multi-placers are easiest to use on large blocks of one colour.
What size light pad should I get?
A4 suits smaller canvases and cards, while A3 is better for larger sections. Check the size of the kits you usually work on.
Are the accessories safe for children?
Diamond painting kits and accessories contain small parts. Our kits are CE certified and suitable for ages 8+, so keep loose diamonds away from young children and pets.
Build your perfect toolkit
The best toolkit is the one that suits the way you craft. Start with the basics, add a few favourites and enjoy the difference. Browse all our diamond painting accessories. In-stock orders ship from the UK by Royal Mail 48 in about 2–3 working days, and UK delivery is free on orders of £40 or more.