How to Seal a Diamond Painting
The art of diamond painting can be a relaxing and fulfilling activity that allows you to express your creativity, reduce feelings of stress, and design new, unique decorations for your home. If you’re new to diamond painting, you probably have a long list of questions like how long does it take to complete a project or should I seal my diamond painting? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Diamond Art Club, we have all the info you need to create a gorgeous new masterpiece that will hang proudly in your home. As you fine-tune your diamond painting skills, you can branch out to try out new diamond art kits and give the finished designs to friends and family as gifts.
Pros and Cons of Sealing a Diamond Painting
For anyone wondering what to do with a finished diamond painting, you have a few options. Many people prefer to frame their diamond paintings, keeping them intact, safe from dust and dirt and maintaining that diamond shine. Others may want to seal their diamond paintings, so that a frame is not necessary, but the beads still hold together to create the mosaic image.
We, at Diamond Art Club, do NOT recommend sealing our diamond paintings as it's not necessary to keep our diamond drills in place given the quality of our canvas and poured glue adhesive. Sealing your official Diamond Art Club painting will also void your warranty should anything happen to it. However, some people have very strong opinions on sealing a diamond painting once completed. After working on a project for weeks, they feel better knowing some sort of sealant is used to ensure their masterpiece keeps its shape and that the diamond drills continue to stick over time. In cases like this, sealant is probably needed for these cheaper products from lower quality brands.
Learn How to Frame a Diamond Painting
One advantage to using some type of craft sealant on these inexpensive diamond painting kits is that the pieces will stay together, preventing the beads from falling off while hanging and destroying the image. Unfortunately, sealants may sometimes warp the project, causing it to become misshapen. And, sealants can, over time, begin to turn yellow, giving the top coat an unappealing appearance. However, the advantage to using sealants is that it will keep your painting in place without having to use a frame especially on these lower quality products. Therefore, it’s really entirely up to your personal preference whether to seal or frame your masterpiece. Once again, we, at Diamond Art Club, do NOT recommend sealing our official paintings given the high quality of our diamond painting kits.
What to Use to Seal Diamond Paintings
Spray-on Sealants
When it comes to using sealants as the finishing touch on your diamond painting, you have a number of options on the market today. Spray-on sealants are easy to find and may eliminate some of the concerns traditionally associated with using a sealant over framing. Aerosol sealant products typically won’t yellow over time, but they do not act as a glue-like substance, which means that any open gaps between your diamonds will not be filled. So, if you’re still wondering how to seal diamond paintings, remember that spray-on sealants will maintain the diamonds’ natural shine and won’t turn yellow, but may leave openings between diamonds.
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Brush-on Sealants
Your other option when it comes to sealants is brush-ons. Although this method of sealing your diamond painting is more likely to potentially cause wrinkling or yellowing, it does act as a finishing coat and glue at the same time. This means that any gaps left between diamonds will be filled with sealant, preventing dirt and dust from nestling into their areas. We recommend using mod podge, but be sure to brush on a light layer so as to reduce the chances of yellowing. One disadvantage to using mod podge and other brush-on sealers is that it will reduce the diamond’s sparkle somewhat, though not completely.
How to Seal a Diamond Painting
Once you’ve decided that you’re going to seal your diamond painting and you’ve chosen between spray-on and brush-on, applying the sealant is fairly easy. Just follow these few steps:
- Ensure that all of the diamond beads are laying flat. Cover your completed diamond painting with a plastic protective cover, a towel or another large type of fabric. Then, use the rolling pin to evenly press down on all beads.
- If you’re using brush-on sealant, take your brush and lightly coat it with the substance. Begin to paint on top of the beads evenly. When it comes to sealing your diamond painting, less is more, so start off with a thin coat. You can also add more if it seems necessary. If you’re using spray, follow the instructions by holding the canister six to eight inches from the canvas and spray.
- Allow your diamond art painting to dry according to your sealant’s directions. Don’t make the mistake of picking up your diamond art painting too early as it may cause the sealant to drip.
Show Off Your Artistry
Working on a diamond painting can be a satisfying and fulfilling experience as you allow your creativity to be released. Crafting activities like diamond painting have also been proven to reduce feelings of anxiety and help people cope with personal and work-related stress. Once you’ve reached the point where you’ve completed a project, you probably want to preserve the image to admire it and remind yourself of all your hard work. While many people like to frame their paintings, others prefer to use a sealant over their diamond art kit to keep it looking finished and beautiful.
