Maggie Rose Bennett discovered diamond painting after buying a small kit as something relaxing to work on in the evenings. One kit became five, five became a storage cabinet, and before long she had opinions about drill quality, canvas adhesive, light pads, trays, pens, release paper, sealers, and exactly how many containers a person can reasonably claim are “necessary.”
Maggie creates both round- and square-drill projects and especially enjoys larger landscapes, florals, custom photo conversions, and pieces intended for framing.
At Diamond Art Guide, she evaluates kits and accessories from the perspective of someone who actually completes the projects. That means looking beyond the picture on the box to examine canvas printing, symbol clarity, adhesive quality, drill consistency, color selection, missing drills, tool comfort, and how the finished artwork looks from normal viewing distance.
She also writes extensively for beginners because she remembers how surprisingly confusing terms such as full drill, AB drills, DMC colors, and multi-placing sounded when she started.
Her rule for the hobby is simple: it should be relaxing. If a tool or technique creates more frustration than enjoyment, there is probably a better way to do it.
Areas of experience
- Diamond painting kits
- Round and square drills
- Custom kits
- Light pads
- Applicator pens
- Storage systems
- Sealing
- Framing
- Canvas preparation
- Beginner techniques
Guides by Maggie
- Christmas diamond art kits worth starting now, from canvases to ornaments
- Diamond painting tips for beginners: 15 tricks that make your first kit easier
- Gifts for diamond painters that actually get used
- Halloween diamond painting kits you can still finish before October 31
- How to frame diamond art (without cutting it, if you'd rather not)
- Square vs round diamond art: which drill shape should you choose?
- The best cat diamond painting kits, from black cats to cute coasters
- The best custom diamond painting kits from your own photo
- The best diamond art kits for kids, sorted by age
- The best diamond painting kits for adults, picked from what painters actually buy
- The best diamond painting kits for beginners: small, bright and easy to finish
- The best diamond painting light pad, matched to the size of your canvas
- The best diamond painting pen, and which tip to use when
- The best diamond painting roller, and how to roll without knocking drills loose
- The best diamond painting sealer, and how to use it without dulling the sparkle
- The best diamond painting storage for drills, tools and canvases
- The best diamond painting tools and accessories, in the order you should buy them
- The best diamond painting trays, from cheap stackers to lidded store-and-pour sets
- The best dog diamond painting kits, plus how to paint your own dog
- The best large full-drill diamond painting kits for a real statement piece
Every guide shows how it was researched. See how we research and our affiliate disclosure. Questions or corrections? Contact us.