Diamond Art Guide
A sparkling snowy village diamond painting in progress beside a window with frost

Winter diamond painting kits: snow scenes, snowmen and cardinals that outlast Christmas

A Christmas kit comes down on December 26. A winter one can hang until the snow melts. Eleven kits sorted by theme and size, each with the time it takes.

How we pick · Updated · We earn a commission when you buy through our Amazon links.

Pick a winter kit over a Christmas one if you're starting a canvas now: it can hang from December to February, so you get two extra months of display for the same hours. The best-selling winter canvas we found is the winter church snow scene (about 700 bought last month). For a snowman, the snowman and pine cone kit sold about as many and holds 4.8 stars. For a cardinal, the ijbnhd cardinal led its theme.

How we picked these winter kits

We looked at Amazon's results for three searches on October 3, 2026: "winter diamond painting kits," "snowman diamond painting" and "cardinal diamond painting." From each we kept the kits selling now (the "bought in past month" badge) and the kits with long rating histories, and dropped anything that was really a Christmas design. Sizes and drill shapes come from each listing, and so does the box list; when the listing doesn't say, the card says "check listing."

Hours estimates use our diamond painting calculator's formula: listed canvas size minus a half-inch unpainted border on each side, 2.8 mm per round drill, at an assumed 350 drills an hour. That pace is a midpoint, not a fact about you, so time ten minutes of your own work and adjust.

This is a "How we pick" guide. We compared listings and sales data; we didn't paint every kit to the end. How we research.

Winter vs Christmas: weeks on the wall

Here's the trade-off in numbers, for a kit finished in mid-December:

DesignComes downWeeks on displayExamples
ChristmasAround New Year'sAbout 2 to 3Santa, trees, presents, nativity
WinterEnd of FebruaryAbout 10Snow villages, snowmen, cardinals, deer

So the same 38 hours buys about three times the wall time. Christmas kits still win for gifts tied to the day; our Christmas diamond art kits guide covers those.

The 11 best winter diamond painting kits

Snow scenes

Best-selling winter scene

Winter Church Snow Scene Kit 14x14

A snowy village church with glowing lanterns under a starry sky. It sold about 700 last month, the most of any winter scene, with 4.6 stars from 132 ratings. A church and lanterns read as Christmas Eve, but the snow keeps it seasonal well past the holiday. At 14 inches square, it's 13,700 drills or more depending on drill shape, so start by mid-November.

  • Canvas14 x 14 in
  • Drillsfull drill, shape check listing
  • In the boxadhesive canvas, resin drills, pen, tray, wax pad
  • Listingadults and beginners

Why it stands out

  • Top seller among winter scenes
  • Works both as Christmas and winter decor

Think twice if

  • Drill shape isn't stated in the listing
Check price on Amazon
Fastest snow scene to finish

BOHADIY Snowy Christmas Night Farmhouse Kit

A farmhouse in a snowy forest on a 12-inch square canvas, the smallest scene here and the quickest to finish. The listing mentions the DMC codes printed on the canvas, which makes ordering replacement drills straightforward. 4.5 stars from 103 ratings.

  • Canvas12 x 12 in
  • Drillsfull round
  • Estimateabout 9,800 drills, 28 h at 350/hr
  • Extras30% more drills
  • In the boxcanvas, pen, wax, tray, 10 bags

Why it stands out

  • About 28 hours: comfortable even with a November start
  • DMC codes on the canvas
  • Round drills

Think twice if

  • A smaller piece for a large wall
Check price on Amazon
Best wildlife scene

ArtIgle Winter Woodland Animals Kit

A stag and a fox in a red scarf share snowy woods with a rabbit and two cardinals. It has more going on than a single snowman, which makes it more interesting to work through. Tweezers come in the box. 4.6 stars from 76 ratings, about 300 bought last month.

  • Canvas12 x 16 in
  • Scenestag, fox in a red scarf, rabbit and cardinals in snowy woods
  • Drillsfull drill, shape check listing
  • In the boxpen, wax, tray, bags, tweezers

Why it stands out

  • Detailed scene that holds interest
  • Standard 12x16 frame size
  • Tweezers included

Think twice if

  • Drill shape not stated
Check price on Amazon

Snowmen

A rhinestone snowman with a red scarf on a craft table over a glowing light pad
Large white areas go quickly; a light pad helps tell the near-white symbols apart.
Best snowman

LKHMVCA Snowman and Pine Cone Kit

A snowman framed by pine cones, with 4.8 stars from 58 ratings and about 700 bought last month. Pine cones and a snowman stay right through January. The pen grip in the box is a small comfort on a 38-hour project.

  • Canvas13.8 x 13.8 in
  • Drillsfull round
  • Estimateabout 13,500 drills, 38 h at 350/hr
  • In the boxpen, tray, glue clay, pen grip, 10 bags

Why it stands out

  • Highest rating among snowman canvases
  • Pen grip included

Think twice if

  • Newer listing with under 60 ratings
Check price on Amazon
Most-reviewed snowman

KYOQFVN Snowman Kit 35x35 cm

The snowman canvas with the longest track record (230 ratings at 4.7 stars). The seller packs 130% of the drills needed per color, so you'll finish with a useful stash of spares. Our leftover drills guide has ideas for those.

  • Canvas35 x 35 cm (about 14 x 14 in)
  • Drillsfull round
  • Estimateabout 13,200 drills, 38 h at 350/hr
  • Extras130% drills per color

Why it stands out

  • 230 ratings at 4.7
  • 30% spare drills

Think twice if

  • Slower sales right now (about 100 last month)
Check price on Amazon
Popular snowman with a big community

ijbnhd Christmas Snowman Kit 14x14

About 600 bought last month and 148 ratings at 4.4 stars. The seller is clear that no frame comes in the box, which some listings fudge. It's sold as a Christmas snowman, but snowmen stay up through winter regardless.

  • Canvas14 x 14 in
  • Drillsshape check listing
  • Extras30% extra drills
  • Framenot included

Why it stands out

  • Strong sales
  • Honest about what's in the box

Think twice if

  • Lower rating than the other snowman picks
  • Drill shape not stated
Check price on Amazon
Best pearl option

Morudeor Snowman Pearl Art Kit

A pearl version: round pearls and shaped gems give the snow a soft, raised look that flat drills can't. It sells well (about 600 last month), though 4.2 stars from 70 ratings is lower than the drill kits. Pearls cover ground faster, so it's a good choice if you're starting late. See our pearl art kits guide for how they differ.

  • Canvas12 x 16 in
  • Beadsplastic pearls plus special-shaped drills
  • In the boxpen, 4 bags, glue clay

Why it stands out

  • Fast to fill
  • Raised, textured snow

Think twice if

  • Lower rating
  • Raised pearls are awkward under frame glass
Check price on Amazon

Cardinals

A finished rhinestone cardinal on a snowy pine branch
Red on white: cardinals are the classic winter bird design.
Best-selling cardinal

ijbnhd Christmas Cardinal Kit

The cardinal kit selling fastest right now (about 500 last month, 4.4 stars from 148 ratings). It's also the only kit here with multi-placer tips in the box: a 9-drill and a 3-drill tip that place several drills at once across big snow areas. If you like them, our diamond painting pen guide covers better ones.

  • Drillsfull round
  • Canvas sizecheck listing
  • Toolspen, 9-drill and 3-drill multi-placer tips, tray, jelly glue
  • Extras30% more drills

Why it stands out

  • Multi-placer tips included
  • Top seller among cardinal kits

Think twice if

  • Canvas size not stated in the bullets
Check price on Amazon
Highest-rated cardinal

WSLWXSHM Cardinal Kit 12x12

4.8 stars from 67 ratings, the best score among cardinal kits with real sales (about 400 last month). The 12-inch square is quick, and the listing names seniors among the intended buyers, which fits: fewer hours, round drills, a clear subject. Our diamond art for seniors guide covers what else makes a kit easy to see and handle.

  • Canvas12 x 12 in
  • Drillsfull round
  • Estimateabout 9,800 drills, 28 h at 350/hr
  • Listing agesadults, seniors, teens

Why it stands out

  • Highest-rated cardinal
  • About 28 hours to finish

Think twice if

  • Small for a large wall
Check price on Amazon
Most-reviewed cardinal

Lophomie Cardinal and Flowers Kit 12x16

Cardinals with flowers on the standard 12x16 canvas, with 238 ratings at 4.6 stars. The flowers make it less wintry than the others, so it can stay up into spring.

  • Canvas12 x 16 in (30 x 40 cm)
  • Drillsshape check listing
  • In the boxpen, tray, clay, 10 self-sealing bags

Why it stands out

  • Most ratings among cardinal kits
  • Standard frame size

Think twice if

  • Less of a snow scene
Check price on Amazon

Quick winter project

Best quick winter project

Tondiamo 20 Snowflake Keychains

Twenty snowflake charms, which hang on a tree, a window or a backpack and suit the whole season. With 857 ratings at 4.6 stars, it's one of the most-reviewed small kits on Amazon. For more small projects, see our Christmas ornaments guide.

  • Pieces20 snowflake key chains
  • Materialrhinestones, plastic, acrylic
  • Toolstrays, glue, drill pens
  • Listing age rangekid

Why it stands out

  • Long rating history
  • Snowflakes work all winter

Think twice if

  • Small parts: not for children under 3
Check price on Amazon

Comparison

KitThemeSizeDrillsHours at 350/hr
Winter churchSnow village14 x 14 inCheck listing39 to 50, by shape
BOHADIY farmhouseSnow scene12 x 12 inRoundAbout 28
ArtIgle woodlandWildlife12 x 16 inCheck listing38 to 48, by shape
Snowman and pine coneSnowman13.8 x 13.8 inRoundAbout 38
KYOQFVN snowmanSnowman35 x 35 cmRoundAbout 38
ijbnhd snowmanSnowman14 x 14 inCheck listing39 to 50, by shape
Morudeor pearl snowmanSnowman12 x 16 inPearlFaster
ijbnhd cardinalCardinalCheck listingRoundn/a
WSLWXSHM cardinalCardinal12 x 12 inRoundAbout 28
Lophomie cardinalCardinal, flowers12 x 16 inCheck listing38 to 48, by shape
Tondiamo snowflakesSnowflakes20 charmsCheck listingEvenings

Where the drill shape isn't stated, the range runs from round drills (2.8 mm) to square (2.5 mm); square drills mean more drills and more hours on the same canvas.

When to start and order

To have a 14x14 or 12x16 winter canvas up by the first day of winter, December 21, start by mid-November and give it about 45 minutes a day. A 12x12 can start in late November. Because winter decor stays up into February, a January finish is fine too, which takes the pressure off. Order canvases now anyway: seasonal listings sell through, and some ship from overseas, so check the listing's delivery estimate at checkout.

Snow scenes are hard on the eyes because they use several near-white and pale-blue drill colors with similar symbols. A light pad under the canvas makes them far easier to tell apart; see our light pad guide.

A framed winter landscape diamond painting on a living room wall in January
A winter scene finished in December can stay up until the end of February.

Complete your kit

Which winter kit to start

For a first winter piece you'll finish easily, the BOHADIY snowy farmhouse at about 28 hours. For the classic look, the snowman and pine cone kit. For a gift to someone who loves birds, the WSLWXSHM cardinal. Coming from our fall and Thanksgiving kits? Winter is the natural next canvas, and our landscape kits guide has more snowy scenery.

Specs come from each seller's Amazon listing; sales and ratings from Amazon search results, all checked October 3, 2026. Prices change often, so the buttons show the current price on Amazon. How we research · Affiliate disclosure

Questions people ask

What's the difference between winter and Christmas diamond painting kits?
Christmas kits show trees, Santa, presents and nativity scenes, so they come down after the holidays. Winter kits show snow scenes, snowmen, cardinals and wildlife, which can hang from December through February. If you're starting a large kit now, a winter design gives you more weeks of display for the same work.
How long does a winter diamond painting take?
A 12x12 inch round-drill canvas is about 9,800 drills, roughly 28 hours at 350 drills an hour. A 14x14 inch or 12x16 inch round-drill canvas is about 13,500 drills, roughly 38 hours. Plug in your own pace in our calculator.
Why are cardinal diamond paintings so popular?
Cardinals are one of the few bright birds of a snowy winter, so red on white makes a striking design that works from December to February. Many buyers also choose them as a remembrance gift.
Are snowman diamond paintings good for beginners?
Usually. Snowmen have large white and pale-blue areas with few colors, which go quickly, and round-drill versions forgive slightly crooked placement. The detail is in the scarf and face, which are small.
Should I use a light pad for a winter diamond painting?
It helps more than with most themes. Snow scenes use several near-white and pale-blue colors whose symbols are hard to tell apart in lamp light. A light pad under the canvas makes them readable.
When should I start a winter kit?
Any time before mid-November if you want it up for the first day of winter, December 21. Unlike a Christmas kit, finishing in January is fine, since it can stay up into February.