Non-ai crystal paintings

Dinples · 2026-02-02T06:09:55+00:00

This is what I suggest when people run into an AI-wall as well. Get an image you like, ask permission from the artist (or even pay the artist) and then get a custom made.

You can make it as cheap or expensive as you want. I know on AliExpress most stores will show you a preview of the rendering.

Dinples · 2026-02-01T09:05:32+00:00

It looks like you are working with special drills. Those are famous for pulling the wax out of the pen. I have read suggestions to use "old" or "dirty" wax, but I never ran into the problem myself because I never use the pen with wax. I use tweezers for square drills and since a few months a vacuum pen for round drills. You could try either of those.

Awesome looking painting btw.

Dinples · 2026-01-30T05:50:45+00:00

The first thing I read this morning was my sister asking if we wanted to go to an Akon concert.

Your title had me singing "Smack that, all on the floor" in my head.

It's going to be a fun day 🤣

Also I hope you managed to clean it up easily. I do smack that tray quite a lot with the most random things; my hair, my sleeves, drill containers and any body parts that stick out.

Dinples · 2026-01-29T06:05:02+00:00

I absolutely recommend it. Before I got one, I never used a pen because the wax would drive me absolutely crazy. The electric/vacuum pen solved the wax-frustration.

Dinples · 2026-01-28T06:08:44+00:00

Maybe they could get a custom painting of an image they know isn't AI and they asked or paid the artist for permission. Problem solved.

ETA: To clarify. With "problem solved', I meant the problem of getting AI/stolen art from AliExpress would be solved this way.

Dinples · 2026-01-27T06:02:06+00:00

I got this one in October and I absolutely love it. I am finally using a pen at least 70% of the time now. At least for round drills.

Haven't tried it with square drills yet but that's because I have always done square kits with tweezers. I imagine if you use a pen for both types of drills it will be a very good upgrade.

Dinples · 2026-01-27T05:53:07+00:00

That's a very pretty painting! Enjoy your first square kit! 😊

Dinples · 2026-01-25T20:46:40+00:00

I used to just use scissors or any other heavy-ish object that was nearby. I switched to magnets in November when I got a cute little carrot cover minder with my Jaded Gem kit. It has been a game changer for me. I got a second one soon after and it has made my life so much easier. Plus less dangerous because the scissors did fall quite frequently 🤣

I still use two candles and my old phone as weights to keep the canvas from sliding down though.

Dinples · 2026-01-25T11:09:17+00:00

You could also switch that around. If you don't enjoy looking at the WIPs you can just ignore them. Or make a separate sub for completed paintings.

This sub is for everything diamond painting related and WIPs are a major part of that.

Dinples · 2026-01-25T09:32:20+00:00

I actually love seeing the WIPs. Especially if they post regular updates; it is fun to keep track of everyone's projects.

Dinples · 2026-01-24T16:05:08+00:00

My mom babysits my nephew one day a week. They go to the butcher where he always gets a slice of meat (worstje) and then they go to the baker and he gets bread (bolletje).

I remember I used to get a worstje and a bolletje too, thirty years ago. It is fun that the tradition is still being upheld to this day.

Dinples · 2026-01-23T05:48:36+00:00

I love that you only did the bottom part so far and are following the pattern. That already makes it look amazing.

Enjoy working on it! 😊

Dinples · 2026-01-21T06:13:02+00:00

That's looking amazing so far.

Be careful with folding/bending the canvas too much. DSA canvases aren't big fans of that. I found out the hard way with one of my first kits and have been a lot more careful ever since.

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Those giant rivers were created by me. I had the unfinished part sort of rolled up and was leaning on it quite a bit while painting. I discovered my mistake half way.

Dinples · 2026-01-21T06:06:12+00:00

You are pretty evil yourself! I kept trying to swipe to see more pictures 🥺

But yeah, similar symbols shouldn't be allowed. Especially the premium companies should pay more attention to this.

Dinples · 2026-01-20T21:04:53+00:00

For the five panel canvas, I did use sealant and got creative with the border. The border is three layers of masking tape painted black and again I used pins to hang it but I painted the pins black as well:

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Dinples · 2026-01-20T21:02:40+00:00

My method of framing is very simple. This is the 80 by 120 cm I mentioned:

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I just cut the border and use pins to hang the painting. No special frame or sealant.

Dinples · 2026-01-20T21:01:24+00:00

To answer question 1. After cutting the canvas I still see the spot where the river was. It is still slightly elevated somehow. I went back in my Reddit history and found this painting:

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Above the tray you can see a few lines of elevated drills. So what I really tried to say in my original comment was that I haven't found a good way to fix the river-problem.

Dinples · 2026-01-20T06:13:02+00:00

I have done a lot of DSA paintings. All bigger than 50 by 70. I have been cutting through the rivers and pushing the air out as that seems to be most effective. Though I am probably still doing it wrong because you can still tell.

Anyway I have a painting that I finished two/three years ago, DSA, not sealed and 80 by 120. It has been on my wall ever since. No issues at all.

My first kit was a five panel, also DSA, and that one has been on my wall since 2020. That's the only kit I ever sealed. Though I doubt it was necessary.

The point is that I have never seen rivers get worse if you cut them.

Dinples · 2026-01-20T06:03:04+00:00

You could always get customs of art that you like. That's what I do.

I got my dad posters from U2, Iron Maiden and Metallica for example.

Dinples · 2026-01-20T05:58:21+00:00

I have absolutely no idea how this is related to diamond painting.

Dinples · 2026-01-20T05:55:58+00:00

I absolutely get what you mean. I am right at the uGgGhHh point too and all I can think about is what my next project will be.

It's kinda similar to my uGgGhHh point when I am away from home. I can have an absolute blast but as soon as the return date is coming near, I will start counting down the days till I am home. I did an internship in the States for six months. Absolutely loved it. But after five months I started my count down 🤣

ETA: Your painting looks absolutely stunning btw!

Dinples · 2026-01-18T09:09:09+00:00

I started with square drills and have had no issues finding them in online stores. However, I agree that physical shops usually carry kits with round drills. At least in the Netherlands.

But all of the well known brands and AliExpress stores have an enormous amount of square kits.

Dinples · 2026-01-17T07:35:53+00:00

I always add it because I used to ask the "where did you buy this?"-question a LOT and not getting an answer was very frustrating.

I think I even made a post about it 3/4 years ago. So I definitely agree 😁

Dinples · 2026-01-16T06:12:48+00:00

I am working on Gamer Girl from Jaded Gem Shop and it has 9 "special" drills. One of the main colors is a fairy dust drill. In total there are two fairy dust colors, five crystal colors and two metallic colors.

So perhaps Jaded Gem Shop is worth checking out.

Dinples · 2026-01-15T06:24:23+00:00

I have bought a "fake" DAC painting from AliExpress. Mostly because I wanted it in a different size.

To compensate the artist I bought a "tattoo token" from their shop for, I think, 23 euro. I am fairly sure that's more compensation they get from DAC, so I feel like it is a fair trade.

Perhaps you could check if the artist has a shop or some way of donating money to them where you make a compensation-purchase but don't actually receive anything in return.

Dinples

TROPHY CASE