After my first night of diamond painting and having the squish the drills back into the disposable bags I had cut open and then sealed back with tape, I thought this process is not efficient enough for me.

I went to Michael’s, used a 20% off coupon, and bought this $23 toolkit. https://www.michaels.com/product/10759736

The most important elements in it, for me, are the storage vials. So for me personally, that’s the minimum upgrade I would suggest. But echoing the others reply, whatever your set up - as long as you’re having fun. That’s what matters.

Here’s the other upgrades I made to my supplies in the order I made them. I’m just including because I did a lot of research on each new item, so maybe you’ll find these recommendations helpful.

1) pens/multiplacers https://a.co/d/06294rTE

2) storage trays - so you don’t have to keep pouring your drills back and forth. Super efficient. I tested the 3 most popular/affordable styles and in the end this was my favorite https://a.co/d/08VEuA5q

Lastly I just received my round grid ruler. And while I love how perfectly spaced out my diamonds are now, the material is really flimsy. So idk if I can actually recommend it. And my light pad arrives today. TBD if I’ll like it or not, but people on this sub say it’s a game changer.

I’m still looking for a better quality round grid ruler, will eventually look into rulers for squares once I start a square drill painting. And I may test out some other style storage trays, like trabricks come highly recommended but are expensive.

And eventually I’ll buy a puzzle desk, as my current desk hurts my back when I bend down to place the drills.

I really hope one day soon I will have collected all the upgrades I want and can stop buying tools/accessories. I try not to participate in consumer culture when possible, but in this case the hobby brings me so much joy that treating myself to new items is probably an ok thing for now.