Why are there so many drills left over?
Most manufacturers deliberately include more drills than the painting needs, so no color runs short. With large paintings that quickly adds up to whole bags. On top of that many colors repeat: black, white and greys are in almost every kit.
How to store leftover drills
- Separate by number and shape. Never mix square and round drills: they do not work together on one painting, and sorting them apart takes hours.
- Label everything. Write the DMC number and “square” or “round” on every bag or container. Special drills such as AB or fairy dust get their own slot with a note.
- Storage boxes or small jars. Bead organizers with compartments, small screw-top jars or zip bags in a binder – as long as the number is readable from the outside.
- Sort by number. In ascending order you find a color in seconds instead of searching every slot.
- Keep them dry and closed. Open drills collect dust, and dust is the enemy of the adhesive on your next canvas.
9 ideas for your leftover drills
- Spares for mishaps. Replace drills that fell off or are missing on your next painting – especially basic colors like black and white. What to do when a color runs out completely is covered in Troubleshooting.
- For your next painting. If a color runs short on your next painting, leftovers with the same number and shape can help. But: the same DMC number does not always mean exactly the same shade – it can differ slightly between manufacturers. For small areas that is usually fine.
- Cards and bookmarks. There are small craft kits and blanks for birthday and Christmas cards or bookmarks that you can fill with colors of your own.
- Coasters and keychains. Buy coasters, keychains or bag charms as blanks and fill them with leftovers – quick wins in between bigger projects.
- Decorate things. Add a few drills with clear craft glue to picture frames, jars, candle coasters or Christmas ornaments.
- A small design of your own. Turn your own photo into a chart: the free photo to diamond painting pattern tool shows every DMC color with the exact drill count – so you can see which colors you already have.
- A leftover painting. Place all your leftover colors as a rainbow, mandala or pattern on a blank self-adhesive canvas. Every leftover painting is one of a kind.
- Crafting with kids. Small pictures or stickers made from leftovers are a nice project to share. Careful: drills are small and a choking hazard – not for children under 3, and only with supervision.
- Give away or swap. In diamond painting groups someone is often looking for exactly the color you have left over. Swapping saves both of you a purchase.
Keep track of your stash
Diamond Painting Manager has its own drill stash: enter the DMC number, shape (square or round), type (e.g. AB or fairy dust) and, if you like, the amount in grams. You can take over the leftovers of a finished project with one click. Your shopping list then shows “in stash” next to every color you already have, and you can print the list.
What to avoid
Tipping everything into one box: mixed drills are almost impossible to use.
Keeping them unlabeled: many colors look nearly identical. Without the number you will not know later what it was.
Leaving them open: dust and pet hair would end up on your next canvas.
How many drills a painting needs in the first place is worked out by the drill calculator. And if a drill will not hold: Diamond painting not sticking.
Frequently asked questions
What can I do with leftover diamond painting drills?
Store them sorted by DMC number and shape and label them. Then they work as spares for your next painting, for cards, bookmarks, coasters, decorations or a small design of your own – or for swapping in groups.
How should I store leftover diamond painting drills?
In organizer boxes with compartments, small jars or labeled zip bags – separated by DMC number, square and round, with the number clearly visible. Keep them closed and dry.
Can I use leftover drills on another painting?
Yes, if shape and size match (square with square, round with round). The same DMC number can look slightly different between manufacturers, though – usually fine for small areas, but compare first for large ones.
Why are there so many leftover drills?
Manufacturers usually include extra drills on purpose so that no color runs short. With large paintings that adds up quickly.
Can I mix square and round drills?
Better not on the same painting: they differ in size and will sit unevenly. That is also why you should store them separately.