Hey guys! Let’s chat about all things IOD Paint Inlays. I’ve been using the IOD Paint Inlays for well over a year now and I’ve picked up a few tips & tricks that I want to share with you today!
The number one thing I hear from my viewers is that they are scared to try a paint inlay for fear of ruining the project and the paint inlay since they’ve never used this product before. A new product can be intimidating and a bit overwhelming so let’s dive into some tips & tricks that will definitely help you overcome any fears you may have before using this amazing product!
What is a Paint Inlay?
The IOD Paint Inlays are a new type of technology for all you upcyclers and furniture painters out there. The IOD Sisters have definitely outdone themselves when they created this product line. The Paint Inlays are not like decoupage paper or transfers but are an artisan paint on a carrier paper. Once you apply the Paint Inlay into your project the paint physically embeds itself into your paint or topcoat. YES! You read that right…you can use either a chalk style paint or a topcoat! Now let’s go over the steps of using a Paint Inlay and dive into those tips. If you would also like to see me in action applying a Paint Inlay, I’ve linked a YouTube video showcasing 5 different projects.
How to use a Paint Inlay
Step 1: Choose an Inlay for your project and plan out your design
There are 14 different paint inlays to pick and choose from currently. Once you decide which Paint Inlay is perfect for your project then lay out your pattern. The inlays come in either 4 or 8 sheet packs with some being full designs that you can line up the 8 pages or you can cut and piece together a unique design. Each page has a slight overhang that needs to be trimmed.
Pro Tip: Always make sure your grid lines are facing up. This may seem silly but this has happened to me more than once!
Step 2: Prep the project for the Paint Inlay
Apply your first coat of paint to your entire project and let it dry thoroughly. When you apply your second coat of paint, make this a generous and even layer.
Pro Tip: Work in small sections when applying the inlay. No bigger than the size of one sheet which is 12×16.
Step 3: It’s time to apply the Paint Inlay
While the paint is wet, start applying the inlay. I recommend lining it up and start laying it down slowly from one side to the other to eliminate as many wrinkles as possible.
Pro Tip: Prior to applying the inlay, take a misting bottle and mist the inlay just to slightly to dampen the paint to activate the paint prior to applying it.
This past April I had the opportunity attend the IOD conference and meet both Annie Sloan and Debi Beard. At the conference Annie Sloan accidentally spilled the beans that both her and Debi were collaborating with the IOD Sisters to each design their own Paint Inlay for the IOD Winter 2023 Release.