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For anyone who hasn’t used the IOD Décor Stamps, they are essentially what they sound like. A stamp. Similar to a stamp that you might’ve used as a child- but magical. The IOD Décor Stamps have the power to transform an item that you found on the side of the road to an item that you will have to convince your husband you didn’t spend your entire monthly budget on. Yeah, that good.
But wait- there’s more.
The IOD décor stamps aren’t just for furniture and home décor, you can use them to transform your food art as well! The stamps are made from a food safe material (do not use the same sets for food and paint ;)). But be warned- they are not for high heat applications. Do NOT put in dishwasher, they will melt at extreme heats. And then you will be extremely heated too.
Before removing from backing, condition your stamps with very fine sandpaper, scuff the surface in two directions. This helps the mediums stay put, and not bead (which some types, like ceramics glazes, tend to do).
Remove stamps from backing when ready to use. This takes some force, but don’t worry, the stamps are strong.
Large mounting block. This is recommended for surfaces that are perfectly flat, for example, if you are doing fabric on a perfectly flat work surface.
Freestyle stamping. This is what we call it when you use a flexible piece of plastic, such as the clear sheet that came with the stamps, as a mounting device. Simply position the stamp on the sheet and proceed. This is great for irregular surfaces such as walls or furniture (surprisingly, many furniture surfaces that appear flat have dips- this method will conform nicely).
No mount. This is when you would use the stamp without mounting to anything, because you want it to really conform to a curved surface, or even stretch. For example, I stamped the front of my cowboy boots, and was able to stretch the stamp and conform it cleanly to the surface even though the boot is very curved. When using the bare stamp make sure that your fingers don’t stick to it, this could cause the stamp to lift from the surface and create a smudge. Nobody likes an unintentional smudge.
Whichever mounting method you use, the stamp backs must be perfectly clean, as well as the mount, in order for the stamp to cling firmly to the mount.
Paint: Paint works wonderfully with the Décor Stamps. When using paint we recommend creating a small puddle to roll a small dense foam roller in. Make sure you get an even load and roll onto the design side of the mounted (or if using unmounted, proceed accordingly) stamp. This part takes a little practice to get the feel of the load so that it’s enough to give you the impression you want without being sloppy. Also keep in mind variables such as the surface you are stamping, the medium you are using, as well as the look you are trying to achieve. Practice makes perfect!
Ink: Our Décor ink, and most other inks, work fabulously with the Décor Stamps as well. Ink gives finer detail and tends to be a little more translucent than paint, keep this in mind in consideration to your project. We find that we like using paint and ink equally, and they lend themselves well to different projects and surfaces. We recommend using the blank stamp pads to apply the ink (one for each color), then pat the surface of the stamp with it.
Fabric: When stamping fabric the load of medium should be generous in order to penetrate the fibers, and the look will be different with different levels of fabric texture. Décor ink, Chalk paint and other fabric suitable mediums work well. It is our opinion that the ideal fabric for permanent washables is 100 percent cotton. However, blends and some other natural fibers can sometimes work as well. Do a small test to be sure. Allow your newly stamped fabric to dry/cure for a minimum of 24 hours, then heat set with an iron on high heat before washing.
Furniture: Both painted and stained furniture can be stamped. In fact, this is one of the most common uses of our Décor Stamps. You can use ink or paint, but I tend to use paint more for furniture.
Walls: Walls are a fabulous surface opportunity for Décor Stamps. Create all over patterns that are a level up from wallpaper, and completely custom, or use the décor stamps to create an old world border. We love using paint for wall applications!
We find that the easiest way to care for and clean stamps is to keep wet wipes nearby, and avoid letting the medium dry all the way on the stamp surface. Then, when you have time, wash them with mild soap and warm water. For some mediums you may find that you need a stamp cleaner. Use one that is safe for clear stamps. After thoroughly cleaned, place them back on the clear backing for storage
And, as if once isn't enough, you can usually get a beautifully faded second impression, with the residual pigment on your 'leftover' Paint Inlay sheets. Depending on the techniques and colors you are using with your Paint Inlay, sometimes you can even get a third impression!
IMPORTANT NOTE: For best results with a basic application, use a chalk-type paint that does not contain polymers. (Polymer-based paints and topcoats can also be used, but the timing and results vary, so check out our tutorials for that and more special technique videos coming soon.)
Keep your Paint Inlays stored in the packaging at room temperature, in a dry area, until ready to use. Always handle your Paint Inlay sheets with care and keep them completely dry until ready to use.
After use, lay the sheet on a flat surface, pigment side up, and allow to dry completely. If you saved the protective tissue, use these between the saved inlay sheets.
Then you can put them back in the packaging until you’re ready to use for a second impression.
IOD PAINT INLAYS ON FABRIC
IOD Paint Inlays can be used on fabric with a quality fabric medium and, YES, you can get more than one impression even on fabric!
For this application, we used GAC 900 by Golden (affiliate link).
IMPORTANT NOTE: When using IOD Paint Inlays on fabric, the results will vary dramatically depending on the composition of the fabric, its texture, and the application process. Test on a small fabric sample. Using the Inlays on fabric is not an exact science - experiment and have fun, but keep an open mind!
To use IOD Paint Inlays on fabric WITHOUT painting the fabric first:
Step 1: Dilute the GAC medium to 50/50 GAC/WATER and put it in a spritzer bottle or a dish with a brush.
Step 2: Apply the mixture to your fabric.
Step 3: Apply the mixture to the face of your inlay. This is the side with the painted designs on it.
Step 4: Place the Inlay face down onto the wet fabric. The grid lines will be facing up at this point.
Step 5: Apply pressure using a variety of techniques depending on the look you’re trying to create. This could be rolling the back of the Inlay with a brayer, blunt tapping, covering it with a thin mount and then sliding a blunt object over it to create contact -- or any other creative way come up with. Again, this is a great place to experiment!
Step 6: Allow the fabric and the Inlay to dry (do not remove the Inlay from the fabric yet).
Step 7: Dampen as you would in the instructions for the traditional use of the Inlay and remove the carrier paper.
Step 8: Spritz the paint pattern with diluted GAC (50/50).
Step 9: Allow it to dry and cure for a minimum of 24 hours.
Step 10: Heat set with a dry iron (no moisture or you’ll reactive the paint).
To use IOD Paint Inlays on fabric when you paint the fabric first:
Step 1: Dilute the chalk-type paint to the consistency of cream.
Step 2: Mix a 50/50 ratio of GAC with diluted paint.
Step 3: Apply a coat of the paint/GAC mixture to the fabric with a brush.
Steps 4 through 10 are the same as above (without the painted background).
IMPORTANT NOTE: We always prefer cotton or high cotton blends for textile projects as they generally produce the best results. Different weaves of fabric will have varied results. For example, a soft cotton jersey tends to give a soft blurred effect, whereas a muslin type of weave will give a crisper image.
IOD PAINT INLAYS ON GLASS
IOD Paint Inlays can be used on glass using a clear medium that’s been formulated specifically for glass adhesion.
For this application, we used Dishwasher-Safe Mod Podge (affiliate link).
To use IOD Paint Inlays on Wavy Glass Projects
Step 1: Thoroughly clean the glass.
Step 2: Trim inlay and plan the composition with enough spent carrier paper to cover open areas.
Step 3: Coat the glass where you want to use the Paint Inlay with the clear medium. We used undiluted Dishwasher-Safe Mod Podge.
Step 4: Place the Inlay sheet face down (paint side down) and make good contact by rolling the back of the paper with a brayer.
Step 5: Coat the rest of your glass with the medium and apply a spent (used) carrier sheet. The purpose of this is to create a uniform texture on your glass which means no paint is transferred (that’s why you use a carrier sheet that’s completely spent.)
Step 6: Let all the Inlay sheets dry to the touch.
Step 7: Spritz with your medium and then wait a moment for it to saturate the paper. Carefully remove the Paint Inlay sheets.
Step 8: Allow your piece to dry thoroughly.
Step 9: Seal your project by using a fine mist spray bottle filled with the water/Mod Podge mixture. Allow it to fully dry and then apply a second coat of water-based sealer with a brush.
