Back to the Basics with IOD Stamps: Guide, Tips & Tutorials

Back to the Basics with IOD Stamps: Guide, Tips & Tutorials
Pin this article to save for later

Even the most seasoned makers know that sometimes the secret to feeling unstuck isn’t a fancy new technique—it’s a simple reminder of how to use the tools you already love.


Whether you’re brand new to IOD Stamps or you’ve been using them for years, this guide is a resource for you. No one is ever too “pro” to revisit the foundations. In fact, some of our favorite “ah ha” moments come from circling back to the little things, like how you ink and ink pad, how you prep a stamp, how you use IOD Thin Mounts, or what to do when something doesn’t go as planned.


In Back to the Basics with IOD Stamps, we’ve gathered our most helpful tips, tutorials, and resources—from both the IOD team and our wonderfully talented Artisans.


Our hope is that this becomes a go-to resource you return to again and again as you continue your creative journey. Whether you’re stamping your very first tea towel or adding layers of detail to a darling furniture piece. So grab your favorite IOD Stamp, a little ink, and let’s revisit the basics together.

The Basics

What are IOD Stamps?

For anyone who hasn’t used IOD stamps before, they’re essentially what they sound like: A clear stamp, but it doesn’t stop there!


While similar in function to stamps you've used before, IOD stamps reimagine a piece of junk found on the side of the road into a stunning, vintage, and sophisticated piece that you will be proud to display in your home for generations to come.


And DIY home decor is just the tip of the creative iceberg. IOD stamps can be used in food art (they're food safe!), crafts, DIY lifestyle projects, and more!

What You’ll Need to Begin 

When you’re just getting started with IOD Stamps, you really only need a handful of basics:

  • An IOD Stamp (choose a favorite from your local or online stockist)
  • A fine-grit sanding block to lightly condition your stamps before first use
  • IOD Ink Pad & Decor Ink in your chosen color

Gather your goodies from your nearest or online IOD stockist—and if you’re new to IOD, don’t be shy about introducing yourself. Our stockists are wonderful for brainstorming project ideas, helping you choose products, and cheering you on when you feel a bit stuck. It’s always nice to have a creative friend in your corner. 

Back to Basics: Step by Step

How to Prep IOD Stamps

  1. Remove the acrylic sheet from the stamping side of the design, leaving the stamps on their backing sheet.
  2. Using a fine-grit sanding block, lightly scuff the stamping surface in one direction.
  3. Rotate the stamp 90 degrees and lightly sand in the new direction.
  4. You only need to condition your stamps once—after that, they’re ready for life.

Check out this YouTube video for a quick tutorial. 

How to Fill an Ink Pad

  1. Give your Decor Ink bottle a good shake, then grab a blank IOD ink pad (one pad per color works best).
  2. Squeeze a line of ink around the outer edge of the pad, then continue in smaller rectangles until the whole pad is covered.
  3. Stop squeezing and use the bottle tip to work the ink into the pad until it’s fully absorbed.

Tip: Store your ink pads upside down so the ink stays near the surface, and refresh with a little more ink if it’s been a while since you last stamped.

Best Tips for Stamping 

  1. Hover & line it up. Hold your stamp over the project surface to decide exactly where you want it to land before you commit.
  2. Commit—no shimmying. Once the stamp touches the surface, keep it put. Any shifting can cause smudges or a double image.
  3. Press with even pressure. Use one hand to steady the stamp and the other to gently run your fingers over the entire design, making sure all those pretty details make contact.
  4. Lift straight up. When you’re done, pull the stamp straight off the surface—no sliding.
  5. Clean right away. Wipe your stamp with a soft, damp cloth or baby wipe immediately so the medium doesn’t dry on the surface.

Caring for Your Stamps 

Keep wet wipes nearby and clean your stamps before the medium has a chance to fully dry. When you have a moment, wash them with mild soap and warm water, and for tougher mediums, use a stamp cleaner that’s safe for clear stamps. Once they’re dry, return them to their clear backing for storage.


Remember: don’t expose your stamps to high heat—no dishwashers, no hot cars, or they’ll end up more like shrinky-dinks than stamps. 😉

Back to Basics: Step by Step

Beginner-Friendly Projects


Intermediate Projects


Seasonal Favorites 


Frequently Asked Questions

What mediums can I use with IOD Stamps?


Paint: Paint works beautifully with IOD Stamps. For best results, roll a small puddle of paint out with your IOD Brayer until it’s evenly loaded, then roll it over the design side of your stamp (mounted or unmounted). This gives you a smooth, even coat of paint and a crisp impression on your project.


Ink: IOD Decor Inks work best with IOD stamps. Ink gives finer detail and tends to

be a little more translucent than paint.


Edible Gel Paste: Stamping cookies and cakes couldn’t be easier (or sweeter!). Using the same technique as with paint, roll edible gel paste onto your stamp with a brayer, then stamp directly onto your treats.


Just be sure to keep a separate set of stamps just for food and never mix them with your non-food project stamps.

How to use different mounts for different surfaces? 


IOD Thin Mounts with Grid Marks: This is recommended for perfectly flat surfaces, like word art on a wood sign. Use the grid or curved lines as guides for the lettering layout and for centering your stamps on the project surface.


Freestyle Stamping: This is what we call it when you use a flexible piece of plastic, such as the

backing sheet that came with the stamps, as a mounting device. This is great for irregular surfaces such as walls or furniture. 


No Mount: This is when you use the stamp without mounting it to anything. Two common

scenarios call for no mount. When you’re stamping a very curved surface, such as on a flower pot or around the corner of a dresser.

Miscellaneous Yet Resourceful Tips


We hope this little Back to the Basics guide is the gentle nudge you needed to delve in. You don’t have to get it perfect—you just have to start. ❤️


Grab your favorite IOD Stamps from a local or online stockist, pick one simple project from the list above, and give yourself permission to play a little. We’d absolutely love to see what you create, so don’t forget to tag us or share your makes in the Creative Tribe. Your creativity really does inspire this whole community.

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Back to the Basics with IOD Stamps: Guide, Tips & Tutorials

Back to the Basics with IOD Stamps: Guide, Tips & Tutorials
Pin this article to save for later

Even the most seasoned makers know that sometimes the secret to feeling unstuck isn’t a fancy new technique—it’s a simple reminder of how to use the tools you already love.


Whether you’re brand new to IOD Stamps or you’ve been using them for years, this guide is a resource for you. No one is ever too “pro” to revisit the foundations. In fact, some of our favorite “ah ha” moments come from circling back to the little things, like how you ink and ink pad, how you prep a stamp, how you use IOD Thin Mounts, or what to do when something doesn’t go as planned.


In Back to the Basics with IOD Stamps, we’ve gathered our most helpful tips, tutorials, and resources—from both the IOD team and our wonderfully talented Artisans.


Our hope is that this becomes a go-to resource you return to again and again as you continue your creative journey. Whether you’re stamping your very first tea towel or adding layers of detail to a darling furniture piece. So grab your favorite IOD Stamp, a little ink, and let’s revisit the basics together.

The Basics

What are IOD Stamps?

For anyone who hasn’t used IOD stamps before, they’re essentially what they sound like: A clear stamp, but it doesn’t stop there!


While similar in function to stamps you've used before, IOD stamps reimagine a piece of junk found on the side of the road into a stunning, vintage, and sophisticated piece that you will be proud to display in your home for generations to come.


And DIY home decor is just the tip of the creative iceberg. IOD stamps can be used in food art (they're food safe!), crafts, DIY lifestyle projects, and more!

What You’ll Need to Begin 

When you’re just getting started with IOD Stamps, you really only need a handful of basics:

  • An IOD Stamp (choose a favorite from your local or online stockist)
  • A fine-grit sanding block to lightly condition your stamps before first use
  • IOD Ink Pad & Decor Ink in your chosen color

Gather your goodies from your nearest or online IOD stockist—and if you’re new to IOD, don’t be shy about introducing yourself. Our stockists are wonderful for brainstorming project ideas, helping you choose products, and cheering you on when you feel a bit stuck. It’s always nice to have a creative friend in your corner. 

Back to Basics: Step by Step

How to Prep IOD Stamps

  1. Remove the acrylic sheet from the stamping side of the design, leaving the stamps on their backing sheet.
  2. Using a fine-grit sanding block, lightly scuff the stamping surface in one direction.
  3. Rotate the stamp 90 degrees and lightly sand in the new direction.
  4. You only need to condition your stamps once—after that, they’re ready for life.

Check out this YouTube video for a quick tutorial. 

How to Fill an Ink Pad

  1. Give your Decor Ink bottle a good shake, then grab a blank IOD ink pad (one pad per color works best).
  2. Squeeze a line of ink around the outer edge of the pad, then continue in smaller rectangles until the whole pad is covered.
  3. Stop squeezing and use the bottle tip to work the ink into the pad until it’s fully absorbed.

Tip: Store your ink pads upside down so the ink stays near the surface, and refresh with a little more ink if it’s been a while since you last stamped.

Best Tips for Stamping 

  1. Hover & line it up. Hold your stamp over the project surface to decide exactly where you want it to land before you commit.
  2. Commit—no shimmying. Once the stamp touches the surface, keep it put. Any shifting can cause smudges or a double image.
  3. Press with even pressure. Use one hand to steady the stamp and the other to gently run your fingers over the entire design, making sure all those pretty details make contact.
  4. Lift straight up. When you’re done, pull the stamp straight off the surface—no sliding.
  5. Clean right away. Wipe your stamp with a soft, damp cloth or baby wipe immediately so the medium doesn’t dry on the surface.

Caring for Your Stamps 

Keep wet wipes nearby and clean your stamps before the medium has a chance to fully dry. When you have a moment, wash them with mild soap and warm water, and for tougher mediums, use a stamp cleaner that’s safe for clear stamps. Once they’re dry, return them to their clear backing for storage.


Remember: don’t expose your stamps to high heat—no dishwashers, no hot cars, or they’ll end up more like shrinky-dinks than stamps. 😉

Back to Basics: Step by Step

Beginner-Friendly Projects


Intermediate Projects


Seasonal Favorites 


Frequently Asked Questions

What mediums can I use with IOD Stamps?


Paint: Paint works beautifully with IOD Stamps. For best results, roll a small puddle of paint out with your IOD Brayer until it’s evenly loaded, then roll it over the design side of your stamp (mounted or unmounted). This gives you a smooth, even coat of paint and a crisp impression on your project.


Ink: IOD Decor Inks work best with IOD stamps. Ink gives finer detail and tends to

be a little more translucent than paint.


Edible Gel Paste: Stamping cookies and cakes couldn’t be easier (or sweeter!). Using the same technique as with paint, roll edible gel paste onto your stamp with a brayer, then stamp directly onto your treats.


Just be sure to keep a separate set of stamps just for food and never mix them with your non-food project stamps.

How to use different mounts for different surfaces? 


IOD Thin Mounts with Grid Marks: This is recommended for perfectly flat surfaces, like word art on a wood sign. Use the grid or curved lines as guides for the lettering layout and for centering your stamps on the project surface.


Freestyle Stamping: This is what we call it when you use a flexible piece of plastic, such as the

backing sheet that came with the stamps, as a mounting device. This is great for irregular surfaces such as walls or furniture. 


No Mount: This is when you use the stamp without mounting it to anything. Two common

scenarios call for no mount. When you’re stamping a very curved surface, such as on a flower pot or around the corner of a dresser.

Miscellaneous Yet Resourceful Tips


We hope this little Back to the Basics guide is the gentle nudge you needed to delve in. You don’t have to get it perfect—you just have to start. ❤️


Grab your favorite IOD Stamps from a local or online stockist, pick one simple project from the list above, and give yourself permission to play a little. We’d absolutely love to see what you create, so don’t forget to tag us or share your makes in the Creative Tribe. Your creativity really does inspire this whole community.

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