There are SO MANY fun ways to welcome the cooler weather, falling leaves, and everything pumpkin! We couldn’t resist playing with the gorgeous details in our single-color Gloria Paint Inlay, re-imagining it with a few acrylic paints and a thinned medium.

Just wait until you see how darling this pumpkin scene turns out! 🥰 We’ll walk you step by step through layering paint onto your inlay, and by the end, you’ll see how simple it is to dress up single-color inlays for beautiful wall art.

Grab your favorite IOD supplies from your local or online stockist and let’s make something beautiful together. 🍂

IOD Products Needed: 

• Arch Wood Blank
• Gloria Paint Inlay

Other Supplies: 

• Dark Wax
• Liquitex Basics Matte Fluid Medium
• Spray-On Water-Based Sealer

Step-by-Step Guide

STEP ONE: PAINT YOUR PROJECT

First, paint your wood blank all over with a soft white chalk-type paint. Let it dry fully, then add a second coat if needed for good coverage.

STEP TWO: PREP YOUR INLAY & COMPOSITION

Now for the inlay! Since we wanted to follow the lines of the arch, we placed our pumpkin at the base, then trimmed oak leaves to curve along the top. When trimming your inlay, think about your layers and cut pieces so they fit together without overlapping. (Remember: if it’s not touching wet paint, it won’t adhere! 😉)

STEP THREE: APPLY YOUR INLAY

To apply your inlay, brush on a generous coat of paint, give your inlay a spritz, and smooth it down evenly. You can use a brayer or just your fingers, whatever’s handy works fine.

Now, don’t panic if you notice a spot that didn’t transfer! When we peeled back our inlay, the pumpkin stem and part of the edge were a little stingy with the paint. If this happens, stop peeling, add a little more paint to that section, lay the inlay back down, and let it dry again. Voilà! Blank spots avoided.

STEP FOUR: SEAL THE INLAY

This step is super important! Before you start painting, make sure to seal your inlay. Since it’s water-activated, going straight in with paint will blur your image, and that’s definitely not the look we’re after. 😉 We like using a spray, water-based sealer because it’s quick, easy, and keeps everything crisp. Let it dry completely before moving on.

STEP FIVE: PAINT YOUR INLAY

For our pumpkin, we applied two shades of orange. One deeper shade of orange for shadows and one brighter for highlights. We used acrylics, but chalk paint works beautifully, too. If you’re using chalk paint, swap water for a fluid medium. Curious what fluid medium is? Think of it as colorless paint. It keeps the structure but makes your color more transparent, so all those inlay details still shine through.

Quick Tip: Keep a little test spot nearby. Play around with your colors, mix and match, and do a few patch tests until you get the transparency you like. You’re not going for watercolor exactly (unless you are 😉), just a soft, buildable color.

Once you’re happy, grab some small art brushes and start painting. Go slow, take your time, and enjoy the process. When you’re finished, acrylic is good to go as-is. If you used chalk paint, give it a quick spray of water-based sealer to keep everything set.

STEP SIX: APPLY DARK WAX AROUND THE FRAME

To finish up, we used some dark wax around the outer frame.

If you're just kicking off your creative journey, have no fear — our Product 101 pages are packed with straightforward techniques to set you up for success. We're thrilled to accompany you as you explore and create. For more how-tos and creative inspo, make sure to browse through the rest of our blog.

Once you've crafted your final piece, share it with our Facebook Creative Tribe! This community is not just a showcase but also a supportive hub for when you hit those creative roadblocks. And remember, your local stockist is always ready to assist with IOD supplies and expert advice. We're excited to see what you'll bring to life!