Classical Cameo Paint Inlay (IOD) Iron Orchid Designs- 12×16 Pad

Channel the grandeur of ancient Greece and Rome with the Classical Cameo Paint Inlay by Iron Orchid Designs, designed in collaboration with Annie Sloan, artist and inventor of Chalk Paint®. Classical Cameo celebrates quintessential Greco-Roman motifs — laurel leaves, oval cameo portraits, and profile portraiture — drawn from the ornamental carvings found on the statues, buildings, and furniture of antiquity. Eight generous 12”×16” sheets deliver a complete vocabulary of neoclassical ornament, ready to transform painted furniture into something that feels like it belongs in a grand European salon.

Imagine a dresser crowned with a continuous laurel-leaf frieze, its drawer fronts adorned with a laurel-wreathed emperor in profile and a serene goddess cameo, the whole composition anchored by egg-and-dart borders and fan-shell drops. Classical Cameo makes that vision achievable — one sheet at a time.

What’s Included

• 8 sheets of paint inlay, each 12” × 16”
• Cameo portraits: laurel-wreathed male profile (emperor/Caesar), female profile (goddess/Venus), small botanical oval medallion in grey
• Border & frieze strips: laurel leaf garland border (black on gold), egg-and-dart border (gold/grey/black), pearl-dot border, fluted column border (gold/cream), diamond-leaf border (gold), swag-and-dot border (black line), fan-shell drop border (gold)
• Accent elements: individual leaf sprigs, small dot accents, repeating oval motifs
• Neoclassical palette: warm gold, soft taupe/cream, cool grey, and crisp black line work on a white ground

About IOD Paint Inlays

IOD Paint Inlays are not transfers — they are a decal. When applied, artisanal paint is embedded into your surface, leaving an almost leather-like finish. The results are visually interesting, textually complex, and may appear inherently distressed. The paint formula remains ‘active’ until sealed, allowing you to blend, soften, or add color before finishing.

How to Apply

1. Plan the layout of your designs on your surface.
2. Trim away the excess margins on each inlay sheet.
3. On an appropriately prepared surface, apply a generous and even coat of mineral-based chalk type paint. Work in small sections no larger than 12”×16”, managing the drying window.
4. While the paint is still wet, lay the inlay sheet design-side down (grids are printed on the back for easy identification). Keep it taut.
5. Spritz lightly with an even mist of water. Using a smooth damp sponge or folded soft cloth, pat down with even light pressure to ensure the design makes good contact. Avoid excessive moving or dragging.
6. Repeat steps 3–5 to complete your design, lining up sections as appropriate.
7. Allow to dry thoroughly. Drying time varies by conditions; typically an hour or two is sufficient.
8. When ready to remove, spritz the sheets evenly with water and allow 15–30 seconds to absorb. Starting at one corner, gently pull the paper up at a low angle. Re-spritz and wait if it does not release easily.
9. Once dry, you may use water to blend out or soften the design, or add color — the pigment remains movable and active until sealed.
10. Seal with at least two coats of a water-based sealer (50/50 sealer/water dilution spritzed on, then brush on your finish coat). A minimum of two coats is recommended.

Tips for Best Results

• Store at room temperature in a dry area until ready to use.
• Use a chalk-type paint that does not contain polymers for best results. Polymer-based paints and topcoats can also be used, but timing and results vary.
• Paints and coatings vary dramatically between manufacturers — always test on a scrap when uncertain.
• A note on wax furniture sealers: some wax sealers work well with IOD Paint Inlays, but like other coatings, formulas vary. Always check with your stockist and join the IOD community for product-related tips.
• The inlay will appear a shade or two lighter before sealing, and will darken a bit when sealed. If doing a low-contrast color combination, test first to ensure enough contrast against the background color.
• You can often get a beautifully faded impression with residual pigment on leftover sheets — depending on techniques and colors, sometimes even a third impression is possible!

US Patent 11,345,183. Made in China. All designs are property of Iron Orchid Designs®. All rights reserved.