Do you guys ever regret a purchase? I suppose we all do sometimes, right?
Well, I have to admit that I feel a bit like I wasted my money on the I.O.D. Christmas themed paint inlay, Noel, that came out earlier this year.
It was a bit pricey at somewhere around $46 (depending who you purchase it from), but that would be OK if I was going to use it on lots of projects.
There are plenty of designs included in the set …
So I very much thought I could get many different projects completed with it.
But it seems like every time I pull it out to use it on something, the design isn’t quite right for some reason. It’s too small, or it’s too large, or I just simply don’t like it. Maybe it’s the grey color of the wording, it feels really bland. I would prefer black. It’s unlikely I’ll ever use the “NOEL” portion of the inlay, or those grey snowflakes.
It’s also not quite as easy to layer the paint inlay images as it is with transfers since you have to place them into wet paint.
I was hoping to be able to use some of the inlays on my sleds, but that didn’t really work out.
There weren’t many options for designs that would fit the narrow slats, but Mr. Q helped me come up with the above design. The tree farm wording ‘on top’ of a set of three trees. Not a bad layout, but I didn’t think it had enough impact. Maybe it’s that grey color, or maybe the writing is just too delicate for the sled. What do you think?
I ended up sanding the paint inlay off and repainting the sled using some stencils.
I then decided to use another section of the paint inlay on a simple wooden crate.
I’d painted and stenciled a couple of crates in a pretty aqua blue a few years ago, the one on the bottom sold but the one stenciled in white did not.
So that crate was slated for a makeover this year.
I repainted it in Dixie Belle’s Drop Cloth on the outside, and their Juniper on the inside. Then I cut out and arranged various segments of the Noel paint inlay to fit the side and applied them (you can find full instructions for using a paint inlay here).
Now, don’t get me wrong. I think the crate turned out pretty adorable.
And I love the paint inlay product from I.O.D. in general. I’ve gotten lots of use out of the Rose Chintz …
and Gregory’s Catalogue.
I just don’t think that I.O.D. hit it out of the park with the designs for Noel. One adorable project for $46 isn’t good enough. And frankly, I set the bar pretty high for I.O.D. I usually absolutely LOVE their style.
In the end, you can get a lot more bang for your buck with a couple of reusable stencils like the one I used on this chair.
I’ve used this stencil over and over and over on so many things and it’s still going strong.
All of this being said, I haven’t completely given up on the Noel inlay. I may find some more ways to use it between now and Christmas.
I’m curious, have any of you purchased the Noel paint inlay? And if so, have you found lots of things to use it on? Feel free to shout it out in a comment if you disagree with my assessment.
In the meantime, the crate is for sale at $38 (SOLD!). If any of my local readers are interested in it, send me an email at qisforquandie@gmail.com. Otherwise it will head into the shop next week!
q is for quandie 
Hi Linda, I haven’t tried the inlays yet because they are pricey but I did get their Christmas transfer and I am having the same problem with size. They are either too big or too small. I lovef last year’s Figgy Pudding transfer. Maybe I just need some inspiration. I’m not as creative as I wish I was
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I have to say that I looked at both the paint inlay and the transfer when they first came out and I wasn’t blown away by either. So I didn’t order either one right away. Then I hemmed and hawed about ordering one or the other, and by the time I decided to pull the trigger the transfers seemed to be sold out everywhere. So I ended up with the paint inlay. Sounds like maybe I wouldn’t have been too happy with the transfer either though, huh? I can’t find much out there in the way of projects using the paint inlay aside from putting it on simple wooden plaques cut specifically to fit, which is rather boring to me. If you find any better inspiration, keep us all posted!
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Hello, I love the Christmas Farm stencil. Where is it from?
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LOL, I knew someone would ask that! I purchased it several years ago, and I thought it was from Maison de Stencils, but I couldn’t find it on their website (I looked to see if I could include a link). I suggest going on Etsy and searching for similar stencils, there are quite a few out there.
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I will say, I really love the crate. I even liked the the sled. For me it was the “old “ antique look that I like. Sizing is really the issue for me.
Smiles, alice
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Thanks Alice, I do love that aspect of the paint inlays as well!
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When I saw the title of your post I thought well, that’s interesting, Miss Quandie doesn’t like to use the word “Noel” in place of “Christmas” and wondered “what’s the scoop on that?” Lol……..But it turned out to be a kind of PSA on this paint inlay……..because, really, if Quandie can’t figure out how to get the most out of it that’s a big fat check in the CON column!
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Well, it is for me anyway 😉 I definitely wouldn’t purchase this particular set of designs again. I’m still trying to figure out more ways to use it though. I’ll keep you posted if I come up with anything.
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Keep working on this. Don’t give up. You are doing a good job, and most of us are picky with what we do. It is part of being an Artist at heart. The designs say what you want. I advise you to keep doing what you’re doing. I believe talent is there, and that is what we smile over…….the finished product.
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Thanks!
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I do love the black box that you painted. I guess this is something that opens. It is very well decorated. Painting is work, and some of us run out of patience, but those who endure come with some nice pieces. Don’t give up. You are doing well in my view.
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I’m thinking that you’re referring to the black toolbox with the Rose Chintz paint inlay on it (you can find that post here). If so, yes it does open. It’s one of my favorite paint inlay projects to date!
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