How to Use IOD Moulds (Without Overthinking It)

Moulds look intimidating, but they’re more forgiving than you think.

If Iron Orchid Designs moulds have ever made you pause because they look technical, detailed, or easy to mess up, you’re not alone.

I didn’t start with moulds either. I came to IOD through transfers first, stamps second. Moulds felt like the “advanced” tool. As it turns out, they’re one of the most versatile and forgiving things in the whole lineup.

Once you understand a few basics, moulds stop feeling precious and start feeling playful.

This guide is meant to make moulds feel doable, not delicate.

Who This Is For

This guide is for general crafters, DIYers and food artists.

If you:

  • Paint furniture or small décor

  • Make candles, wax melts, or soap

  • Bake and decorate food

  • Love upcycling odd items (like tins, boxes, or thrifted pieces)

  • Want texture, dimension, or detail without carving by hand

…IOD moulds are probably more useful than you realize.

Start with Clay (The Easiest Way In)

If you’re new to moulds, air-dry clay is the place to start.

It’s forgiving. It’s flexible. And if you don’t like the result, you can recast it and try again.

Why clay works so well for beginners

  • It stays workable while wet

  • You can remove, trim, add, or combine pieces

  • It curves beautifully around rounded surfaces

  • Mistakes are fixable (or reversible)

I glue clay while it’s still wet. Clay shrinks slightly as it dries, and the back of a casting is rarely perfectly flat. Attaching it while flexible lets it conform to the surface instead of fighting it.

This matters even more on curved surfaces like vases, tins, or rounded furniture details.

Release Is Not Optional (Ask Me How I Know)

The most common beginner mistake with moulds isn’t pressure, timing, or skill.

It’s skipping the release.

IOD moulds are extremely detailed. Without a light release, clay can grab onto those details and you’ll destroy them trying to force the casting out.

What works as a release

  • Cornstarch (my go-to)

  • Baking powder (yes, it works. I’ve used it in a pinch)

Lightly dust the mould before pressing in clay. You don’t need much. The goal is clean release, not clogging detail.

Once you use a release consistently, moulds stop feeling frustrating very quickly.

The Least Stressful Way to Try Moulds

If moulds still feel intimidating, keep it simple.

Start with:

  • One mould you love with simple details

  • Air-dry clay

  • A light release

That’s enough to get a good result without overthinking the process.

You don’t need special tools or perfect technique, just materials that give you room to experiment.

Resin Is a Level-Up, Not a Default

Resin has its place, but it’s not where I’d start.

Resin is great when you need:

  • Durability (especially on furniture)

  • Crisp, uniform castings

  • No shrinkage

I personally prefer fast-set resin because slow-set can take many hours (sometimes a full day), and I don’t love projects that give me that much time to be distracted by something else. Fast-set resin still requires accurate mixing and good ventilation.

A few important realities:

  • Resin is not flexible once it's dried completely.

  • It sets based on heat. Deeper areas harden first

  • It’s not something I’d use around small kids, wagging tails, or enclosed spaces

  • Always follow the instructions on the box for the specific resin you’re using

If you’re curious, this is a commonly used casting resin option:
https://amzn.to/3NrYGXW

Think of resin as the durable upgrade once you’re comfortable.

Beyond Furniture: Food, Wax, and Soap

One of the most overlooked things about IOD moulds is how far they extend beyond furniture and home decor.

These moulds are made from food-grade silicone and can be used for a wide range of projects, including:

  • Chocolate
  • Fondant
  • Baking
  • Wax melts
  • Candles
  • Soap

When used for edible projects, IOD moulds are generally oven-safe up to 425°F, which covers typical baking temperatures for cookies, sugar work, and similar applications. As with any silicone bakeware, the depth of the mould affects bake time, so thicker designs may need longer in the oven.

Important rule:
If you use a mould for crafts such as clay, resin, or glue, do not use that same mould for food. If you plan to do both, keep separate sets so there is no risk of cross-contamination.

Vertical Surfaces (How to Keep Pieces from Sliding)

When attaching moulds to vertical surfaces, gravity will test your patience.

Two things help:

  • Glue that grabs quickly

  • Low-tack painter’s tape to hold pieces in place while glue sets

Painter’s tape works well as long as you don’t allow it to crush the details in wet clay.

Embracing Imperfection (This Is the Mindset Shift)

IOD moulds often lean vintage and old-world by design. That’s a feature, not a flaw.

If you’re afraid you’ll mess it up:

  • Messing it up is part of the look

  • Most mistakes are fixable

  • And if all else fails—you can recast it

Once you stop aiming for “perfect,” moulds become fun instead of stressful.

Highly detailed designs can snap more easily, which is another reason to treat breakage as part of the process, not a failure. Although I’ve broken delicate wings before, I was able to glue them right back on.

If something breaks:

  • Glue it

  • Fill seams with fresh clay

  • Sand or paint as needed

What I Actually Use

When I want moulds to feel easy, not precious, these are the supplies I reach for because they’re forgiving and practical. 

You don’t need everything. One mould, clay, a little release, and patience will take you farther than you think.

Pin this for later, try one small project, and let yourself experiment.
Moulds aren’t fragile tools—they’re remix tools.

More Mould Help

Want an idea of the mould's measurements? Read: How Big Are IOD Moulds?
Prefer to watch? Watch the IOD Moulds Playlist on YouTube

A Quick Note

When you use our Amazon affiliate links, your price doesn’t change, we just earn a tiny thank-you from Amazon. If about 10,000 of you click, I’ll be able to buy Red a new pair of sneakers.

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