Suggestions Requested: Painted Design on Finished Maple

[pyleg]

I'm in the process of constructing a keepsake box for a very good friend who just had a baby.  I'd like to get the kid's name and a bit of a design on the lid in a cost and time efficient manner.  I'm a very low-level amateur and this is very nice wood (birdseye maple).  I'm currently still working on joinery with a friend's help.  Box joints came through with flying colors, dados for the rabbeted bottom are looking good. 

LOOKING FORWARD: paint occurred to me as a way to get the name, etc. on clearly and efficiently.  That left me with the question  of what sort of paint, finish, and order of operations would (1) get the paint to adhere to maple in a durable manner without bleeding and (2) would not disturb the finish or prevent the grain from looking nice.  I'm looking at buying a stencil for the lettering. 

Concrete suggestions with easily worked products would be greatly appreciated.  If the whole thing is folly, that news would also be appreciated!  My more-skilled friend suggested inlay, but that's a level of complexity I just can't fathom at this point. 

Thank you.

 

[nickao]

You can paint it, but why not inlay the name using Walnut or something like that?

If you don't have the capability of fine of inlay work you can send me the top. I can inlay whatever you like on it, any font, any wood.

Or I can send you a blank with the name and you can route in a rectangular pocket  on your end. A decorate thin banding around the perimeter of the blank in either one wood(maybe a matching walnut) or more decorative one can be added on my end. Then when you drop it in there will be no apparent seam.

Post the name and size and I can make one up  as a sample and post up pics.

 

[tjbnwi]

I like Dovetails solution, if you want to paint use stencil paint.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=stencil+paint+set&tag=googhydr-20&index=arts-crafts&hvadid=56294671147&hvpos=1t3&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17466255131019281455&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_206lbed7nt_b

Tom

 

[AlexThePalex]

You can use artists' acrylic paint. Finish it off with a clear coat.

 

[travisj]

I prefer Dovetail's solution as well.  I think that with the figured Maple, you have to respect the wood.  I see the inlay accentuating the birdseye.  I can't see paint doing that.  Also since this is an heirloom type piece, the inlay will age a lot better than paint.  I have a few pieces with painted accents and things happen.  They get scuffed or fall or whatever.  With the inlay, there is at least an option of refinishing down the road if necessary, not as easy with the painted lettering.  The flip side is that this is a gift from you.  I can appreciate the fact that you would want this to be as much of your work as possible.  What I decided for my own work years ago is that I would like to create the nicest piece that I can.  I have utilized things that I do/did not have the skills to create on my own.  My view is that using someone's inlay piece (since I don't have the skills to create it myself) is akin to using a commercial drawer slide in a cabinet or a prebuilt roofing truss in a house.  I view it as a supply.  In the end, what you built, was still your creation.

 

[pyleg]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions! I have been prevailed upon that the pain is not a great idea and am looking into the inlay with Dovetail.