Crackle Finish
Want to make a cute crackle finish like this....
To revamp an ugly piece of furniture like this....?
Supplies:
Sand
Paper
Primer (depending on your color choice)
High Gloss Base color/ crackle paint (mine's
red)
FLAT (No gloss!) Top color paint (mine's blue)
Crackle glaze OR Elmer's glue* OR Hyde's glue
Optional: Protective Finish
to
add shine and protect from scuffs
(*You can purchase a
gallon of Elmer's at an art supply store for $11.)
Directions:
Remember: I don't
give paint drying times, because you need to refer to
your paint can and follow the recommended drying times
between coats, as every brand is different.
Important TIP: You'll want to
practice this technique on a scrap of some sort before
doing it to your actual furniture, so follow these
instructions for the practice round, then go back
through and do it again to your actual furniture. Mine
was a dresser, so I used the entire back (which faces
the wall) as my scrap space to practice on. It allowed
me to see how different color combinations looked, as
well as get a feel for my technique for applying the
crackle evenly. Play with how thick or thin your crackle
glaze is, how quickly you swipe the brush, etc., as
these variations will each affect the final
look.
Give a light scuff
sanding to your old piece of furniture to help the paint
adhere better.
Optional step: Paint a
base layer or two of primer. I used primer because I was
covering a light piece of furniture with red paint, and
red paint is highly recommended for using a primer
anyway.
Paint your base color.
This is the color that will only be seen inside the
crackles (mine's red). Be sure you get a good, even
coat. Of course since I chose red mine took.. eh.. quite
a few coats. Be sure this layer is dried COMPLETELY!
(I'm talking overnight, not just an hour...)
Paint the crackle or
glue glaze. The thicker the crackle is applied, the
bigger your cracks will be. Be sure you apply it as
smoothly and evenly as possible, and get full coverage.
Also, don't doddle, because you'll want to start
painting your final top coat soon.
Tip: If you bought a can of crackle, follow
the instructions on the can, including recommended
drying times to a T!
Tip: If you are using glue, you can water
it down a little to make for easier spreading. Don't let
it dry completely or else your paint won't crackle...
paint your top coat while the glue is still
tacky.
Paint your top coat
color, in long, full, even strokes going in one
direction only (not back and forth)... using as few
strokes as possible. Avoid overlapping strokes, as this
can funkify your crackle. You only get one chance to
paint this layer as best as you can. Keep your brush
strokes all going in the same direction, because that's
how the crackles will appear. As the paint dries, it
will begin to crackle.
Optional
Step: Since the crackle
finish requires a flat top coat, the result will be...
well... flat. If you desire a glossy finish instead,
and/or you want to protect it from scuffs and scratches,
then I recommend reading THIS, then using a
protective, glossy finish. Elmer's website says you can
use the glue as your top coat as well, though I haven't
tried that.
After your piece is
completely dry, if you have any knobs that you plan to
paint, put them on loosely, over a plastic baggie, then
paint them as desired. After painting, I used
polyurethane on the knobs since I also used it on the
dresser. Remove the baggies after the paint is dry and
finish screwing in the knobs. If you're using
pre-finished knobs then just stick 'em on and you're
done!
Now stand back and
admire your handiwork!!!
Last, if you decided to
do this project yourself, please send me a photo of it
with your name and what state you're from! I've recently
decided to start featuring my readers' finished
results.
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