Technique Thursday: Crackle Paint

It’s Thursday (or nearly Thursday, depending on when you are reading this) and that means it is time to learn a new technique. This week, we are focusing on Distress Crackle Paint.

This is a great product, with the brush attached to the lid and a quick, one-step painting process. And, since all I know I about crackle paint came from the master, Tim Holtz, I thought I would start by sharing a video he made.

Distress Crackle Paint

A few highlights: It should be the consistency of mayo or peanut butter … if you want it thinner, just add water.

Always shake before using.

Apply an even, medium coat of paint and let air dry. Once it starts to crack, you can speed up the process with a heat gun.

One thing I like to use Crackle Paint on is a die cut.

I cut this fence (from QuicKutz) from textured dark brown cardstock and then painted it with Picket Fence Distress Crackle Paint. I love the different looks I get by applying the paint thinner in some areas and how some of the brown shows through. (click on the image for a better view)

Another technique, like Tim does in the video, is to use the Crackle Paint as a resist. Since Distress Ink will not stick to it, you can stamp with Distress Ink on the dried Crackle Paint and then wipe it off of the paint portion.

When I tried this technique, I did not have a finished idea in mind. I just started grabbing scraps off of my table, added some paint and then went to work at the scrapbook store. When I came home several hours later, I pulled out my newest Tim Holtz stamp and decided the gas pump would be great to hide behind the paint. As I was inking with Black Soot Distress Ink, I realized the service attendant was also going to be on Crackle Paint. I didn’t think he would appreciate being headless, so I inked his half of the stamp with Ranger Archival Ink and the other half with the Distress Ink. Then, I stamped it and wiped off the pump portion and watched the pump move “behind” the paint, like magic!

Finally, I wanted to share a project I made some time ago in a class with my friend Linda Neff.

It started as a bright red frame from IKEA. I then painted it with Crackle Paint and then sanded some of it off. It created a beautiful patina on the frame. Here’s a closer look:

To see these samples in person and to try the paint out for yourself, stop by Capture A Memory in Flint Township. I’ll be there from 2-6 p.m. Thursday helping you try this new technique. See you there!

Ribbons, Ruffles & Lace

I am so proud of the young woman my daughter has grown into.

Even if she wasn’t my daughter, I would still think she was beautiful — inside and out. Sure, she has her less-than-perfect moments, but I love it when she talks non-stop and when she giggles while watching television. I appreciate how hard she pushes herself to get what she wants. And, I love that she never gives up.

But, when it comes to the clothes she wears, we do not see eye-to-eye.

When she was little, I dressed her in ruffles and lace. I put her in as much pink as I could find. And then she reached that age where she picked out her own clothes. Suddenly, my sweet girly girl was wearing hoodies and jeans, sweats and T-shirts in every color but pink.

I have come to terms with the fact that my little girl is more comfortable in athletic wear, black and gray. It doesn’t make me love her any less. But it did give me something to preserve in her scrapbook …

The paper is from Pebbles. The banner is Maya Road, painted with Ranger Distress Crackle Paint and Distress Ink. The letters are cut out from my Cricut. Rub ons are from Lily Bee Designs. The journaling block is from Sizzix/Tim Holtz. The punch is EK Success and the ribbons and twine are from May Arts, Maya Road, Bo Bunny, My Mind’s Eye and my stash.

The flower buttons are from Pebbles and I added Liquid Pearls from Ranger to the centers to provide unique dimension — and a bit of shine.

One tip: I had trouble with rub ons in one corner of my page. No matter what I did, I couldn’t get them to work. So, I added a few buttons to cover it up. Then, to make it look like it was intentional, I added buttons on top of some of the rub ons on the journaling block, as well. I don’t think you can tell — can you? (click on the photo for a closer look)

Remember, unless you spill coffee on your pictures, you can almost always find a way to fix any mistake!