Creating a Crackle Effect Like a Mad Scientist!

Hi, Hello, Howdy, Hola, and Hiya!

Glad that you took the time to stop by.

I've been altering a lot of boxes lately.  "Naked" wooden cigar boxes, finds from my local thrift store, even some I've made using chipboard.  They're so much fun to alter.  There's no right or wrong way to decorate them.  And several of them have had the crackled paint effect on them. I just really like the look of it.

In the past, I've bought several bottles/jars of the crackle medium including Folkart and Ranger, and as you know, they can be a bit pricey.  And to top it off, the last jar that I purchased must've been defective, as it didn't crack! Drove me crazy....I let it dry on its own, I heat set it, I started over and put another coat on...and still it didn't crack.

Anyway, I digress...
On to why I'm creating this post.  If you haven't heard, you can make your own cracked effect on your next project using paint and Elmer's Glue (http://www.elmers.com/diy/project/crackle-finish).  Yes, good old fashioned, white glue.  And there are lots of cheap brands of glue to try out - from right in your stash, just like mine. And I tried quite a few....

I'll take you step by step through the process....Ready?

Paint your base coat of paint (using acrylic paint) onto your "project." and let it dry completely.  Using brush strokes that go in the direction that you would like your "cracked" effect to be, paint on a coat of glue.  It should be a generous amount.  Allow the glue to sit for a minute...let it get tacky - but don't let it dry or it won't crack....Add on a layer of paint (can be a contrasting color) and wait for it to crack on it's own, or use your heat gun to speed up the process.  Make sure that you keep your heat gun at a safe distance from your project and constantly moving. Otherwise the paint will start to "bubble."  Either way, it's interesting to watch the transformation! Easy peasy right??

Below, I've added some pictures to show how it turns out using different brands of white glue:

This is the effect using Elmer's

This is the effect using ModPodge   (http://www.plaidonline.com/mod-podge/brand/home.htm)

This is the effect using Playskool 

You can also add on a really thick coating of glue already mixed with paint and let it dry overnight:  it gives almost a leather-like appearance.  And it dries to a really hard finish.

This is the effect using glue and paint mixed together

You can use it on already printed or patterned papers; including book pages

This effect created using page from a book, ModPodge, 

white acrylic paint, and glimmer mist

It seems that this technique will work with almost any "white" glue.  I can't say that it will work with "all" white glue brands, as I didn't try everything on the market. (So that's my little disclaimer). I've also found out that you can "thin" out the white glue with water and it will crack a bit differently (cracks appear smaller). Soon, I'll have to try this technique on fabric.

If you're like me, you'll appreciate that it's a much, much cheaper alternative to buying the more expensive crackle mediums which may cost between $3.00 and $12.00.Yikes! And the bottles/jars just aren't that big.

I hope that you get to experiment like me to find out which method and choice of glues works best for you. And please, after you've done your "Mad Scientist" routine, let me know how you like it....

Well, that's all for now.
Again, thanks for stopping by.
Hugs+kisses
Renee