I remember hearing Tim Holtz saying in one of his tutorials that crackled paint NEVER chips off. I love his products but I was very disappointed to find out that every time I use this paint either on paper or solid objects, it starts chipping off big time immediately upon crackling. Is there a trick to avoid this problem? Am I doing something wrong?? Please help! Sanna

Are you putting a bottom layer of paint before you put on the crackle paint?

you mean like priming it? no, i don't. tim doesn't really advise priming before crackle paint application. and it also chips off when i apply it to cardstock. i never had to prime cardstock... but thanks for advice, i will certainly try it next time

what would you prime with?

there are special primers sold in various stores, craft as well as home improvement. you just have to make sure the primer is appropriate for crafts. i bought one a while ago just for an occasion like this one but never had a chance to use it yet. lol

Per the instructions, it's just one step-no need to prime. I've not had any issue with it chipping off-however, I don't apply it nearly as thick as Tim says to in his video. He says "think peanut butter" when applying-I apply mine quite a bit thinner-more like mayo when you're on a diet.

• bgpa Said:

lol on the mayo on a diet thing...

i have been having a similar problem, but only with objects i am altering or distressing... i haven't even used it on paper yet, i should check to see if i am having the same problem. I also apply thin, maybe that is what i am doing wrong...

i recently used it on a clothes pin... once it dried there was chipped paint EVERYWHERE!!!

I'm just finishing up Tim's "Creative Chemistry 101" online class. I rewatched the crackle paint video, and he says that if you are using it on anything that "doesn't have any tooth" like metal or finished wood, you need to rough it up or prime it. He also tells you to let it dry on its own, however, in the next video he says that once it starts to crack, you can use a heat tool on it. I've only used it on cardstock and chipboard...with a heat tool, and without.

I have used it on cardstock and metal with similar results-it chipped. I also tried a thin layer or a think, with similar results-it chipped again ;( I always let it dry on it's own, so I know that drying process isn't the problem. So what I started doing is, after it dries, I just spray it with a finishing glossy layer, any sort of decoupage finishing spray and that seems to help a bit.
Priming everything is my next step. Problem is, sometimes I use crackle paint to cover part of the photo itself. So I don't really know if I can prime a photograph. Life is hard, LOL