TM Crackle Paint....

I managed to get a hold of the TM Distress Crackle Paint big lot on an auction site. We recieved the whole lot yesterday. I was very excited about the paint and started with it...
I must say, after using it....I'm thinking, is this it? I'm not totally disappointed but I am also not overly happy with it. It doesnt crackle to me expectations and the colours are off from the inks. I cant get it to crackle without using the heattool. It doesnt crackle at all on its own. Am I doing things wrong? Or is there a special trick for it? I watched the films of TM on YouTube on how to use it but I still dont get the effect. I put it on thick....

TM? or TH?

I have not been happy with TH crackle paints at all for exactly what you said.
I have gone back to the old fashioned paint coat, crackle coat, paint coat.

I only have a couple bottles of the TH crackle paint and I'm not overly impressed it. It's rather a nuisance to apply actually.

I've never had a problem with it-

I *believe* that the trick to doing it is not overdoing it- and by overdoing it, I mean: continuing to paint back and forth and back and forth, trying to apply it perfectly smooth and purty.

If you want big cracks, do a pretty thick coat- if you want finer cracks, apply a thin (but not PAPER thin) coat. Then stop. And let it dry on its own.

And rub some Distress Ink over it, when dry, if you want to accentuate the cracks.

-kory

yeah the TH LOL .... Thats a miss spell.

I did the thick layer for the bigger cracks as thats what I like. I applied it on back n forth once to make sure I got all that I wanted to be covered. I know from the clips that I need to stick it on and not touch it or overdo it.

We've tried it to let it dry on its own, didnt crack at all and we did the heat tool like TH said in the clips. The heat tool seems to work best on these right now.

Could it be that I purchased an old lot? That it has sat too long? The paint jars itself were still all factory sealed and when opened, paint seemed smooth enough.

ps....the only colour that I like right now out of the lot is the Black Soot. Majority of the colours dont really match the distress inks

I love the Distress Inks btw...lol That got me convinced in getting the Crackle Paint aswell....

I have had much better luck with the Plaid crackle medium. Works like a dream. Sure, it's an extra application, but not a big deal when it actually works much better than the one step crackle paints. I also like doing double colors like pink on the bottom and black over top with the crackle medium....makes such pretty results!

Did you shake it up well, before using it?

I have only used the Rock Candy (clear)and it worked pretty good. Not huge cracks, but it did crackle. Hope you have better luck next time you try it.

Yep, followed all the directions and it just didn't work the way Crackle Medium works. Not enough cracks for me and just too temperamental.

That is just too weird- usually the story is that NOTHING works for me. But my TH crackle paint always turns out perfectly... I wonder if it's a weather or humidity or somethin issue....


K

I did shake it lol I have a fetish for over shaking things than need to be shaked...hahahahaa..

Humidity, that may be a good one...our humidity is usually high. It's always very damp, rainy and either very warm or very cold...

Regular paint takes forever to dry overhere...

I will try it again and see if I can get it to work...

Hmmm, cold might have something to do with it. I would say that the crackle paint does need to be played with a bit to see what it will do. And I was confused, because the clear crackle...you are NOT SUPPOSED TO SHAKE THAT! It will put unwanted bubbles in it. I love that stuff.

hahahhaaaa the clear crackle wasnt included. Sadly....

Am glad the Black Soot isnt that much of a disappointment tho...

Will play with the rest...glad I didnt pay full price for these bottles so I dont have to feel guilty for using it all without an actual purpose...

I love crackle paint. These are my suggestions..

The thicker the layer of crackle paint you apply, the bigger the cracks. So if you like really big cracks, glob it on. It will smooth out as it dries.

Wait about 5 minutes before you zap it with a heat gun. You should start to see the cracks before you zap it.

Do NOT use the heat gun on the clear crackle. It will bubble and/or burn especially if you put it on thick. I learned this personally when I totally ruined a title.

Go to Tim Holtz's website and watch his video on Crackle Paint. It also has some great ideas and tips.

All of Tim's colors are not going to be exact matches. There is going to be a slight difference , he had a video showing the difference between the different products. He used the Broken China distress ink, stain, and marker. They were not an exact match. How much it crackles depends on how much you apply. If it is too thick then just add a little water and mix well.

If you got them on sale - more then likely they are old. Ive bought old from my LSS not on purpose but it's been a solid block. I contacted Ranger about it, they said to add water & it should be ok! Well, there isn't much room on that little jar to add water with the thick paint & stir it - went everywhere --- and I was told do not shake, but you cant shake it anyway its very dense.

Whoops. I've always shaked my Rock Candy crackle - I thought it said to shake it- I guess I didn't read the DONT lol. But even tho, it's still worked perfectly and didn't have any bubbles. I must be the luckiest person with the crackle. I also love and use the 'Antique Bronze' TH crackle paint that I got on clearance at HL for a dollar- and it's worked great, too. I just used it to do a moon on a Halloween project- so cool lookin!

I'd love to see that Halloween project Kory, I've got a double page waiting for me son where he is sleeping on the moon. I got the Graphic 45 stars paper from the Halloween line, Need to find a proper way to make a moon for him to sleep on.

Sassie, I had to add water to the Milled Lavender, it was a complete mess when I did! It was one big blob aswell and when I added water, it did smoothen up but it was just messy to do so rofl. It was the only jar that had this tho, all the other jars had smooth paint in it.

Now I know what Rock Candy is too, was wondering about that. I reckon the Rock Candy glitter is clear glitter?

I have the TH Antique Bronze too. I think. And I didn't get good results either.

I wanted big cracks so I slapped it on pretty thickly but I just got a few little ones around the edges. I can't remember what else I did now though, so maybe I ought to have another go.