Crackle paint causing me pains

All right, so I'm a frugal shopper, and heard about the crackle technique of using elmer's glue instead of crackle paint. It didn't work for me, so I bought some crackle paint (just the clear stuff to put over any other paint). It didn't work for me either!

Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong? I want some pink to show through black paint. So, I painted my chipboard pink, then black, then put the crackle over the black. Is there a different sequence I should do?

I have only used crackle medium on painted porcelain (Christmas decorations years ago).

1 - black (or brown - dark colour)
2 - crackle medium
3 - I think you paint it while it is somewhat tacky but read the manufacturer's instructions. Paint your pink. Then the crackle will happen and the black will appear in the cracks.

But I did this something like 15 years ago and the mind isn't what it used to be

what type of paint did you use? I have found that the thicker, scrapbooking paints do not work with the crackle medium.

The directions on my crackle say, undercoat, crackle medium, then the top coat. Fully dry base coat. One medium coat of the crackle, let dry 15 minutes, then the top coat.

Lovely thing about paint is you can just start over...paint the pink and try again.

put your crackle over the pink, wait about 15 minutes and then do your black. It's supposed to be slightly tacky when the top color goes on. That way when it dries, it shrinks, thus letting the pink show through the cracks. It took me a few tries till I got it right too.

Thanks everyone. The directions on the crackle medium I bought just says to paint over a dry surface, let dry 2-4 hours! I'm using acrylic paint... the black is a little thick, but I will try again with the pink, then crackle, then black when that's still tacky.

Hi! Just wondering if you tried this again like you were going to and if so ... if it worked for you or not. :-)

I love the image I got in my head when you described this and I really want to try it but have to wait till I get some of the crackle stuff and then something to put the paint on. LOL

Still -- thought I'd ask so that if it didn't work out, I'd save my time and money.

Yes, I tried it again, but you know, it still didn't give me the large cracks like I wanted. You can barely see the pink peeking through the tiny cracks... so... I'll still use it again because it's kind of neat, but it wasn't exactly what I had in mind (how it turned out when I used it anyway). Good luck if you decide to try it!

There are a couple of different crackle mediums available: 1 is a 3 step process where you paint in one color, apply medium and paint in another color over top. This one shows more of the bottom color through the top color IMO.
Here is an example of that - brown paint/crackle medium/pink paint.
crackle hearts By Here Kitty
And I could have gotten bigger cracks had I applied the medium in a thicker coat.


The 2nd is a "one step crackle" where you apply the crackle over a layer of paint and it makes cracks in the paint. The cracks are more subtle.

what about using the ranger crackle medium? I just bought some today- don't know how well it does but I think it's more of a crackled glass type of look? I want to play with it a bit this weekend.

Tiffany, let me know how it turns out for you ... k?

And, what type of this crackle medium are you all talking about?

Is it the kind that is in the cheap paints section in like Walmart [you know, the paints in the little bottles?]

I've seen some type of that there before a long time ago [atleast I think that's what it was.]

Maybe brands are like Apple Barrel and there's another one that I can't think of right now. My Walmart only carries a few colors of the paint anymore and none of the special paints like they used to.

At one time, they had a glossy paint that you could put over things and make it look wet [almost like Diamond Glaze] but again, if they still have it, my local store doesn't carry it anymore.

Looks like I'll have to get a list made for when I go up to Erie on May 3rd ... no idea how long after that until I'm able to see a Michaels, Joann Fabrics or an AC Moore again. :-(

I don't have a car and have to take neighbor in her car up to hospital on May 3rd so I'm gonna make best use of the trip and make my rounds [first time in like 4 years!]

I can't wait!

This is totally awesome the way you did this! What exact crackle product did ya use?

• dee.jaye Said:

Thanks
I used FolkArt Crackle Medium by Plaid. DecoArt makes the One Step Crackle that I also talked about. I got them at Hobby Lobby.

• dee.jaye Said:

the stuff from Ranger- It's actually called Crackle Accents.

Thank you both ... my list is getting a bit bigger. LOL