Distress Crackle Paint - An incredibly versatile, easy and fun product developed by Tim Holtz and Ranger Industries. This medium produces decades of distress in a simple, one-step paint. Crazing occurs as the paint dries, and each container has a convenient, built-in applicator brush. The colors coordinate with Distress Inks too. Made in the USA.
Once the crackles start to appear by air drying, one can use a heat tool to speed the crazing process along. It is my experience the crazing process is best left to air drying, but if you're in a pinch, a heat tool can save the day...once the crazing process has started naturally (via air drying).
A thick layer of Distress Crackle Paint will produce the look above - large crazing/cracks and will take longer to dry.
A thin layer of Distress Crackle Paint will produce the look below - finer, more detailed crazing and will dry rapidly. Dry time for the bird below is roughly 20 minutes - humidity, temperature, and so forth will affect dry time.
The crazing can be emphasized by applying Distress Inks using an Ink Blending Tool to the dried crazing, and burnishing the ink into the cracks. This eliminates worrying about what color your project base is prior to beginning your project - you can simply change it with Distress Inks and a Blending Tool. Yeah baybee!
For the series of projects in this post, I die-cut four Nested Birds using Nestabilies Dies and Grungepaper. Grungepaper is thinner than Grungeboard, and like Grungeboard, Grungepaper will not tear, disintegrate or become flimsy like chipboard when it becomes wet from water or paint.
If storing Distress Crackle Paint in a drawer where only the black tops are visible, I created this template - just punch out the printed circles using a 1-1/4" circle punch, dab a dot of the product in the center, allow to dry then adhere to each appropriate lid.
Grungepaper will curl slightly after the Crackle Paint dries, so to train the Grungepaper flat I I placed the dried Crackle Birds under a heavy book for an hour or so.
Dressed and decorated birds. Ribbon snippets and buttons are held in place with Glossy Accents. A drop of Glossy Accents was used to secure the eyes and bow - to prevent it from being untied by little fingers - as well. Faceted bling made excellent eyes for these projects.
Each card base features a pierced portion. The green crackle bird card uses this template.
The edges of the crackle birds were inked with Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress Inks using an Ink Blending Tool. Try stitching on ribbon for wings if you don't want to use buttons. Grungepaper and a sewing machine are a match in heaven!
Tattered Rose Crackle Paint - this is going to be a welcome baby card! The birds can be adhered using foam dimensionals, Glue Dots or any similar product.
This cutie is my favorite. Try Crackle Paint with your next project!!
A quick note about Distress Crackle Paint:
This is a water-based product. If you experience upon opening the product or over time the product has become thick, simply add a teaspoon of water at a time and shake, until the desired thickness is achieved. If product is too thick try incorporating water with a wooden popsicle stick or similar tool, then re-capping and shaking well.
