How to Crackle Paint. Crackle painting is a technique used to give painted surfaces a worn and aged look. By applying a layer of glue or crackle medium. Why I Dont Use Chalk Paint. Im continually asked why I dont use Chalk Paint, so I thought Id just put all the info in a post. That way, when Im asked, I can just give people this link. First, let me clarify that Chalk Paint is not the same thing as chalkboard paint. Although Chalk Paint canbe used for making chalk boards, so the distinction gets a little fuzzy. Chalk Paint is a type of paint actually, its a trademarked brand of paint by Annie Sloan, but other companies have similar paints also that can be used on furniture and other items to create a chalky appearance. Its used for creating an aged appearance, and can be distressed easily. Its often used to create a Shabby Chic look. Chalkboard paint, on the other hand, is used for making chalkboards. Now let me be very clear here. I know that there are a lot of people who will read this post who are diehard fans of Chalk Paint. So please understand that Im in no way trying to change your mind about a product you love. Im not trying to convince you to stop using it. And Im not trying to convince others that they shouldnt try it. Im just explaining why I personally have chosen not to use it. Its a question I get asked over and over and over, so I wanted to answer it. So here are my reasons 1. The Price. Chalk Paint costs around 4. Add to that the price of the wax almost 3. Ultimate Waxing Brush another 3. I/41KTNgT4TSL.jpg' alt='How To Use Crackle Paint Medium' title='How To Use Crackle Paint Medium' />But it lasts so long people say. That may be true, but so does my latex paint, and its a heck of a lot cheaper. With one quart of latex paint, I painted three coats of paint on my credenzaand two coats of paint on my console tableand I still have about 13 of the can left. That can of paint only cost me 1. I didnt have to wax it when I was finished. I also didnt have to use any special brush. One 1. Purdy brush, if taken care of, will last for years and years and years. The finish. I dont really know how to put this delicately, so Ill just say it. I dont like the finish you get with Chalk Paint. ABOUT US Oyster Paper Crafts is a rapidly growing internet retail show company based in the Garden of England, Kent. We are a very friendly company who enjoy. Kroma Crackle is a versatile, professional quality acrylic medium suitable for all kinds of fine art applications and craft projects. I had seen pieces painted with Chalk Paint online for probably a full year before I ever saw any of them in person. Online, they looked amazing. So when I finally did see some of these pieces in person, I couldnt believe that this was the paint that people were raving about. Now granted, it could have just been the specific technique of the person who painted that specific furniture, but lets just say that she took the whole no prep needed and just start painting thing to heart. Now Ill say that it could just be a matter of personal taste as well. One quality that people are always praising about Chalk Paint is, Its so easy to distress Well, Im personally completely over the whole distressed Shabby Chic look. Sometimes I wonder what Rachel Ashwell thinks of some of the things being called Shabby Chic these days. A little tinybit of distressing is fine for me and I do mean tinyas in, just on the very raised parts where natural wear would occur, and even then, just a very small amount of distressing, and this is a look I can very easily achieve with latex paint. But even with that, I dont want every piece of furniture in my house being distressed. But this look that some people try to achieve, where it looks like the new, freshly painted piece of furniture has then been chained to the back of a pickup and dragged over gravel and cement to give it character just baffles me. Because I dont want to hurt anyones feelings, I wont show an example from a blogger. But I did find this probably mass produced piece on Overstock to illustrate the trend that makes me say, What theThere is simply nothing beautiful about that to me. Now again, please understand that if you find that to be beautiful, thats fantastic  We all have our own personal taste. This is not my taste at all. So if this is your taste, Im in now way trying to make fun of you, or say that you shouldnt like it. But if Im going to go to the trouble of sanding a piece of furniture and painting it, I want the finish to be as close to pristine as possible. And I get that by sanding, priming, sanding, and the painting with latex or oil based paint with paint conditioner added. And speaking of sanding3. The No Prep Needed claim. A 1 minute and 55 second crafting tutorial video demonstrating how to use the Martha Stewart Crafts Paint Crackle Effect for your next craft. This crafting. Primer, a type of paint specifically designed for use under latex or oil paints, helps provide better adherence and improved coverage. Primer is available in both. Crackle Paint, and Distress your furniture with Elmers glue and CeCe Caldwell paintThis is probably the biggest reason Ive actually grown to dislike Chalk Paint. Any time I paint a piece of furniture and show it on my blog andor Facebook page, I get a whole slew of people asking, Why didnt you use Chalk Paint  You dont have to sand or primeQuite honestly, the no sanding thing doesnt interest me in the least. If Im going to take an old, worn piece of furniture and paint it to put in my house, it will, without a doubt, be sanded first Sanding a piece of furniture or cabinets before painting is about much more than just giving that piece of furniture tooth so that the paint will stick. Its also about evening out surfaces, removing scratches, dings, and even built up dirt or cleaning products. Sanding also helps to minimize wood grain This is especially important with wood like old oak, where the wood grain tends to become more pronounced over time. Sanding also reveals areas where I might need to add some caulk or wood filler to get a smooth painted surface. The bottom line is that I enjoy the prep work and the sanding, because I now that my finished product will only be as good as the prep work I put into it. And priming is part of this process for me. I LOVE my Zinsser Cover Stain oil based primer because once its dry, I sand it with super fine sandpaper to make it as smooth as possible a process I actually love doing. And painting over a super smooth surface like that using paint with paint conditioner I use Floetrol for latex and Penetrol for oil based paints added will ensure that I get the best possible outcome as close to a sprayed finish as possible using a paint brush. I just simply would never, ever skip these steps just to save a few hours of time. But for the record, Chalk Paint isnt always no prep. It doesnt require primer in order to stick, but very often it does require a coat or two of shellac first, or youll get water stains or red stain bleeding through your finish. You can visit The Purple Painted Lady to learn more about when you should prep your piece with shellac before painting with Chalk Paint. The Game West Coast Customs. The very dark original stain on my credenza would have required the use of shellac before painting had I been using Chalk PaintUsing shellac before painting is called prep work. And if Im going to have to do prep work, Id much rather use products that are tried and true for me, and end up with a finish that I know Ill love. Craft Paint Finding the Right Type Create. For. Less. Craft Paints can be acrylic or enamel some can be washed off of clothing and skin, and others are very permanent. They can be water or oil based. Oil based paints tend to be thicker and more permanent, while water based paints can be washed more easily and can be diluted for a thinner coat. Acrylic vs. Enamel Craft Paint. Acrylic Paint. Acrylic paintis a pigment mixed with an acrylic polymer. You can paint with an acrylic paint directly out of the tube for an opaque effect, or you can dilute the paint by mixing it with water to create a lighter wash of color. Acrylic paint is created with an emusion of water, so it is considered a water based paint, rather than an oil based paint. This paint dries very quickly, and can be washed off with water. Glass, fabric, and homegarden projects require a special acrylic paint. Acrylic paint can be bought in tubes, pots, or jugs. This paint is perfect for posters, signs, kids art, stamping, wooden crafts, Styrofoam crafts, and more. Enamel Paint. Enamel Paint is mostly used on furniture and other hard surfaces. It can be water or oil based and is much more permanent than acrylic paint. It takes around 2. It is not ideal for blending colors or using on softer surfaces made from fibers. Use enamel paint on glass, metal, tiles, or ceramics. Craft Paint Varieties. Craft Paint Lines. In search of the perfect palette of paint colors Whether you are tole painting, or making a portrait, here are some paint lines with a extensive color selection to choose from. Paint Sets. Many acrylic paints are packaged with a variety of colors in a paint set. Rather than buying colors individually, youll have all of the paint you need available. Poster Paint. Use this paint for signs, finger painting, or a variety of kids crafts. Intended up be used on paper. Easy to wash this paint off of hands and most fabrics. Glitter Paint. Many acrylic paints have the addition of glitter for an added sparkle. Some glitter paints have a clear base coat, while others have a base to match the color of the glitter. For an opaque glitter coverage, use multiple thin coats of glitter. Metallic Paint. Resembling the shiny pearlescent finish of metal, these acrylic paints can give you the look of gold or silver accents inexpensively. Chalkboard Paint. Use chalkboard paint on a wall, board, box, or frame to create a finish that can be written on and erased with a piece of chalk. Generally available in black or medium green colors, but some lines are introducing chalkboard paint in bright and kid friendly colors as well. Dimensional or Puffy Paint. This acrylic paint is usually squeezed from a tube, and is easy to write words or draw pictures onto clothing, felt, fabric, or any thick material. Glow in the Dark Paint. This paint will illuminate at night or in a dark room. Great for Halloween costumes, safety items, or just fun designs Stains. Enhance the look of wood by painting it with a stain. This semi opaque paint will deepen the color of the wood, but still allow the grain to show through. Generally only available in the colors of wood, such as oak, cherry, walnut, maple, etc. Patio Paint. Specially forumated weatherproof paint, that you can use to spruce up terra cotta pots, lawn ornaments, rocks, bricks, and a variety of other surfaces. Very durable, and will last under all kinds of weather conditions. Fabric Paint. Can be used to paint a design on fabric or clothing. It can be washed, but take care to read the washing and drying instructions on the specific paint you use. Some fabric paints need to be heat set with an iron, but others can air dry. To learn more about fabric paint, visit the fabric paint buying guide. Stencil Paint. Extra thick paint that is designed to be used with stencils, and will not bleed around the edges of the design. Generally, stencil paint will work on a variety of surfaces, including wood or plaster. Enamel Paint. Can be used on smooth surfaces that regular acrylic paints have trouble adhering to such as wood, glass, and metals. Mediums. Add a specially formulated medium to a regular craft paint to change the appearance or consistency of the paint. It can be used to antique, frost, or give the paint a matte effect. Spray Paint. A permanent enamel paint that is ideal for painting furniture. It comes in an aerosol can and coats an object with an even and thin coat. It is best for painting items with corners and crevices that cannot be easily painted with a brush. Face Paint. A water based paint that sits on top of the skin instead of soaking in. It easily and gently washes off skin, but should be used with caution on clothing. It is a great touch for Halloween costumes and birthday parties. Crackle Finish. A texturizer that is painted on top of a color layer that breaks apart when dry, creating an aged crackle effect. Crackle finishes only work with a base coat of paint underneath. Soy Paint. A natural and eco friendly paint option made from plant based soy ester resin. Soy paint uses less water than traditional acrylic paint, and is thicker and less likely to drip. Window Frosting. Creates ice and snow patterns on windows, mirrors, and other glass surfaces. Overdrive Magazine Pdf on this page. It is mainly used for holiday and winter decoration. Ideas and Inspiration with Craft Paint. Mix an acryllic paint with resin to form a bubbly effect. Make sure to wear a mask and work in a well venillated area when resin painting. Paint rocks with glow in the dark paint and line your garden path for extra illumination at night. They will charge with sunlight throughout the day. Paint the top of an old desk with chalkboard paint for a homework station. Use a medium to antique painted furniture. Spray Paint random toys and objects bright colors for fun and unique decor. Projects Using Craft Paint. Sandy Seashore Painting Valentine Painted Birds. Painted Bear. Painted Pine Cones. Puffy Paint Window Clings Check out the Think Crafts blog for more projects that use craft paint.