Bits & Bobs

Is it me or is it flipping cold today? Guess I have been used to the good weather we have been experiencing lately and it’s a bit of a shock to the system!

Anyway thought I would quickly share with you what I have been up to the past couple of days. First up is Tim Holtz Distress Crackle paints, I was lucky enough to be sent a few samples from PI to play with and I know many of you have been using them for a while now but I wanted to show you my way. 
I was a bit wary as I have used many crackle paints and not all of them do what they say on the tin!
The first experiment was On a Decopatch Papier Mache box.

Click Pictures For a Larger View

I was really happy with the result and this is how I used it.
I first base coated with black acrylic paint…Americana of course! :) for two reasons, the first because black was the colour I wanted to show through the cracks and secondly I have always found crackle paints work better on sealed surfaces. The brush attached to the lid of the Weathered Wood crackle paint I found far too floppy as I wanted an even surface to stamp on so I used a regular 1/2 inch square brush, this made it much easier to get an even thickness. As soon as the cracks started to appear I blasted it with the heat gun to finish the process…so far so good, nice even cracks with the black showing through and a nice smoothish (It’s a new word…honest) surface. I then dry brushed with a little Americana Light Buttermilk and Burnt orange
Here is a close up of the crackle paint


I also tried this straight onto cardstock, it worked ok, the cracks were not as even and when I put it through the Andy test…(bending and scratching) the crackle paint started to come away so the next piece of cardstock I coated with Ranger Matte Glue & Seal first, this worked brilliantly!
I have to say I love this stuff..I have read that there have been issues with it drying up but I think Ranger have sorted that problem so its all good!

Ok next up is a wooden box I got from the Craft Barn, you can view it here.
This time gesso is the order of the day!


I have kept this box simples, I stamped into gesso and painted with Americana acrylic paint, another technique I will be demonstrating at the Craft barn extravaganza.
Finally a little bit of Tile Art…I love painting with acrylic paint on ceramic bisque, the two go together perfectly…if you have not tried it yet you really should give it a go!
This tile was decorated using Gesso, Americana acrylic paint, Alcohol Inks, Stazon White and Archival ink.


And this one for all the Rivet & Rust lovers out there! Acrylic, Distress crackle, Distress ink and Bits & Bobs!




You can get your tiles here!

Have a great day,

Andy