Slap some paint on that Potting Bench and call it done!

If you followed along in the last video you should have a finished Potting Bench all ready for some color and fun.

Heck, even if you didn't follow along, you can look at this latest video and see how to paint something and apply a quick and easy crackle finish without the expense of the "more costly" brand-name crackle mediums.

Here is the video on YouTube that shows how I applied three different layers of paint to the potting bench I made.

 

 

After watching the video, I think some of you may have been surprised that you could use regular ol' Elmer's School Glue as a crackle medium.  I was shocked the first time I found out and wish I had known sooner before spending a small fortune on a project buying the small bottles of the name brand crackle medium.

 

Here are some tips to help out should you decide to do this project.

 

*  Don't buy the fancy stuff, get the $1 bottle from the discount store.

 

*  When applying the glue, following the grain will give you cracks that run the grain of the wood

 

*  If you want small cracks and more of a crazing, apply the glue with a small brush in an "X" pattern.

 

*  DO NOT let your glue dry completely before putting on your top layer of paint. If you do, it will not crack.  The glue must still be sticky when you put on that next layer of paint.

 

*  The cracking shows up best if you use contrasting paint colors for base coat and top coat, but you can do some really pretty effects with tone-on-tone colors, especially if you do some antiquing like I did.

 

* Work on small sections at a time.  The total crackle process on this bench took me about 2 hours.

 

* Make sure that you let the top coat of paint dry for at least a few hours.  Even when you think it is dry, leave it alone.  The cracks will continue to happen as long as the glue under the paint is drying. I prefer letting it sit overnight befor doing anything else to it.

 

 

I hope you enjoyed this video and I hope you try this finish on something.  You can do some incredible effects.  Looking for something with an Asian flair? Perhaps a bit of Gold base coat under a black or red top coat.  Just saying.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks again for following along with me on this journey and like I always say...

 

Till later!