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Question: Crackle medium questions!?
Lastnight I bought some crackle medium for some beads!. (Delta Ceramcoat? Crackle Medium) It didnt go so well, but I realize it was my 1st try!. I just had some questions!.
1!.When it says that the cracks will follow the brush strokes, is that the strokes from the crackle medium or the brush strokes from my top coat of paint!? I was using a fairly soft brush for the crackle so not many strokes off of that!. I do have harder brushes!.
2!. Can I put more than 1 layer of crackle!? Like paint, crackle, paint, crackle, paint and have it turn out with 2 crackle colors with a base coat underneath!?
3!.Can I wash off the beads that didnt turn out and redo them!? (bottle says washes off with soap and water, but I wasnt sure)
Does anyone have any tips or websites with good tutorials (pics preferred) on how to do this!? I went to Glass Attic (even though it confuses me) and I did find some information, but nothing that really helped!. (everything is so jumbled together there anyway)Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
1!. The cracks will follow the strokes of the top coat of paint!.
2!. You can use one layer on top of another (topcoated) layer, but it doesn't work all that well!.
3!. While still wet, soap & water works fine!. Once it's dry, you may be able to soak it off using hot tap water & detergent with a stiff brush (like a nail brush)!. You'll end up peeling all the layers off right down to the base coat!.
I don't think it will work directly on the beads without a base coat, but it won't take much time to find out! Same with fabric paint - it's a slightly different formulation, made to be more flexible and to shrink less as it dries!. It's the shrinking that causes the cracks!.
My personal experience:
- A thicker layer of crackle medium produces deeper, wider cracks that are farther apart, a thin coat makes small cracks close together!.
- Don't put a second layer of crackle medium directly over your first if you think it's too thin - it just doesn't work!. Better to wash it off & redo one coat!.
- Don't go over your brushstrokes on your top coat!. That somehow disturbs the medium beneath and results in no crackling at all!. Load your brush up and use one long stroke!. Begin your next stroke where the last one ended!.
- The instructions say wait at least 20 minutes before applying the top coat - if you wait even longer, the results are better!. I've left it for hours and that seems to work best!.
- Be sure to use a final varnish - it will keep it from wearing and peeling away from the bead!.
Have fun!Www@QuestionHome@Com