How to Crackle Porcelain

Crackle porcelain is a faux painting style that creates a cracked, old, worn and distressed look to an object. The crackle porcelain paint technique can be applied to a porcelain vase or other item, as well as to walls, picture frames or furniture pieces. The effect is created by using a base coat of paint and applying a contrasting color of crackle paint over it to create a cracked look. The crackled porcelain technique is simple to apply to create a vintage look on any object.

Base coat paint
Contrasting crackle paint
Nylon paintbrush or paint roller
Foam paintbrush
Painter’s tape
Paint tray
Drop cloth
Water-based polyurethane finish
Clean cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Select a base coat and contrasting crackle paint color. The most typical combinations are white and green, dark pink and white, beige and brown, and cream and red.
- 2
  Place a drop cloth on the floor over the area where you plan to paint.
- 3
  Apply painter’s tape to tape off any area of the project you don’t wish to paint.
- 4
  Apply a base coat of paint using a nylon paintbrush or roller. After one hour, remove the painter’s tape and allow the base coat to dry for at least five hours or overnight.
- 5
  Reapply painter’s tape and use a foam brush to apply the contrasting crackle paint. Use small “X” strokes to apply the crackle coat, using a thick coat for a more pronounced crackled effect and a thin coat for thinner cracks. Allow the crackle paint to dry for 30 or 40 minutes.
- 6
  Stroke evenly with the foam brush to smooth the crackle paint. Remove the painter’s tape within an hour and allow the paint to dry for 24 hours.
- 7
  Reapply painter’s tape, if necessary. Apply a coat of water-based polyurethane finish to the project. Wipe off any excess polyurethane with a clean cloth. Remove the painter’s tape within an hour and allow the polyurethane to dry for 24 hours.

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Faux Finishing