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Altered wooden Box....Birthday Box for ma wee Mamma and Crackle technique Tutorial

Altered wooden Box....Birthday Box for ma wee Mamma and Crackle technique Tutorial
From this....
To this.
This is a wee altered box I made for ma wee Mamma's birthday on the 13th there.  Now, I'm not completely happy with it.  Its ok, but it didn't quite turn out quite like I wanted.  I would have liked a better swirly bling which would start in the corner and go out to the middle but unfortunately I didn't have any so had to make do with what I had.

This is a bit of show and tell.  I am going to do a tutorial on how to do the crackle technique below.

I decorated the box with some lace that I fanned in the top corner and used one of my fluffy vintage handmade flowers as the centre piece flower and the just used some roses from Wild Orchid Crafts that came in a kit I bought.  SHOCK HORROR......there are flowers on a project that I didn't personally make!!  I had plenty of handmade flowers but not the right colour and as time was ticking on....I cheated and used the WOC flowers.

I made my own stick pins and used some bling in the opposite corner which wasn't quite right as I said but it was all I hand.  I adorned it with gold trim and an aqua blue lace.  Then inside, shown below, I simply used decorative paper and mod podged over it.  Then added some gathered lace and a cameo to the inside lid.  As a little opener, I used a navy button and the little bling part below it is off some jewellery I dismantled.

Now for the tutorial.......

WHAT YOU NEED
A plain box 
Acrylic paints and crackling medium (or pva glue)
You need a box to alter.  I usually take the hinges off so they dont get painted over then put back on afterwards.
Acrylic paints.  One for the base colour.....usually a darker colour.  And then your top coat colour....usually lighter.
Crackle medium OR Pva glue.
Paint brush
Heat tool (optional....usually for impatient people like me!!)
1. Mixed my colour for base

2. Paint over box and dry
Ok, so crackle paint is a fantastic technique to make your projects look weathered.  There are so many ways to achieve this look.  Tim Holtz has Crackle paints that already are acrylic paints with the crackle medium in it, so you dont have to use a separate crackle medium or pva glue.  You can use crackle medium like Im using or pva glue.  All give fantastic results.

You need to decide what colour you want your cracks to appear.  So whatever colour that is, will be your base colour.  I usually go for a darker colour as the base and then a lighter top colour. So I wanted my cracks to be blue with a cream top coat.

I mixed my colours to a blue I was happy with...see photo 1. I painted my box all over the outside with the blue and used my heat tool to dry it.  If you are a patient person, you can leave it to air dry.  To be honest, acrylic paint dries extremely quick, particularly on wood.  See photo 2.  You will see that the box isn't perfectly painted, there are bits that you can still see the wood underneath.  But this was fine for me. But if you want even coverage, you may wish to do another coat of paint.  But I wanted mine to look rustic.
3. Once undercoat is dry, paint medium on
Now for the fun part.  Once your undercoat is completely dry its time to paint on your crackle medium or pva.  The technique for both crackle medium and pva is pretty much the same.  So where I say crackle medium, if you are using pva glue just do the same technique.

I paint on a medium thickness and even coverage of the crackle medium over the box.  The thinner the layer, the thinner your cracks will appear. The thicker layer, the thicker cracks.  Now, depending on the way you paint it on will give you the direction of the cracks.  So if you paint the crackle medium on horizontally, you will have horizontal cracks on your wood.

You need to leave the crackle medium (or pva) to dry until its just tacky.  Depending on the amount you have on, this could be 10-30mins.  You can also speed this process up by using your heat too.  BUT dont go too close as you can bubble the medium and paint.  You may look at your project and think it looks a bit patchy as it dries.....don't panic, this is normal. See photo 3.
Excuse the messy desk!

The cracks appear whilst drying

Close up
When your medium (pva) is tacky, its time to put your top coat colour on.  I paint on an even coverage (not too thick, but not too thin either!) and I immediately start to see the cracks appear.  Allow to dry naturally or dry with your heat tool.  You can then leave it like this or if you want to distress it more, you can use sand paper on the edges and Tim Holtz distress inks too.  You can also protect the surface by putting a coat of mod podge over it once its dry.

Here's my completed box.










As I said, I'm not completely satisfied or happy with it but then Im my own worst critic.  And ma wee Mamma loved it, and I may be 31 but she still told me off for being so hard on myself!  My Mammy scolded me on her birthday!!!  

Any comments or questions you are are always greatly received.  

Toodles Noodles....Loops.  xx

Would you like to buy me a coffee which helps me maintain this blog so I can make bigger and better content, simply click on the image or copy the link below.  No pressure at all, its just if you want to.  Cheers big ears!

Comments

  1. Hi Craftyloops thanks so much for your kind words on my card you left me wow wow and wow again your box is just stunning!!!! I love crackle paint just getting into using it gives a lovely effect to items. hugs from Diva

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  2. Hi Lee! The books looks fan in and out! You have talent to writing tutorials I must admit! Thanks, honey!

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  3. wow and wow again a stunning box, I have tried this a couple of times but I cant get my cracks as big as these, would I be using too much or too little crackle, Thanks for the tut must try the pva.
    Chris x

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  4. Lee this is stunning, thank you so much for the tutorial I have never used crackle painting but perhaps now I will give it a go. Love Alison

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  5. Absolutely gorgeous Lee,love it.
    Wendy xx

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  6. This is stunning Lee. Absolutely gorgeous x

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  7. Hi Lee..This is beautiful.
    Becky x

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  8. Hi lee.Love your Tutorials so easy to follow,but could you make your font slightly bigger pleeese lol,ta hun.Your box is soooo Beautiful bet she loved it.You are sooo talented.xx

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  9. this is stunning lee.really beautiful and elegant and another fabulous tutorial :D

    xx coops xx

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  10. oh Lee... this is extremely b'ful box... Lovly vintage look... Stick pins and the cracle painting has come out so welll...
    The tutorial is clear... hats off to u!

    Hugs,
    Priya...

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  11. Lee, you clever girl, this is absolutely amazing. I love the crackling and beautiful embellies. Your mum will treasure it. Another great tut hun. Really easy to follow. Been button hunting this afternoon on ebay. :o)

    Donna x

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  12. Hi Lee this is awesome love all the detail and the inside isamazing those pins and I cant see how it could have been better. Stunning

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  13. This is stunning lee! Thanks for the tut! I will be checking out the flower ones now! hugs Rebekah xx

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  14. WOW this box is absolutely fantastic! xxx

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  15. yes Lee, you're definitely being too hardx on yourself - this is stunning and you should be very proud of it - there, I'm scolding you too :)
    Debz
    xx

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  16. thanks for your nice blog!! I am really enjoyed with blog. when I have seen I did not want to closed so many many thank you all.

    laxmi prasad shahi
    kathamndu,Nepal.

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  17. You have such beautiful work here, and I love all your flower tutorial, thanks for sharing your talent!

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  18. Hi Lee,
    This is gorgeous I love it and yet another fabulous tutorial....Your work is absolutely fabulous,I love all of it...
    Mandy x

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  19. Oh she is going to love that! It is gorgeous! Kim

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  20. OMGoodness!!! Your altered box turned out fabulous! I purchased one at a thrift store and still waiting to be altered. :) I just love the metal embellishments.

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  21. Hi!
    STUNNING CREATIONS!

    Hugs, Gry

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  22. I thinks it turned out beautifully!!!! It has the vintage look which I love!!!! You did an awesome job on this!!!! I just learned that I was not your follower but I am now!!!!!!!

    Hugs Linda

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  23. Oh wow hun it's beautiful, no wonder your mum loved it, fab tutorial too
    I think we are all our own worse critic
    hugs Mandy xx

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  24. Hello Lee
    This is Stunning, Its Perfect don't know what you were worried about,your mum loved it.
    Love everything about it,
    Brilliant
    Bernice

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  25. Beautiful box - thanks for the crackle technique tutorial - I have a name plaque that I keep meaning to give this treatment to - now I know how to go about it
    Linda

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  26. stunning box,bet your mum loved it.thanks for the tutorial fab as always. sue xx

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  27. STUNNING!!!
    Where did you get the plain box from?
    i'd love to have a go at something like this but think i'll have to apply to the UN to extend the number of hours in a day first!!! LOL!!
    kathleen mc x

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  28. wow.......how stunning is this! Great turorial sweetie, you are soooo talented! xx

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  29. I love it, your work is always an inspiration xx

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  30. Hi Lee,

    This is fantastic and the colours are gorgeous.

    Tracy xx

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  31. Stunning box. Fab tutorial. Must try this x

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  32. its stunning lee and a fab tutorial,x

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  33. Absolutely gorgeous! Lovely clear photographs and fab tutorial! x

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  34. This is really gorgeous!! The beaded trim around the bottom is the perfect finishing touch, Ruth x

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  35. Lee, its stunning and has given me an idea for my mum's birthday next weekend!

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  36. wow, Lee this box looks stunning. well done you xxx

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  37. wow, this is stunning, what a beautiful gift x

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  38. Wow this is just beautiful, I want one! LOl. Really elegant and fab tutorial too, Karenxx

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  39. Who needs to make cards when you are super talented enough to make stunning boxes like this, omg Lee this is a beautiful work of art, I really love it. Can I be your Mamma? I want one. hugs Teresa xx

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  40. oh wow how super is that little box ...I want one toooo ... you are very clever and thank you for showing us the step by step instructions ... you make it look so easy ... happy crafting and love sandy xx

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  41. This is absolutely beautiful Lee. I love the colours you have chosen and what a great tutorial...I think I might just have to give this a go.
    Debbie x

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  42. Lee, this is absolutely gorgeous, and the colour is beautiful. The crackle effect looks amazing, and the beads, well OMG the whole box is stunning. I would love to be able to make something likr this. xx

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  43. Goodness...this is really stunning!! xx Jenny xx

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  44. wow wow wow Lee I bet your Mum loved this to bits...that trim on the bottom of your lush box is to die for
    Mina xxx

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  45. Oh wow!!!! This gift your made came out GORGEOUS!!!!!!! I love the crackle effect you got, and the blue/white is a pretty contrast! Great job on the tutorial, so easy to follow and understand!

    Hope you have an awesome weekend Lee!

    Gabi xx

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  46. I agree with your Mom, you're too hard on yourself...this box is gorgeous! You got a great crackle effect and all the pretty accents look amazing! Awesome work!

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  47. Hi Lee
    A stunning and gorgeous box a fab tutorial and thankyou for all of your lovely comments on my blog and have a lovely weekend
    Hugs Dianne xx :)

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  48. still loving your box ... love your blog tooooo ... just doing a bit of blog hopping ... happy crafting and love sandy xx

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  49. WOW LEE!!! what a stunning box, love the corsage and it is so beautiful inside and out, no wonder your mammy loved it, Fi x

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  50. Stunning box and I sure you mum will love it.
    Maureen........x

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  51. Wow what a fab box. It looks gorgeous inside and out. I haven't tried this technique yet but you make it look so easy. Debs xx

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  52. Just love that cameo inside - the finishing touch!

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  53. Lee totally brill!!!! Hugs Sandi xx

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  54. Hi Lee,
    just popping by to say hi.....
    Mandy x

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  55. Lovely box, but I have to admit, I can't keep up with your tutorials now, they come thick & fast! You are a very talented crafter. Jx

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  56. It's absolutely beautiful, I bet your mum was made up. Thanks for the tutorial too, might have a go at this myself xx

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  57. OH MY WORD girl!!! This is such a masterpiece - what a sweet gift for your sweet mum! I love all the techniques that you used in this amazing project!!! I love the textures and colors! Gorgeous girl!!!
    Big hugs,
    Sankari :)

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Helloooooo! Anybody out there??!! Hey....there you are! Thanks for leaving a comment and stopping by my Blog. Lee x