How to Create the Perfect Crackle Glaze Finish

How to Decoupage and use a Craquelure Finish. -A two-part crackle glaze that imitates old cracked varnish. When dry, the craquelure glaze on your decoupage item can be improved by adding a dark wax.

YOU WILL NEED

• A surface to decorate.

• Fine sandpaper

• Water based paint

• Crackle Glaze varnish

• Small rollers and brushes

• Cleaning cloth

• Gift Wrap Paper

• Glue

• White glue

• Cutting instruments

• Embellishing wax

How To

Clean the surface with garnet paper and apply a water based paint. Mix up a small amount of wallpaper paste and cut out your paper designs. Stick paper cut-outs onto your prepared item press firmly, eliminating bubbles and any excess with a damp cloth or roller.

Paint on the base coat of the crackle glaze. Leave to dry and then paint another coat.

Add second layer of varnish with soft paintbrush Wait until the varnish is totally dry. Rub dark wax into the surface of the cracks. Rub away the excess wax with kitchen paper.

Cover the inside, non decorated parts of your item with paint. Seal the insides with a light topcoat of clear Varnish.

Once the PVA glue is dry, you can apply a coat of clear furniture wax to the surface. Lightly burnish the waxed surface with mutton cloth.

For the final touch, apply gilt cream to rims and edges.

Now you can show your finished article to your friends and start finding new items to decoupage and decorate. Make more decorative items and presents for friends and family using your new-found skills!.

Gill Fothergill has been creating and writing about decoupage techniques and resources since 1995. To find out more visit her website
http://www.decoupagepapers.co.uk

Decopatch on Furniture: Perfect For A Bit of Flair

Learning to Decopatch on furniture is a great way to be able to successfully transform any piece of furniture into a work of art. It doesn't matter how beat up a table, chair, or book shelf is. Covering furniture with Decopatch can turn even the shabbiest furnishing into a magnificent new creation.

The first step involved with adding this to furniture is to first find the pieces of furniture that will be covered with the paper. There can even be a variety of objects covered to create a matching set out of a completely mismatched collection of furnishings. After each piece has been chosen, it's time to pick out the paper to be used for covering these items.

A variety of papers can be used, but special paper used specifically for this is available at many craft stores. This is a fairly thick paper that doesn't tear easily. The patterns and colors Decopatch paper comes in are very extensive. It's best to get a variety that complement one another, in order to be able to combine them without worrying if they go well together or not.

Paper being used needs to be torn into small pieces. The size of the paper will depend on the furniture piece to be covered. For instance, a small nightstand will look better covered in paper that is torn smaller than pieces being used on a large bookshelf. Before each piece of paper is laid upon the item to be covered, a layer of glue needs to be brushed on the item.

Using glue that is made for this project works is best, since it is made to dry clear and won't cloud the overall appearance of the Decopatch project. Once the glue has been brushed on, just where the piece of paper is going to be placed, the paper can then be applied. Another coat of glue should be brushed over each piece of paper as it is applied as well.

When the entire piece of furniture has been covered in Decopatch, it should be allowed to dry. After it is completely dry, all surfaces should be coated with a varnish to seal and protect the Decopatch. This step will then complete this on furniture project. The varnish needs to be applied in thin coats with an hour drying time in between. It's better to apply many thin layers of varnish, instead of on thick layer.

Katia is the author of a 10-page guide, "30 FAQ's to Help You Master the Art of Decopatch". For your complimentary copy, visit http://www.paper2play.com - a website that specializes in provided craft related tips, advices and resources to unlock your creativity with decoupage supplies!

4 Craft and Art Projects Perfect For Teens

Creative teens need projects that let them express themselves and to develop their skills. The best art and crafts projects use materials that aren't hard to find or expensive, so if you make a few mistakes you won't be wasting expensive and rare supplies. With a little practice and a good eye, teens can turn their crafts into a small side income during summer break by selling them at flea markets or to friends and family members.

1. Beaded Jewelry

While other types of forged or cast jewelry is too complicated for most teens, beaded jewelry is an easy but totally flexible craft project. With a small supply of beads, a few types of bead wire and jewelry string and some findings like clasps, a creative teen can make bracelets, necklaces and even beaded earrings. Arranging bead combinations allows for plenty of creative expression. For more crafting fun, make pendants from air dry paper clay or beads from rolled up newspaper. Both can be painted with acrylic paint and sealed for durable handmade jewelry components.

2. Decoupage

Decoupaging requires only a glue-like decoupage sealer and a stack of old magazines or scrapbook paper. Teens cut out their favorite pictures or decorative papers, then glue them onto old furniture, small paper mache boxes and other decorative items. The sealer also works as a top coat to make the paper finish resistant to spills. Decoupaging also involves creating pleasing collages of different images or patterns, teaching teens important art concepts like color matching. Decoupage sealers work on a wide variety of surfaces including glass, wood and cardboard.

3. Origami and Papercrafts

Folding beautiful paper into the shape of a swan, goldfish or thousands of other designs gives mathematically inclined teens a creative outlet. Basic practice requires just an origami book or website and a stack of squares cut from plain copy paper. Once the teen knows a few origami patterns very well, a pack of high quality origami papers makes a great gift. Many modern paper crafts involve cutting and gluing instead of just folding, but they allow teens to create large scale models of their favorite video game characters, robots or dinosaurs.

4. Candle Making

For teenagers who want to earn extra money for summer fun, candle making is a great craft to learn. Young teens can use no-melt candle materials, while older teens can handle melting and pouring hot wax without injuring themselves. A wide range of scent and color options allows for artistic development, and handmade candles make great gifts for all family members. This craft does require the purchase of more equipment and supplies than other projects, including molds, candle wax and additives to change the color and scent.

Megan Perry is a writer who enjoys sharing her knowledge and advice with readers. For more on arts and crafts, The Alternative Consumer offers readers tips for making their own arts and crafts supplies.