Shabby Bird House for Helmar with Crackle Paint Tutorial

Hi, it's Tracey here to share a shabby bird house I decorated featuring a crackle paint technique using Helmar Craft & Hobby PVA Glue. You might be surprised that I haven't used paper on this project! I've gone back to my roots as a crafter. I've been wanting to try this technique out for some time now and am delighted with the results. Of course this technique would work on chipboard or heavy weight paper as well.

Shabby Bird House

Tips and Techniqes

First I painted and crackled the house. Instructions are included below in my tutorial.

Next, I adhered tree bark to the roof using Helmar 450 Quick dry Adhesive. I cut it a little larger than needed, then trimmed after it was adhered to the roof. The bark came on a roll in the floral department of our craft store.

Finally, adhere Spanish moss and flowers around the base of the bird house, then a tiny bird on the perch using Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive.

Helmar Craft & Hobby PVA Glue Crackle Paint Tutorial

Supplies

Helmar Craft & Hobby PVA Glue

Two colors of contrasting craft paint

An object to paint

Heat Tool

Step 1

Paint your object with a base color. I've cut pieces of chipboard to demonstrate. The chipboard only required one coat of paint to cover, but the wood bird house needed two coats to cover since it had not been primed. You can paint the base coat on the entire project before beginning the crackle process.

Step 2

Brush a medium layer of Helmar Craft & Hobby PVA Glue across the painted area. Work in small areas at a time. I worked with one wall of the bird house at a time, then went back and crackled the roof and base details a bit at a time. 

I kept all my brush strokes going in the same direction resulting in a linear crackle pattern. If you swirl on the glue, it would change the pattern of the top coat crackle.

Step 3

Allow the glue to dry a little. It should still be white, but should lose the shiny, wet look. You can let it sit about 8 to 10 minutes, or use your heat tool briefly. If using a heat tool, heat just until the glue loses it's shine.

Brush a thin layer of contrasting color of paint across the tacky Helmar Craft & Hobby PVA Glue. Be careful not to brush over an area a second time as that portion will not crackle. It's OK if you don't get complete coverage as you are looking for a distressed crackled look. I brushed on the paint with strokes going in the same direction as the glue strokes.

Step 4

Allow to dry or speed up the drying process with a heat tool. The paint will crackle as it dries.

If you use a heat tool, keep it moving and don't put too close to the surface as this will cause the paint to bubble.

You can see where the paint is thinner, there is more of a crackle effect than where it went on thicker.After the paint is completely dry and set, you can sand the edges lightly to further distress if desired.

You could even paint projects like furniture with this technique if you finish with a coat or two of sealant.

Here's one more view from another angle.

Helmar Products

Craft & Hobby PVA Glue

450 Quick Dry Adhesive

Other Products

Unfinished Wood Birdhouse ~ JoAnn's

Darice ~ Nature's Friends - Mini Mushroom Bird

Spanish Moss ~ Stash (Floral dept. of craft store)

Home Inspirations ~ Bark Roll

Wild Orchid Crafts ~ 20mm Open Rosed - Ivory/Pale Pink

Wild Orchid Crafts ~ 10 mm Open Roses - White

Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Sweetheart Blossoms - White

Petaloo ~ Penny Lange Garden Collection - Forget Me Nots - Slate Blue

Rustoleum ~ American Accents Craft Enamel - Tranquil Blue Semi-gloss

Rustoleum ~ American Accents Craft Enamel - Heirloom White Satin

Thanks for stopping by today! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~