How to Crackle Paint

I always loved the sights, smells, and tastes from my mother’s herb garden as I grew up. My husband and I have a small backyard, but I thought I could have a small area designated as a start-up herb garden inspired by my mother’s. So my father came to visit to spread some of his gardening knowledge, and helped me start my herb garden. After everything was planted, I knew I had to add some character to the garden.

So, my husband and father helped me build some signs. We used a jig saw to cut scrap ply wood and stakes. We then secured the signs with pin nails.

I knew I wanted to add a distressed look to the signs. I thought the crackle effect would be perfect, and it would wear really well outside.

To get the crackle effect I used: base color (Sherwin-Williams exterior impatiens petal), Behr Premium Plus Crackle paint, flat paint (Rust-oleum Painter’s Touch exterior white flat paint), and a paintbrush.

The process to achieve the crackle look is very simple. You paint the base coat and wait until it is dry. Then you paint the Crackle coat and wait until it is dry (it will take about an hour to dry). Finally, you paint the top coat and watch as it transforms over the period of half an hour. I told you the process was extremely simple.

From here I used Sharpie gold and silver oil-based paint markers to add the names to the signs.

I know that this is not an herb. But I love tomatoes, and they grow so well in Texas.

And how could we not plant an orange pepper?

Have you ever applied the crackle effect?

Update: April 21, 2013

Warning: Ifyour dog is trained to retrieve, you may not want to place the signs around him/her. If your dog does fill the need to retrieve the signs, you may need to start back at step one, and find a better placement for your signs :).

Today, I walked out to find my signs retrieved and damaged next to the door. Then, I found Nessie feeling very guilty :).