Monday, August 29, 2011

Crackle bookshelves

I got some unpainted McKenzie bookcases, and decided to use some crackle glaze on them. The result is my favorite effect by far.






17 comments:

  1. How did you get the rainbow effect under the crackle? Was it just multiple colors put on willy-nilly or was there some other method that you used? It looks fantastic!

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  2. Yes, the rainbow effect was the paint dabbed on willy-nilly, then the crackle glaze, and then the black. :)

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  3. It looks amazing and I can't wait to try this on something when my husband and I move into a new house. Thanks so much for this great inspiration!

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  4. That looks really neat! I want to do this to my bookshelves, I was wondering what type of paint you used for the colors?

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    1. Thanks! I used flat indoor Valspar paint (color) for the undercoat, then Valspar crackle glaze, and then put more flat Valspar paint (black) on top of that. The glaze makes the top layer crackle. After that I put on some satin gloss to protect it.

      While most of these pieces are used with Valspar paint, I recommend the Royal paint brand from Ace. It seems to work better with the Valspar crackle glaze, because it's thicker, and therefore makes for more impressive cracks.

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    2. Someone asked a month ago if you would be more specific and say step by step how to do this, i don't see any reply back, i like the red and black effect , care to share

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  5. LOVE your ideas! I'm curious if you use the same satin gloss on the outside as you do for the inside? I'm afraid of scuffing/scraping the paint off with a piece of furniture so functional, such as bookcases, but there are so many different protective finishes I'm not sure what to try. Thanks :)

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    1. Yes, I pretty much gloss every surface except what touches the ground. Note: you need to let the gloss dry for about 4 days after applying it, because it stays soft and scuff-able for a bit. You can ask a hardware employee what gloss works best with what paint, but I use Minwax Polycrylic. :)

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  6. what did you use/do for the rainbow shelves? i love the idea!

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  7. I'm new at painting furniture - please pardon my ignorance. How did you colour the shelves inside the bookcase? Will it also work on bookshelves from ikea such as the Billy bookcases? By the way, a most fabulous site. Please keep up the great work!

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  8. I love this idea!!! I am wondering what colors you used for the shelves? I hate picking out colors in the store and thought it would just be easier to ask you what you used.

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  9. I love your idea on the painted book shelves--what process did you use to color the individual shelves with matching backs and sides--brush, roller, or spray. I am involved in setting up a book nook room at a school & would like to do the bookcases as you have--I have key club high school to assist Jodi

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  10. I love these book shelves - they are so cool! Do you sell them?

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  11. This is amazing...will you post step-by-step instuctions PLEASE

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  12. Could you please post how you did the color scheme on the crayola bookcase? Love to try it on the gift im building my son for Christmas!

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