DIY Crackled Birdhouse

The crackled finish of the birdhouses in the Love Birds tablescape added a nice, rustic look to the overall design. It's a look that is so easy to achieve because the paint does all the work for you. So, this tutorial is more about what I used to get the crackled finish, than actually how to do it.

First you need a sealer and crackle paint. I used DecoArt Primer-Sealer and DecoArt Texture Crackle. Shown below. Both were purchased at Michael's.

With a small brush, cover the entire surface you plan to paint with the sealer. Let the birdhouse (or your project) dry overnight. Don't be skimpy with the primer. You really want it to seal the wood, so the wood won't absorb the paint later. The sealer will dry clear.

Next, with a spackle knife, apply the crackle paint. You don't want to apply it too thin. The thicker it is, the more "crackle" you will get. Let your project dry overnight. You'll notice the crackle start to appear as the paint hardens–it's pretty cool!

Finally, I cut triangles from scrapbook paper to size to cover the roof. I glued those on with a thin coat of Elmer's glue. And that's it! I perched them on top of candle holders that I trimmed with lace for the table.

I can see using the crackle paint on wooden boxes or frames to get a shabby chic look. Have fun with it!