How to Crackle Paint and Decoupage a Wooden Chick and Bunny

You’ve probably seen lots of crackle paint and decoupage items on Pinterest. Have you seen this unique method using glue for crackle painting? Or, this method using an iron to avoid wrinkles when decoupaging?

Frustration

My first attempt at crackle painting the chick was a failure. I painted the ornament with white paint, let that dry, and applied a liberal coat of crackle paint following instructions. After letting the crackle paint for the suggested time, I applied some antiquing medium. Not really working.

Then, I tried applying acrylic craft paint over the chick and rubbed off what I could. Blown up, you can see the tiny crackle, but to the naked eye, it’s barely visible. This is hardly worth it, and I wanted the ivory to show more.🤔

Attempted crackle fail. — Crackle fails.

Second Attempt

Then, I remembered having seen another crafter use glue for creating a crackle effect. Instead of painting the lighter paint onto the ornament, paint a darker brown color on first.

Then, paint a liberal amount of glue on top of the dry brown coat. Immediately paint the lighter ivory paint onto the wet glue.

The crackle effect is almost immediate, and it is definitely visible! You can find the directions for this process below.

Crackle Paint and Decoupage a Wooden Chick and Bunny

Sometimes, you can find wooden bunny and chick shapes at Dollar Tree. I’ve added a link to Amazon for your convenience if you can’t find them.

(We are an Amazon affiliate and may receive a small percentage of any sales through the links in this post at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting this website!)

Supplies:

Wooden chick ornament
Wooden bunn y ornament
Acrylic Craft Paint
Clear Tacky Glue
Flat Paintbrush
Decorative napkin
Sharp scissors
Gloss Mod Podge
Emery board
1/8 or 1/4 inch wide ribbon
Iron

Directions:

First, use brown acrylic paint to paint the entire surface. This layer will be the crackle color that shows through. Choose a different color if you like.

A coat of burnt sienna and burnt umber

Liberal amount of Clear Tacky Glue

Crackle

Next, squeeze a liberal amount of Clear Tacky Glue onto the surface of the wooden ornament. Smooth the layer of Clear Tacky Glue over the surface with a flat paintbrush. While the glue is still wet, brush on a topcoat of white paint.

You’ll want to brush the strokes from the top down in a consistent direction.

Smooth the glue over the surface.

Apply Ivory paint over the wet glue.

Use a heat gun to dry the paint, or let it air dry completely. The crackle will continue to show as the glue dries. Cut flowers from a decorative napkin and decide where to position the cutout. I cut around the flowers and then removed the two plain white layers. Make a small bow from a ribbon.

Dry with a heat gun.

Cut flowers from a decorative napkin and make a ribbon bow.

Decoupage

Paint Mod Podge onto the wooden bunny where you want the tissue to be. Let the Mod Podge dry completely. Then, lay the napkin cutout over the Mod Podge in position.

Paint Gloss Mod Podge over the area for the napkin cutout.

Lay the ornament with the napkin cutout in position on a sheet of parchment paper.

You can use your ironing board for this. (My compact iron used for crafts is small enough to use on this potholder.) I used a silicone potholder on the counter and covered it with a piece of parchment paper. Then, I laid the chick ornament on top of the paper with the cutout in place. Place another layer of parchment on top of the wooden ornament.

Lay parchment paper over the chick.

Apply heat to the area with the napkin cutout.

Iron over the napkin until the Mod Podge melts. Make sure to heat the edges of the napkin to ensure adhesion. (I am surprised at how well this works and with no wrinkles!)