Crazing 101

Hi everyone! Glad to be here today sharing a fun project using a Vignette Box.  The package comes with 4 nested boxes.  I chose to use the largest of the boxes so I could add the Vignette Panel inside.  Follow along and I'll show you what I made.

I picked a specific paper from the Dapper Paper Stash that is strips of pattern.  This paper was designed so it could be cut into strips to go on the edges of the Vignette Boxes or other assemblage pieces.  So that's just what I did. I used my trusty rotary cutter to cut two strips from the paper.

I folded the strips and adhered them to the edges with Collage Medium. 

I wanted the strips to look "real", so I layered the strips (ripping the ends) then sanded and inked.
What I haven't mentioned is that I added another Dapper paper to the back of the box and then coated it with a layer of Distress Collage Medium Crazing (waiting for it to dry). 

Just a note before I move on...The Distress Brush works perfectly to add the Medium to the paper.

If you are not going to wash your brush right away, just keep it wrapped in a wet wipe until you get to a sink.  Now I'm going to fess up and tell you that I walked away from my work table one day and left my brush wrapped in the wet wipe.  Duh, what a dork.  Well the next day my friend Richele suggested I try putting the brush in cup of hot water.  I did just that...and after about 24 hours I pulled the brush out it was good as new.  Happy day.

Time has past (about an 1 1/2 hours to be honest) and I've colored the crazing with a small amount of Distress Crayon and a clean Mini Blending Tool (more on that later in the post).

So lets move on to the inside.  I covered a Vignette Panel with a piece of linen from the Textile Surfaces pack.  Each sheet is self adhesive so its easy to adhere to the panel and no wet glue to contend with!

 I added a bit of Distress ink (Ground Espresso) with my Mini Blending Tool.  I chose some rubs from the Special Deliver Remnant Rubs Sheet.  Easy to add to the linen Textile Surface with the Remnant Rub Tool.

After gathering a few idea-ology trinkets to test out, I decided on a Photobooth picture, and the knife from the Adornments Silverware set (alcohol ink added).  The Red Cross pin is vintage.

I also filled one of the Decorative Domes with scraps from the dish on my desk...pearls, tatting, pink velvet ribbon, etc.  I don't plan on hanging the Decorative Dome but I added the Swivel Clasp at the top anyway.

The Vignette Panel was mounted on foam squares and placed into the Vignette Box for added depth.   The Decorative Dome was secured with a just a dollop of Multi Medium, which works great to secure 3-D objects.  The yellow vintage velvet flowers are my very, very favorite (sadly I'm running out of the small supply I once had).

 I will mention I did use Ground Espresso Distress Paint on the outside of the Vignette Box before I added the Cigar Strips.  I painted it on, then wiped much of it off - leaving just enough to darken the wood the box is made of.  You can see the difference between the inside of the box (that I left alone) and the outside that has been darkened with paint.

Crazing 101

Crazing is creating tiny little lines in the surface - like you might find in vintage china.  I am not an authority on crazing but I have done some experimenting so I thought I could at least pass on this small amount of information to get you thinking.

I think it works best with light colored paper, but I have been successful with other colors.

You do not have to cover an entire surface with crazing medium. It can be hit and miss which will add to the vintage look.

It can work as a glue and as a sealer.

You can add the crazing medium to the surface with a brush.

 

But my favorite is to use my fingertip, spreading it in a thin coat...more like butter than peanut butter.

You can see that the medium is there...but it is not obscuring the pattern in any way.

This is an example of TOO MUCH crazing medium.  Will it still work? yes, but it will take much longer to dry.  Remember, it's NOT crackle - you do not have to put it on thick to get the desired result.

You can even add it with a crosshatch pattern.  It's perfectly fine to go back over the same area unlike the old crackle medium.

After about 1 1/2 hours to be fully dry (I'm in coastal CA with no humidity) it will look like this...just tiny little cracks in the surface.

You can use Distress Ink to color the crazing but since everyone seems to be using the new Crayons I decided to show how they would work.

I scribbled a bit of Crayon on the surface, then dipped my Mini Blending Tool into a some water on my craft mat.
*just a note...as you can see, I did not start with a clean blending foam so that added to the depth of color)

Sample one - I used my fingertip to put the Crazing Medium on this surface - then colored with Vintage Photo Crayon.

I wiped some of the color away with a wet wipe to get this.

Sample two: the Crazing Medium was put on with the brush.  Finer crazing...almost directional in pattern but still great.  I used the same color, but less Crayon and more water.

One and Two side by side.

Sample three: Crosshatch with the brush (again you get that directional crazing) and this time Vintage Photo and Hickory Smoke together. 

Sample Four: Another brush sample but a change to Walnut stain Crayon.

Here is all four samples together.
Honestly, every one of the samples looks pretty good.  I think it's just a matter of practicing a few times to know how much crazing medium to use.  You can also see how the color of the crayon used really changed up the look.  Remember the lighter the coloring method the lighter the result.
I think I was surprised at how strong the crazing is.  Unlike crackle where the finish has a tendency to flake off, crazing dries flat and never flakes away even when rubbing the crayon into the surface.

Well, I hope this addition to the project helps a few people to try the new crazing medium.  I know I sure like it and you will be seeing it projects to come.  We'll be testing out Crazing Medium at Memory Bound in Iowa when I'm there for classes in April!  Hope you'll stop by if you live in the area!

now carry on,
paula

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