These were brown colored glass inserts and I really didn't like them. So I decided to decoupage old music to them.
First, I used the insert itself as the pattern to cut the sheet music to the right size with an exacto knife.
Next, apply Annie Sloan's Decoupage medium to the top side of the glass, then carefully place the music on top and gently work it flat with your fingers getting any bubbles out. I love this fluffy light product of Annie's as it is so much finer to work with than some of the decoupage mediums that are found in most craft stores.
Note: With Decoupage and Craqueleur, you may want to designate specific brushes to these uses. They will clean up with soap and water, but I just use inexpensive chip brushes. They never feel quite the same after using these mediums, so you do not want to use one of your better brushes.
After you have applied the paper you need to wait until the decoupage medium is totally dried before going onto the next step. We do not need to apply Decoupage over the music because we will be applying Annie Sloan's Craqueleur to these pieces instead.
When you are sure that your piece is thoroughly dry (maybe a couple hours, depending on how thick you applied the Decoupage medium), you can proceed.
Step 1 of the Craqueleur is runny and white. But it will dry clear and is like a varnish when dry. It creates a hard clear base for Step 2.
As soon as Step 1 is dry to the touch, bring on Step 2. Step 2 is a stickier medium and slightly yellow. You need to put enough on so that it will develop cracks. The reason crackle mediums sometimes fail is that too little is used. However, a thick coverage will result in wider, larger cracks. On this piece I wanted finer lines to develop -- so it is a matter of experience and practice to apply enough without applying too much. Don't you love the inexactness of that explanation!
After applying Step 2, you can let it air dry and cracks will develop. But I am the impatient sort, so I use a hair dryer to speed things along! The trick is to hold the dryer about 4 inches away from your piece so you don't blister the Step 2 medium.
I never tire of seeing the cracks develop as I move the dryer around! I hope you can see the fine cracks below.
To set off the cracks better, just brush on some Dark Soft Wax, then wipe off the excess as usual with a lintless flat cloth. You can also use Annie Sloan's Clear Soft Wax tinted with some Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan. Another option is to mix a little metallic Gilding Wax with mineral spirits for a wash that you paint on and wipe off.
These four glass inserts with their new look were then put back into place on the sofa table. The sofa table was painted with Graphite then Old Ochre. After Clear Soft Wax, the piece was distressed and finished off with Dark Soft Wax. It is a popular piece in our shop and we display knobs and handles on it!
