Some years ago, I renovated my kitchen in the style of Tuscany.  When I saw this inexpensive wooden tray, I knew I wanted to finish it to match that style.  I wanted the tray to look as if I had found it in an old antique shop, with lots of texture using what I will call a “textured crackle technique”. The DecoArt Media line of products are the perfect solution to making it look exactly as I wanted.  

Items Needed:

• DecoArt Media Mediums and Specialty Products - Modeling Paste - White (DMM21-71)
• DecoArt Media Mediums and Specialty Products - Crackle Paint - White (DMM15-71)
• DecoArt Media Varnishes - Ultra-Matte Varnish (DMM24-71)
• Wooden Tray
• Assorted Brushes
• Spatula
• Metal Feet

Instructions:

This inexpensive wooden tray had jute wrapped around the handles, so I removed it before painting with White Gesso. 

Tape off the area around the word Chocolatier and spread White Modeling Paste through the French Elements stencil. To make alignment easier, draw a straight pencil line along the sides and center the word above the pencil line.  

Allow the paste to dry before adding the two decorative elements on either side of the word.  

Repeat the process on the opposite side using the words Est Bin No 1871 and the Fleur de Lys elements.

Spread White Crackle Paint along the inside edges of the tray, tapping the spatula into the wet paint to make texture. Not only is this going to crackle but you will get amazing texture, too.

Tape off the inside of the tray to protect the laser cut openings.  Spread White Crackle Paint over all sides, inside and out, with a spatula, dabbing the spatula as you work around the tray.  The dabbing motion will make some awesome texture, even before the crackling begins, which I will call a textured crackle technique.

On the sides where the words have been added, I spread the White Crackle Paste a bit thinner as I got nearer to the words, then added texture on and around the words with my finger to blend it all together.

Paint the tray with a wash of Quinacridone Violet to give it a rich, vibrant color base.  I added more water to the paint for the first coat to allow the paint to sink into the cracks and crevices.  I then used less water with the paint for the second coat to deepen the color. 

Repeat with Raw Sienna.  This color really adds warmth to the bright Quinacridone Violet color.  

Repeat with Quinacridone Burnt Orange.

Repeat with Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide. As you can tell by now, the fluid acrylics are perfect for this project because they are thin yet so highly pigmented, whereas thick-bodied paints would have filled in all the cracks and crevices by now.

Use your finger to darken the edges of the tray with Carbon Black Antiquing Cream.

Paint the stenciled words on each side of the tray with Interference Gold. 

Paint entire tray with Raw Umber Antiquing Cream and allow to dry.

Wipe excess antiquing cream off with a damp paper towel.

Seal tray with Ultra-Matte Varnish.  To reach into all the cracks and crevices, brush the varnish in different directions for complete coverage and protection.

Using the flat side of a spatula, spread a light coat of Raw Sienna over the high spots to highlight and bring out the texture.

Close up view of the highlighted textures with the Raw Sienna.

And here is the finished piece in its new home, my kitchen.