Creating with Croco Crackling !

Hi Everyone  

'm here today to share with you my entry for this months Challenge over at Craft Stamper - 'Take a Technique, with the technique being 'Texture' and this weeks Monday Challenge over at Simon Says 
Stamp .- 'Don't Cut just Paste!

I have altered a paper mache heart magnet using a textural medium called Croco by Viva Decor. Having used it a few times before without always achieving the best of results I decided it was time to give it another shot! Apologies in advance for the lack of photos showing the process- I got carried away in the creating!! 

I  began by priming the heart using Gesso. Once dry I painted the heart using acrylic paint - any will do - I chose a deep Burgundy red that I had in my stash. I had to paint at least a couple of coats to get the coverage I wanted, letting each coat dry before applying the next! 
Now it was time to 'Croco' !! 
If you're not familiar with it, its a textural type paste that creates a crackle effect!

Generosity of application is key to this product as the more you apply the deeper n more textural the cracks. Though Croco can be purchased in a variety of colours I chose to use transparent in order to retain the colour I had painted the heart . 
I applied the  Croco to the heart generously, trying not to go over the areas I had already applied it to n then set it aside to dry. As I wanted bigger cracks n deeper texture I left it to dry for 24 hours, room temperature .
Once the Croco was completley dry and had worked its magic (this time I was pleased with the result) I rubbed some black archival ink into the cracks and some gold gilding wax to accentuate the created texture .

I adorned the heart with some leaves (Martha Stewart punch) and  a die cut flower (Bitty Blossoms  Spellbinders die) embellished with a Burgundy bead n a couple of beaded pins  I adhered a stamped sentiment (Tim Holtz Stamp set Odds and end) and a few gold gems and  my Croco Cracked heart magnet was complete! 

If you've never heard/ used Croco before or have heard of it but shied away from using it I hope seeing the results that can be achieved will inspire / motivate you to give it a go . 

I would like to enter this piece of altered art into 

Craft Stamper- Take It Make It Challenge- June Challenge:-'Take A Technique' TEXTURE 

and 

Simon Says Stamp - Monday Challenge - Don't Cut , Just Paste

Thanks so much for visiting today - always appreciated as are all your lovely kind comments. 
Hope you have all had a lovely weekend n are looking forward to the week ahead which just so happens to be the first week of Summer! Lets hope those temperatures risen we can enjoy some nice warm sunshine !

Time to hit publish so I do hope to see ya again real soon 

Take care 

Amanda x