Preparation

• Before putting an ounce of paint on your cabinets, you will need to prepare them. This will ensure a good result in the end.
  Begin by removing the cabinet doors from the hinges and taking them to a location where you can lay them out while painting, preferably a well-ventilated area such as an open garage. Unless you are only wanting to paint the doors, remember to apply each step of the process to both your doors and the cabinets still on your wall.
  Once you have removed the doors, clean the cabinets and doors with an all-purpose cleaner and a rag. Once they dry from the cleaning, begin lightly sanding with fine-grade sandpaper (150 or finer). This will allow the primer to grip to the cabinets better, which makes them less likely to chip or peel later on. Wipe off the cabinets after sanding to remove any sawdust.
  
  

Primer and Paint

• Now that you have cleaned and sanded the cabinets, it is time to get your brush wet. First, you will need to prime the cabinets. Primer will not only help keep the paint from peeling, it will also reduce the number of paint coats. Allow the primer to dry completely before applying paint.
  When you begin to paint, resist the urge to paint in thick layers. The thinner your layers, the more professional the paint job will look in the end. On the flip side of that, if you want a more rustic look to your crackle finish, then thicker layers are the way to go. Thicker layers will create an uneven paint surface.
  With either method, allow each coat to dry before applying more paint. Apply enough layers that the color is satisfactory without the crackle, as you will only be applying one more layer in the crackle process.
  
  

The Crackle Process

• The crackle effect is achieved with a crackle glaze that is available at any home improvement store.
  Apply the glaze to the painted cabinets with brush strokes all in the same direction. The thickness of the glaze will affect the final product. If you want lots of thin cracks, use a thinner layer of crackle glaze. If you prefer larger cracks you will need to add a thick glaze layer. Allow the glaze to dry.
  After the glaze dries, apply the final coat of paint. This coat needs to be applied with brush strokes perpendicular to the glaze brush strokes. You will see the paint begin to crackle in about an hour.
  Once the last coat dries completely, rehang the doors.