Hi......I've done quite a few trays and cake plates ,mostly I just clean with alcohol and paint right on. Someone may have a better way of doing it. I use Kilz spray paint, so many wonderful colors! You may want to prime it first with a metal primer.Finish with a clear sealer. I did learn not to tape a price tag on the painted stuff,though :) Are you wanting to paint it a color,then crackle another color over it? You probably could do that, then a spray finish would make it shiny if you wanted it shiny.Practice on something else that's the same metal:) And if you don't like how it looks, at least you can prolly wash it off! hehe I bought a tea set a while back,and haven't "done" it yet. I'm not painting this one, just want the nice china on it and buttons and roses and jewels on top:)

Thanx for the info on how you do yours! I would like to crackle a 2nd color(probably rose pink) over a base of white. Definitely have to spray a lacquer over it coz the crackle can easily be affected by water. The crackle medium won't stick at all over gloss finish or enamel paint, metallic finish paint or anything slick.

Pat