Distressed painting technique

Is there a special way that anyone knows how they paint and give things that distressed look?

Or the other method I am looking for is how they paint and make it look like a crackle look? I know they paint one color and then put something else on top that makes it look like it has cracked. Then another layer? I am not sure how any of this is done. Anybody know, Coco, you always have a great link or two.