some paint tips...

21 July 2009

So, y'all know I'm in the middle of painting, and I thought I'd share a few tips I've learned along the way:

* always keep a wet rag handy to quickly fix mistakes or wipe up paint drips. I just keep mine on my shoulder while I'm working.


* I always paint in bare feet so I can feel if I have wet paint on them before I go tracking it in on the carpet (not that I have ever done that :)


* keep some small disposable containers in your paint stash to use when you're cutting in along the edges with your brush. My choice for today? An old Easy Mac container :)



* When you are finished painting a room fill a little container with a tight fitting lid with some leftover paint. Stock up on the small foam brushes when they're on sale (Michael's has them on sale about twice a year for 20 for $1) Keep the little container and a few brushes in every room so you can quickly do touch-ups without hauling out a big can and looking for a brush. I found these little baby food containers at the dollar store~they work perfectly!



* don't get rid of those ugly old sheets! Keep them and use them to cover your floors when you paint.



* a good angled brush and a steady hand can be your best friend. No more taping off if you practice enough. My friend, Lynette in Idaho never used tape and went to town with her angled brush. I never thought I could do it, but I finally got the guts to try it in here and I may never go back to taping trim off. Just keep that wet rag close by! A good, quality brush makes all the difference and was worth the extra money.

What other great paint tips have you discovered?

I'm linking up to WFMW :

Have a great day~


30 comments

  1. Great tips! I will have to share them with my painter!:) I can't wait to see the final product--hurry up would ya--I can't imagine what is taking so long!;)

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  2. :) love all those tips!
    Shelley

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  3. So funny, I just finished painting some closet doors and in my bare feet, and with a wet rag nearby, and with an old plastic container, and now the extra is stored in a tiny plastic container. It's like you totally read my mind! But I use tape. I'm too chicken to go without.... but you're tempting me with your tip !
    Forever painting,
    Kate

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  4. I did all of my (Met Mon) spray painting in flip flops and almost had black tinted feet at our daughter's wedding--I worked FOREVER getting the paint off! I don't tape everything any more either--living dangerously :) Good luck and can't wait to see!

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  5. Great tips! Judging by that dropcloth, you paint as much as I do! I am gonna have to keep an eye out for some baby food containers.

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  6. Great tips! I'm not a taper, either. I have a very special angle brush that's nice and broken in and holds just the right amount of paint - and flows perfectly.

    Gettin' the painting bug now! :p

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  7. Can't wait to se ehor the room turns out. The worst thing about painting is taping off everything. Got any tips for painting right up to the ceiling? Are you just cutting in with the brush there too? It seems like I always manage to get paint on the ceiling...

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  8. Great post! I am the WORST painter---sooo sloppy. I definitely need to use tape. It's like coloring in the lines for me. ;)

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  9. Oh, I get giddy when I see that green! I can't wait to see the finished room! Who would've thought of the little baby food containers? Oh you. Good idea! :)

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  10. I love the idea of keeping a little in baby food containers. That's a project I've got to do. I love your tips!

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  11. Love all the tips. I'm happy to say I do most of them, but what's new to me is keeping a small amount of paint in a little container for touchups. I'm going to have to do that. It's such a pain to haul out that big paint can from the basement!

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  12. Wow, I never knew you could paint without tape - that would be a dream but I don't think my hand is steady enough. Now it makes me kind of want to try! (You need to CALL ME) Have a good day!:)

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  13. Great idea about the bare feet! I always seem to have splotches everywhere and it's a miracle that I haven't ruined our carpet yet!
    Carrie

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  14. great ideas! I especially love the little baby food containers and foam brushes, I would never have thought of that!!

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  15. what paint color is that your using?

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  16. As usual... greatness in every post! I will be sharing these with DH as he is our resident painter in the Henson House!
    Thanks!!!

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  17. I NEVER tape - I learned very quickly about angled brushes and a steady hand and get this. . .my name is Lynette - for real - except I'm in NC. I hate to tape - would rather watch um, paint dry - sorry, just had too.

    Can't wait to see the transformation of the laundry room.

    Happy Hump Day -

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  18. thanks for the tips!!! I will be looking for michaels to run their sale on foam brushes!!!!

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  19. When ever you get paint, pick up an extra paint stick and brush on some paint to the end of the stick, let it dry then on the unpainted portion of the stick write the name of the paint, where you got it, the code, and what room/s you painted that color in. Tie all of your paint sticks together and hang then in the garage and if you ever need to pick up an extra can of paint you will know exactly what you got last time. It is also great for anyne who purchases your home, if they like the colors they know where to go for extra paint.
    Cheri
    www.itssoverycheri.blogspot.com
    www.itssoverycheri2.blogspot.com

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  20. Wow~ I just did all that except the bare feet, heehe! I love seeing all the old paint colors on my old drop cloths! I can hardly wait to see your finished room!!
    Blessings~LillySue

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  21. Great tips! I'm actually painting my bathroom right now. Here are two tips I used just this morning.
    1-If you get interrupted in the middle of a paint job, you can wrap your brush in a plastic bag. When you come back, you can just pull it out and start painting.
    2-After you finish rolling on the first coat and are waiting for it to dry, just leave the roller in the tray and wrap the entire thing in a garbage bag. No time wasted rinsing out the darn roller!

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  22. I love your blog and I love the idea about painting barefoot

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  23. All great tips. I still use tape, wish I didn't need to. I need to practice....

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  24. I linked to you today: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zxD_fl1uzgU/SmWjRnILZtI/AAAAAAAACmI/ChgtdBTIIZs/s320/Bird+Nest+3.jpg

    Cheri

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  25. If you ever have to rush away for a few hours (like a kid breaks a finger...) then wrap the brush and stick it in the fridge. Pull it out when you're ready to paint again (like 2 days later after surgery).

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  26. Not done with that LR yet?? Hurry up, girl, we want to see. :) Like Gina, I wrap my paint brush as well as the paint tray in plastic wrap & stick it in the fridge, sometimes for days. Great trick!

    And I don't ever tape off my trim either. I've learned to be pretty handy with those angled brushes.

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  27. Thank you, Melissa for sharing your helpful painting tips. I need to get some of those little storage cups! Great idea.

    Blessings,
    Marie
    http://emmacallsmemama.com

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  28. Let DH do it! LOL. Kidding, although he never lets me help!

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  29. Great tips...thank you!

    Nancy

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  30. You are just fabulously awesome and talented, my friend! I never tape anymore either, it saves a lot of time!

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