Painting

Phew! I'm taking a break from painting.

While I rest, I think I'll share a few painting tips with you.

Wear old clothes that you don't mind getting paint on. No matter how careful you are, you're bound to get some paint on you somewhere.

You'll want to tape around cupboards and trim with masking tape, or if you are really good, and have a steady hand, paint around all of these with a small brush prior to getting out the big guys, such as paint rollers.

Good lighting is important. This can sometimes be a problem if you have taken down your fixtures to keep from getting paint on them.

If you decide to try a faux finish or glazing technique, the same person needs to do the entire room. No two people are going to make the same strokes, and it will not match. If you are right handed, and your right hand gets tired, you cannot switch to your left hand. It will not match. Lefthanded strokes don't look the same as righthanded strokes.

If you have a bucket of paint on a ladder--move the paint off of the ladder before moving the ladder. Otherwise...well you can get the idea.

When using a paint roller and pan make sure you watch where you step. You don't want to accidentally step in the pan. I haven't done this one yet, although I have come dangerousley close at times.

Make sure if you lean against a wall with your arm to paint, that the wall you are leaning against isn't wet. Unfortunatley, I did do this one.

If you break for lunch or the phone rings, you can put your paint brush in a plastic bag until you come back to it. It can be a zipper bag, or simply a shopping bag that doesn't have any holes in it. This is much easier than cleaning your brush everytime.

Keep pets out of the room you are painting, otherwise, you will end up with paint on Rover or doggie hair glued to your newly painted walls. If you have a cat, instead of a dog, insert kittie in the appropriate spots of previous sentence.

Plan a crockpot meal ahead of time, or just eat out. You'll be wore out, and won't feel like cooking, unless your Martha Stewart and nobody likes her because of it. She really has Oompa Loompas behind the scenes who do all the real work.

Well, that's my words of wisdom concerning painting--guess I better get back to work that ol' dining room won't paint itself. ttfn. :0)