If you like it then you should of put some spray on it...

Yeah, that title might have been a reach.....and you are welcome for getting that song stuck in your head.
Moving on...
People apparently understand that I have a spray paint problem, and because of this they often seek me out for tips in using spray paint. I am in no way a professional, but I have learned a few things along the way. So here they are, my tips and tricks to spray painting pretty much anything:

Use good spray paint...Rustoleum is my favorite, but my rule of thumb is to spend at least $4 on spray paint. I learned my lesson here, for probably the thousandth time, that cheap spray paint never turns out the way you want it to, or it will take 20 coats, like it did on Ellie...

Three words, long even strokes...that's what she said...oops sorry, inappropriate...But really, you want a light even mist, your hand should never stop moving. It will take several coats this way, but trust me it's worth it.

Never stop or end on the thing you are spraying. Again, long and even sprays. Start spraying before you get to your object and end after your object. You should start and end on whatever your using to catch the over spray. 

When spraying anything that will get traffic (furniture) or is glossy (my green vase, below), sand it down or use a liquid deglosser. It will help rough up the surface, so that it will absorb the spray paint. 

Keep the nozzle at least 10" from whatever your spraying. Nuff' said.

Spray paint has yet to go no VOC (as far as I know), so you should apply it outside or if you're like me, in the garage with the garage door open, and you should wear a mask. You should also leave it in the ventilated area for 24 hours to prevent off-gassing, before bringing it into your home.

Any other good spray painting tips out there? I'd love to hear them!

P.S. I want to take a quick second to thank my friends, family, and readers for your donations to Isaac and his family! We raised over $2000 in just a couple days! Your generosity has been overwhelming, and is a great reminder of all of the good people that are still left in this world. If you would still like to donate go here for more information (or check out Erin's blog, who created this entire campaign) or simply click on the widget in the right sidebar!