I just love tips and tricks that create an "ah-ha" moment and make your life just a little bit easier! Sometimes I learn these from others and some I just stumble on when I think I've messed up.
Hack #1 - This one was taught to me by my dad. When you open up a new can of paint, take a hammer and nail and put a few holes in the rim. This allows the excess paint to drip back down in the can and not goop up when you close the lid. I promise it doesn't dry your can of paint as long as the lid is put back on securely.
Hack #2 - I learned this trick when I took a furniture painting class from Junque 2 Jewels many years ago. If you're trying to achieve that distressed look when painting furniture and want to skip the sanding process, then use Vaseline. Yes, Vaseline! You simply apply a little Vaseline on the areas you don't want paint to appear and then just paint right over it. Once the paint is dry, simply wipe off the areas where the Vaseline was and the paint will come right off, exposing the wood underneath.
Hack #3 - This isn't necessarily a hack, but a tool to use to cut around trim. I didn't even know such a thing existed until I was needing to cut faux shiplap around ornate trim while doing our bathroom renovation. My husband surprised me out of nowhere by pulling this neat little gadget from his toolbox! You line up all the needles and push it against the part you need to cut around. This will give you a template to trace on your wood piece. Once traced out, cut it out with a jig saw and you'll have a perfect fit in no time! Genius!
Hack #4 - This one also came to light during our bathroom renovation. I just googled "how to remove mirror trim from mirror" and found this nifty little trick. You simply take fishing line, wiggle it between the trim and the mirror, and the trim will come right off. For more stubborn glue applications, you can warm it up with a hair dryer first to loosen it up.
Hack #5 - This would be one of those "mistakes" I thought I made. I had painted a furniture piece, put on a dark wax to give an antique look, and then followed up with a clear wax to seal the furniture. When I put on the clear wax, it wiped away the dark wax. Seriously it was like a magic eraser! So if you do any glazing or antique finishes on furniture and either don't like it or put too much, simply apply clear wax to it and it will come right off!
Do you have any tips or tricks that you have learned over time? I'd love to hear them! Sharing is caring!
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