Paint Anything Guide

Supplies

• Wire Brush
• Spray Primer
• Spray Paint
• Paint Tripods
• Rags
• Cleaning Gloves
  
• Craft Paint Brushes
  
• Craft Paint
  
• Metal Craft Paint
  

Prep
Use a wire brush to remove loose paint. Wipe with a damp cloth and dry immediately. If rust is present, spot-prime with a rust-inhibitive primer. Items, like the bowl pictured, may not need any surface prep.

Painting
Put on rubber or nitrile gloves. Apply primer using a light back-and-forth motion. Make sure all surfaces are covered. Let dry, then spray paint the desired color using a light, sweeping motion. If you'd rather use metal craft paint, it can be applied to the surface with a craft paint brush.

Tip
Use paint tripods to keep projects from sticking to the prep area.

Supplies

• Vacuum with Attachments or Stiff Brush
• Latex Paint
• Spray Paint, (if applicable) and Spray Paint Primer
• Small Paint Brush or Foam Brush
• Rags

Prep
If old and painted, first wipe surfaces with a damp rag. Then use the upholstery tool to vacuum wicker or wovens. A stiff brush can do the trick as well.

Painting
Dab paint on the woven strands of a basket to stripe them. On painted wicker, spray with primer and let dry; then apply spray paint. Repeat with a second coat if needed.

Tip
Woven baskets can be spray-painted if you want a solid color all over.

Supplies

• Spray Paint Primer
• Spray Paint
• Craft Supplies
  
• Acrylic Craft Paint
  
• Cleaning Gloves
• Kraft Paper, Drop Cloth or Newspaper
• Paint Tripods

Prep
Wash in soapy water and then let air dry. A towel or other material used to dry it can leave a lint residue.

Painting
Put on rubber or nitrile gloves. Apply spray primer using a light back-and-forth motion about 1 foot from the object. Make sure all surfaces are painted; let dry. Then spray the desired color repeating the same technique.

An alternative to spray paint is acrylic craft paint. Acrylic craft paint comes in several finishes including: fluorescent, chalky, glitter, glow-in-the-dark and milk. With all of these choices, they're fun to use for kid's projects. Acrylic craft paint can be applied with a brush or a roller.

Tips
Go slow and apply light coats when spraying. If you spray too fast — or get too close — drips and runs will occur. Use paint tripods to keep projects from sticking to the prep area.

Supplies

• 150-Grit Sandpaper
• Household Cleaner
• Rags
• Wood Putty
• High-Gloss Paint
• Wood Craft Paint
• Primer
• Small Paint Roller

Prep
Wipe off dirt and grime with a wet cloth; let dry. Sand as needed. Fill holes with wood putty, let dry, then sand until smooth and wipe clean.

Painting
Prime, then let dry. Sand the surface. Then use a roller or brush to apply two coats of high-gloss paint or wood craft paint to add durability.

Tips
Use a small paint roller to get smooth results when painting flat wood surfaces; Pros swear by it. Do a light sand between coats once the first coat dries, and wipe clean with a dry cloth.

Supplies

• Painters Tape
• Latex Paint
• Small Paint Brush or Foam Brush
• Stamp (if applicable)

Prep
Wash fabric, if possible, without adding fabric softener. Cover your work surface, such as an ironing board or old towel, with plastic. Stretch and pin fabric tight to the surface.

Painting
Use painters tape to lay out your template or pattern. Paint the fabric using a small brush, foam brush or stamp.

Tips
Iron the fabric before painting. If you have scraps, first test your techniques and colors to ensure quality. For pillow covers, cut a cardboard insert and put it inside to keep the paint from bleeding through.

Supplies

• Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)
• Tack Cloths
• Bucket
• Sponge
• Caulk
• Waterproof Spackle
• Putty Knife
• Grout
• 120-Grit Sheet Sandpaper
• Drop Cloths
• Painters Tape
• Primer
• Paint Roller
• Paint Tray & Liner
• 1-Part Epoxy Paint, 2-Part Epoxy Paint or 2-Process Paint
  
• Small Paint Brush
• Polyurethane Sealer

There are many types of tile that you can paint, including ceramic, porcelain, glass, cement, marble, mosaic, granite, limestone, travertine, quarry, metal and resin tile. 

Prep 
First, you’ll need to clean the tile. Mix warm water and TSP in a bucket. Use a sponge and mixture to clean the tile. Then rinse it with clean water and dry the tile with a tack cloth.

Next, you’ll need to repair any chipped or broken tiles. You can fill in small cracks with caulk. Use a putty knife and waterproof spackle to fill in large cracks. Also be sure to fill in any grout that’s chipped.

Now it’s time to sand the tile so that the paint will properly adhere to it. Use 120-grit sandpaper to remove the glaze. Then rinse the tile off and dry with a tack cloth. 

Use drop cloths and painters tape to protect surfaces that you’re not painting. 

Prime and Paint
Pour the primer into a paint tray with a liner. Use a roller to apply a thin layer of primer to the tile. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for drying time and then apply a second thin layer of primer.

Once the primer is dry, it’s time to paint. Add epoxy paint or two-process paint to a paint tray. Then roll a light layer of paint onto the tile. Use a paint brush to touch up tile. Apply up to three thin coats of paint if needed, allowing paint to dry between coats. Finally, add polyurethane sealer to the tile to protect your painted surface.

Tips
Make sure to use tack cloths when drying the tile during the prep step. Tack cloths are sticky enough to pick up debris but won’t leave residue behind.