A green day.

Sometimes the luck of the Irish is with you...sometimes not, but last week Thursday, it was with me. For about five minutes. Then the moments were gone, and Jack started throwing a fit and we had to go home. But before we went home, I found this:

For SEVEN dollars. Seriously. I love the desk, it's finished in the back too, so it doesn't have to go up against a wall. The top has seen better days, and the handles, I LOVE, but not a fan of brass. Easy fix.

Flat black spray paint:

Leaf Green Spray paint (by Rustoleum):

I did a sort of paint test with this project. Here's what I found:

I had a can of Krylon in sea green of some sort. And a can of Rustoleum leaf green.

Krylon nozzle rocks! Sticking to wood did not rock. It dripped and went on rather thin. However, over primer, Krylon is fantastic. 

Rustoleum nozzle not so good. Sticking to wood without a primer - yippee!

In my not so scientific experiment, I would have both on hand at all times. Seriously. I love some of the colors of both and if you prime before you paint (which, by the way, I DON'T always do) you should be able to use both paints just fine! 

I'm sure a video at this time would be very informative. We'll see, maybe some day. But here are the most important things I've learned while using spray paint:

1. Use super thin layers. For example, my first layer generally looks like nothing even went on. Then the second layer goes on in a different direction and fills in the empty spots. Many times I don't have to do a third layer. Sometimes you do. Just depends!

2. If you sand anything, make sure that all dust particles from the sanding are off the item (use a wet rag) and then let it dry fully. If there is sanding dust on the piece it will crackle, if that is not what you want, make sure things are clean and dry. 

3. Don't try and spray paint when it is 100 degrees and 100 percent humidity. Humidity and spray paint don't mix. I've actually done better spraying down to 35 degrees then when it's humid.

4. Get a good mask. I spent $27 on mine from home depot. I'm so glad I did. And make sure you fit it properly so that air doesn't come in or out. 

5. Distress before you stain.

6. Distress before you poly.

7. Stain before you poly.

8. Do 5 through 7 make sense? If you are going to poly it, do a light sanding before you poly. Don't worry! You will freak after you lightly sand it because you'll see all these scratches and you'll swear at me and you may think it is ruined, then you'll swear at me again. But honestly, once you put a couple of coats of poly on, those scratches will be gone. The poly fills in the scratches.

9. This post wasn't supposed to be about my spray painting techniques, it just happened. Sorry if all you wanted to see was a finished seven dollar desk looks like.

10. okay fine, here's the desk...

Worth the wait?!

I love this green! I will definitely be using it again. (Leaf Green in Satin by Rustoleum.)

She's named after my second grade teacher...Mrs. Sandness. She was my favorite teacher in elementary school. And I thought it fitting to name my favorite desk after my favorite teacher.

Especially with tears in my eyes as I send to of my children off to preschool this month...oh, the sadness...cry for me....or don't.