Introduction: How to Paint Camouflage

I will show you my method for easily painting camouflage on nearly any surface with cheap spray paint.

You will need three colors of paint in a motif that will fit your surroundings.

I strongly recommend flat or satin finishes. Try to avoid high gloss that might be reflective.

I am using green, tan, and black. I will be painting some military surplus ammo cans to be used for geocaching.

You may also wish to clear coat your work when done and for metals it is recommended to primer the surface before painting.

Step 1: Gather Materials

Gather your materials:

Spray paint

Leaves

Something to paint

I am painting an ammo can purchased at my local military surplus store. The paint is in three colors. I am also using primer and a clear coat on the ammo cans. I will also need sand paper to prep the ammo cans.

Step 2: Prep the Surface

I prepped the ammo cans for painting by sanding any rust and old paint from them, then I primered them with spay primer.

The lids of the ammo cans slide off the half barrel hinges easily making them easier to prep and paint.

Step 3: Start Painting

I painted the entire surface of the ammo cans forest green in one raven coat.

Step 4: Add Leaves, Paint

Next I laid leaves on the surface and gave short blast of tan paint to the edges of the leaves. This leaves an outline of the leaves with a foggy edge to the tan color.

Step 5: Change Colors, Repeat

Repeat this process of giving short blast of color about the edges of the leaves with another color. I try to keep the leaves laying in a different orientation than the last time. I also like to have them overlap the previous outlines some too. For my last color I used black.

Step 6: Finish Your Project

I finished up with a clear coat to hopefully better protect my paint job.

Lastly go out and use you newly camouflaged toy. I am using these ammo cans for geocache containers, hopefully for a night cache.

Have fun and be safe.