Here's a tip I just learned "after" spackling my sewing room...no problemo,...I still have four other rooms to do:
You put the spackle between the drywall, that is now on the wall with the long side going sideways for added strength.
Then you put the yellow drywall tape over the seam and take a finely grained, wet sponge and "smooth" out the spackling or some call it "mud",...smooth out to nothingness on the edges, so the amount to sand after it is completely dry has been reduced tremendously!
A friend gave me this tip. It is how professional drywallers get such good looking results before painting.
Don't worry about the drywall/sheetrock getting a bit wet. It will dry.
Sorry I didn't know before we painted my sewing room, but at least the rest of the house will look smoooth
