Why I tape before putting the first coat of mud now.
I used to slap mud on and then tape over it, thinking it was faster. But the tape would bubble up and create more work later. After a few bad seams, I tried taping first and putting mud over it. The results are much smoother, and I spend less time fixing mistakes. It's a small change that made a big difference.
You ever think maybe we watch too many home reno shows? @the_sarah, those pros make it look easy after years of practice, so comparing your third try to that isn't fair. Mudding is really about letting your hands learn the right pressure and angle, which just takes time. Why expect it to be perfect when even the messy bits sand down smooth later? Getting frustrated just makes your grip tense up and the mud harder to spread. Honestly, maybe the toddler look is a good sign you're not overworking it and leaving enough material to sand.