I was so excited to get Violet a little car for her first birthday. I could already imagine how cute she would look while pushing her around our neighborhood. But there was only one issue…ALL of the cars were hot pink and super obnoxious. I questioned if I could pull it off but with a little pep talk from my husband, the project was a go.
The Mock-Up
I always have to start off every project with a mock-up. I’m a very visual person so I quickly did this render in photoshop so I could come up with a plan. I know this isn’t a possibility for everyone, so don’t be discouraged! After I mocked it up, I was ready to step into action.
Project Time
Since we are social distancing right now due to the pandemic, I ordered all of my materials from Walmart and I was able to pick them up next-day with my grocery order. You could also order your materials off of Amazon.
Materials
These are the only materials that we used for our car. Be sure to pick a spray paint that is for plastic!
- Rust-Oleum 2X Ultra Cover Paint + Primer in Rustic Pink
- Rust-Oleum 2X Ultra Cover Paint + Primer in Flat White
- Rust-Oleum 2X Ultra Cover Clear Matte Sealer
- Step2 Whisper Ride Cruiser II (or similar)
- Vinyl Decals
Step 1
Start by placing a drop cloth or box under the main part of your car. Since the car already has a rough surface, we did not need to rough it up with sandpaper but be sure to do this step if you’re working with a different car. I would also recommend priming even if your spray paint is a two-in-one (we learned this the hard way). Follow the instructions on your can and apply an even coat of paint to your car.
*Disclaimer: We also removed the trunk but I would recommend leaving it on and covering it instead because it damaged the paint when we later re-attached it.
Step 2
Once the first coat dries, re-apply until your car is covered. Repeat on the opposite side. Be sure to wear a mask or work in a well-ventilated area!
Step 3
Once you’re finished painting your pieces, apply the clear sealer for extra protection. Allow the topcoat to completely dry before proceeding to step 4.
Step 4
Once you finish painting all of your pieces, allow for it to dry for AT LEAST a complete day before attempting to re-assemble. Follow the instructions for assembly that were provided with your car.
Step 5
Once your car is assembled, you may need to touch up any spots that were scratched during assembly. You can easily accomplish this by spraying paint on to a piece of cardboard and using a brush to touch up those spots.
Step 6
Apply any additional decorative elements to your car. We opted for vinyl daisies that I printed on my Cricut. You could also use stickers or even hand paint decorative accents. A name on the trunk would also be super cute! The possibilities are really endless!
That’s it! Easy enough, right? I hope this post inspires you to give your car a makeover! Let me know if you have any questions. I’m always here to help. 🙂
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