A few weeks ago BBC and I were browsing a local antique/flea market (yes, I’m brave)! We were walking down a narrow hall and he got so excited about this train that was hanging on the wall. It looked like it weighed a ton and I told him not to touch it and we moved on. We came back by and he mentioned it again so on a whim I decided to check it out. To my surprise it was plastic and $5 so I let him get it.
It’s a lovely brass on faux wood scheme – yuck! (You can click on the picture to view larger and see all its beauty!) I had plans to spray paint it black but BBC had other plans. He announced that he wanted it red and that he wanted to do it all by himself. Thus was born the DIYY (Do It Your-Youngself) Project.
Yes – that is him spraying all by himself. I tried to direct him to do the sweeping motion – not bad for a first-timer. He did two {mostly} light coats. I came back and helped with a few of the crevices. 
Voila! I think the red is brilliant and matches his room perfectly! PLUS I already had red paint left over from this project – so it was economical, too!
And it is a perfect topper for this little shelf!Maybe I should hire BBC as a consultant
for my future projects – what do ya think?
OH and Kimba is having a surprise DIY party which is quite fortuitous (“that means lucky”, sorry – couldn’t resist – to this day Tombstone is a favorite movie). She’s going to be doing it each week throughout the summer, so go link up your projects AND get some ideas for your next one!
July 2, 2009
Tell your son he did a great job! And, I love the red!
July 2, 2009
precious!! Props to you for letting your little guy in on the design choice AND re-habbing! Looks fab!
July 2, 2009
Awesome. I am really impressed. Your son did a great job!
July 3, 2009
A keeper that one! Sounds like a little one I know- “it’s my turn to try”! He did a fantastic job and it looks so good!
July 3, 2009
What a great find! My son would love this too, AND he loves to spray paint.
July 3, 2009
Big difference! Looks great.
July 4, 2009
That is great. And I really do like the red!
July 4, 2009
I love that you let your son did this! I would never have the guts to give my little ones a can of spray paint!
July 5, 2009
Your son did such a good job. And now has something very cool with a pretty cool memory of himself and his Mom finding and restoring the train.
I am now on a mission to find the same or something very similar for my grandson he is a TOTAL train lover.
wish me luck and thanks for such a great idea. =) =)
July 6, 2009
This is fabulous! It turned out so cute and I think he had a great idea…the red is so cute! I’m sure he is so proud that he had a hand in the art hanging in his room.
July 8, 2009
I’m constantly on the lookout for cheap but funky and fun projects to do for my toddler boy’s room. This is PERFECT!