Make an Old Toy New!


  There are a fair amount of kids toys that outlast their owner's interest; the only problem is that their looks can fade and be less appealing. With a fresh coat of paint, however, it's easy to breath new life into an old toy and prepare it for some new adventures!

What you need:

  • (1) can Pumpkin Orange Krylon Fusion spray paint (or color of your choice)
  • (1) old kids toy
  • Hose
  • Plastic bags
  • Masking tape

How and How Long:

  1. Hose it down: For the paint to stick to the surface, you want it to be nice and clean. So get out there with a hose and some soap and scrub it down. Then leave it out to dry.
  2. Masking off: So now you want to cover up all the parts of the toy that you don't want painted. On this toy that meant the steering wheel, the front grill, the seat, and the wheels. For the grill and the seat, I just covered them with masking tape. Take the time to get a clean covering around all the curvy bits. It's slow and a bit maddening, but you'll really appreciate it when you're done. For the steering wheel and the wheels, I first covered them with plastic bags and then used masking tape to stick them to the toy and to have a clean line of where I wanted the paint to stop.
  3. Paint! Classic spray paint technique here: spray in sweeping motions with a little bit of overlap. Apply thin coats and let each one dry for a little bit before going over it again. Keep moving and be sure to hit the surface from multiple angles. The paint dries to the touch in 15 minutes, but can only be handled after 1 hour. For it to be fully chip resistant, you'll need to wait a week.
  4. Enjoy your new toy! With a new paint job, this old toy is ready to rock. Give it to a child to enjoy!

Approximate project time: 1 hour (not including dry time).

What it Costs:

Cost is $14 for 2 cans of spray paint. Toy and other supplies were on hand!