Birthday Project

Our birthday-filled summer has passed, but there are still a few trickling through the end of the year. Townshend's is in October, so we've been chatting on and of about what he wishes for gifts. He's a funny kid (or maybe it's normal and I just don't have enough of a sample) but he is always changing his mind.

Still, in all the casting about, there was one wish that remained fairly constant. We've had this little wood ambulance which was left out in the rain. A lot of the paint and colors peeled off, which was distressing to Townshend and he wanted me to fix it up. At first he just wanted me to repaint it as an ambulance, but then he got the fun idea that it should be an ice cream truck. So, I set about to make it so!

First things first.. rough up the paint that remained, so it'd hold the new set of paint:

Then I sketched out the design and started adding some color:

Little by little, more details filled out:

Too much red.. Undo!

Better! Once I was happy with all the details, I sealed it up with a layer of Mod Podge, followed by a couple coats of varnish. Hopefully that will help it withstand all the excitements of being played with:

Townshend was quite pleased, as well as Moon, and I like how it turned out too.. win all around!