Here’s the story of a little $2 Goodwill truck I picked up in Georgia for Clara (I mentioned it in a recent video). When I found it it was charming and vintage-looking, but not quite “Clara.” I decided it would be a fun, simple makeover project for the two of us.
I started by brushing on a single coat of blue paint to set the stage for Clara’s artwork. The paint was a leftover test pot (Embellished Blue by Behr) from a previous project, so the whole makeover cost me just the truck. Once the paint dried, I handed Clara a box of crayons and encouraged her to go to town.
She had the best time coloring every corner and crevice. I wish I’d taken photos of her deeply focused on the task—she grabbed every color and colored with such intensity that I spent the time clapping and cheering like a proud mom. We did have a quick chat about only coloring on things when Mommy says so, and so far she’s respected that rule. The truck got full crayon coverage, even the wheels weren’t spared.
Her finished crayon-covered truck is adorable — a rolling canvas of childlike marks and color. It’s become one of her favorite toys and a place to keep crayons handy.
The truck usually sits on her little drawing desk, except when she’s pushing it around the floor, which she does most of the time.
I love that the truck stores her crayons visibly. Previously I kept them in a zippered pouch and she couldn’t easily see the colors. The truck’s little holes make a simple sorting game: she takes the crayons out and then puts them back in. It’s storage, a puzzle, and a toy all in one — and yes, it rolls, which is the trifecta of kid-appeal.
I considered sealing her doodles with a clear non-toxic sealer, but I decided to leave them open so Clara can keep adding to the design over time. She’s already added more pink the next day, and I’m curious to see how it changes as she keeps playing. If she wants a fresh start down the road, we can repaint it and let her redesign it again.
While we work on bigger projects like the deck, this was a zero-dollar creative win built around a $2 thrift-store find. Small, inexpensive projects like this can be unexpectedly rewarding — especially when Clara is part of the process. Someday soon we’ll bring the truck outside for alfresco coloring on the finished deck, which will be even more fun.
If you’ve been doing simple art projects with kids or pets, I’d love to hear about them. We once had Burger make a painting that was a blast to watch.