18 Aug 2014 Funky Frugal: Manly wheels

by Tanner Cangelosi

When you have six children, you find ways to cut costs. With our beautiful Arkansas weather, we’ve been outside a lot on family walks around our new Hot Springs neighborhood. My precious son, Jacob Owen, has been riding a cute, hot pink rusty bike . . . and it was killing me.

He didn’t seem to mind, but it bothered me. I’m all about some hand-me-downs, but I wanted him to have something that was special for just him. So my “wheels” started turning.

I went to Lowe’s and bought Kilz primer spray paint and the more expensive spray paint that was metallic. If you go ahead and spend a little more money on the primer and paint, it will cover better and last longer. For outdoor items, you should also apply a coat of polyurethane (I use the spray paint kind for things that are odd shapes such as a bike). When you take your time, the spray paint does the work for you and makes the bike or any item look fresh and new.

Next, our amazing nanny, Lindsey, who keeps me sane, got out her Silhouette. This amazing machine hooks up to her computer and cuts vinyl as a printer would.

My husband loves the New Orleans Saints, so we thought we would surprise both of them by making the bike ready for football season.

“Who Dat?!” was the appropriate wording to put on the back. Jacob Owen was so surprised and kept saying, “I ride my new bike.” That makes a mom’s heart proud!

Bike:             Free
Paint:            $9
Vinyl:            $3
Total cost:     $12