Quick and Easy Crafts: Thomas the Tank Engine Art for Kids

Does your child love trains? Do you find they are expensive to purchase and even more expensive to try and decorate their room with? When my son was a toddler he loved Thomas the Tank Engine. He wanted to decorate his room in Thomas toys, but it was just too expensive, and I couldn't afford to do it. I decided that instead of breaking his little heart my financial woes, I would get crafty. First I made him a set of Thomas curtains. (Check out how with Quick and Easy Crafts: Character Curtains for Kids)

After the curtains were up, I realized I needed something for the walls. We made a trip to our local Michael's Craft Store and headed to the unfinished wood section. I showed him some chunky die cut train pieces and he smiled. We bought them and made them, together. He helped me make sure I put the right color scheme on each engine.

Here are the supplies I used to make Thomas and Edward inspired trains:

2 chunky 3-D unfinished wood trains
Standard craft paint brushes
Craft Smart Acrylic Paint: White, and Black
Ceramcoat Acrylic Paint: Metallic Silver and Metallic Gold
Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint: Bright Red and Cobalt Blue
Spray varnish
Fine point black permanent marker
Pencil

This craft is great for all ages and skill levels.

Creating Thomas (Use above photo as a guide)

To create our beloved Thomas the Tank Engine, take your cobalt blue and paint the body of the train, including the wheels. You will need two even coats. Let dry. Next, take your red paint, and using a thin brush, carefully paint a thin red line in a rectangle shape beginning under the window and extending up towards the smokestack. While that dries, take the same brush and red paint and make a straight line near the bottom of the train. Have the line appear to go through the wheels. You may need two coats of the red lines. After the blue is dry, take your pencil and draw the outline of the number "1" near the center of the train. Using a standard craft brush, fill in the number "1" in gold paint. Let dry and repeat. While that dries, it is time to use your black and paint in the smokestack and top of the cab. Again, two coats are best for all parts of this project. Lastly, use the white to paint the headlight, window and bell, and the silver to color the driving rod on the two wheels. When the paint is completely dry, use the fine point permanent marker and outline the number "1". Set aside.

Creating James (Use above photo as a guide)

Thomas' dear friend and sometimes rival, James, is next on our list of Sodor Island characters to create. This one begins just like the Thomas one, but instead of blue we are using bright red. Paint the entire body of the train, except do not paint the wheels. Remember to let dry and apply the second coat for all colors.

While the red dries, take your black and paint the top of the cab, the smokestack and the wheels. After that, take your white and, just like Thomas, paint the window, bell and headlight white, and the driving rod silver. Lastly, take your fine tip brush and gold paint to 'draw' a number "5" in the center of the train. Then, right above the "5" and below the bell, paint four small vertical hash marks. Lastly, using the same brush and gold paint, make a line near the bottom of the train that, like Thomas, appears to go through the wheels. Set aside to dry.

After both trains are dry, about 20 minutes each, it is time to spray varnish them. I do not recommend using standard craft varnish and a brush because the marker may run as you slide the brush over it. Use a spray and apply even coats according to the listed directions.

Your new trains are complete! You can also use a nice green to make a Percy, or any other friends that your little one adores. These can be hung up using standard tacks, strong double-sided tape or even saw tooth hangers. Be extra careful if you are going to attach hangers. The nails might be longer and stick out on the other side!

Sources:
Personal Experience and Ideas
Michael's Craft Store