Xmas Dino Bike #1

This year, tippy top of Liam's Christmas wish list was a Dino bike. Not just any Dino bike but this one we'd seen on craft blog! 

Secretly I was thrilled Liam chose something that would get my creative juices flowing! I love a challenge and love trying something new! I've never spray painted before let alone stripped a bike down and rebuilt it! Please excuse the lighting and poor quality photos. Being a Christmas present, I worked on the bike on an evening when Liam was asleep so not to spoil the surprise. 

My Dad's wife managed to source a second hand bike for £10. Sadly I didn't take a picture of the actual bike before I took it apart, but I managed to find a stock photo. The bike was rusty in parts, the wheels and pedals grated when turned so everything needed stripping down, stickers peeled off, washed and all the moving parts and bearings re-greasing. The breaks were fab and the bike was in good condition for a second hand bike, it didn't have too many knocks on it!

Original Bike (stock photo!)

All stripped down, washed and ready to paint!

Once stripped and taped up, I sprayed the entire bike (including the wheel, spokes and chain guarded) a lovely green colour. Once dry, I tipped the bike upside down and sprayed a yellow on the 'underbelly' and centre of the wheels.

I hand-painted dino stripes all over the bike on a metallic blue colour which looks almost silver in some lights! I also sprayed the stabilisers to match the bike as these were initially just standard chrome and white and I wanted them to match.

First coat of colour

Yellow underbelly!