A few weeks ago my bff and college roommate Stina came to visit us (with her handsome BF, whatup Paul!) and brought us a little housewarming gift.
Literally, she brought this for us on the plane. And that kind of can-do attitude, and major creative sparkle, amongst other things is what makes Stina my favorite.
I think she is now Gracie’s favorite too.
Gracie LOVES her party wagon. 
1. Yes that is a customized pink&red situation as per Gracie’s theme. 2. Custom cushion Stina had made. 3. Decal on the side reads “Gracie’s Lil Red Wagon”.
So, naturally, I had to steal this brilliance for the bubbles in my life.
The first party wagon project for my sweet baby nephew Noah.
Noah’s Ark.
Obviously. Sunbrella stripey cushion fabric. So cute, just wish I had a picture of the cute nugget this is for in his ark.
The second was for Gracie’s best friend Mary’s 1st Birthday.
The Mary-Mobile.
Adorable Cath Kidston picnic cooler and fabric.
Another sassified customer.
As per Stina’s instructions, here are the DIY steps.
1. The wagons are available from RadioFlyer. Stina got me the old school version with the cuter wheels, but they are hard to find, and even though the bigger wheels aren’t as cute, they are more practical on bumpy roads. The wood sides come in a sealed natural wood, with some writing on them, so you have to sand them down pretty well first to get all of that off and get it ready to receive the paint.
2. Once you sand it down and wipe it off with a damp cloth, pick your color and spray paint. Stina recommended, and I would as well, Plutonium spray paint. They don’t have as many colors as some of the other brands, but it dries instantly for a great smooth finish, has great coverage, and very little smell. I think the colors that work best are either primary to go with the red, or more pastel to tone it down.
3. For the cushion, pick a fun fabric. I recommend an outdoor or oilcloth or something durable. Stina and I both enlisted the help of professionals for this part. The wagons come with a handy pattern to make the cushion, if you look there in the wagon you can see that brown paper template. I took that to a seemstress and she cut a piece of foam and then made the cover with a zipper so that you can take the cover off and clean it. We did ours as deep as the red wagon base since the sides go on to hold the bebe in, but you can make it shallower if you are concerned about them tumbling out. 
4. Before you attach the sides, I would recommend adding your decal. I got my vinyl decals from Lettering On The Cheap. They were cheap and fast, and had fun fonts, just be careful when you choose the scale that it isn’t wider than the slat it will be going on, or longer than the space between the supports. We had a bit of a mishap with “Noah’s Ark” and I had to cut it so it would go above/below because it was too long. The decals come with instructions for application, and it is pretty simple. The hardest part is picking a fun name for the wagon!
5. The umbrella accessory is from RadioFlyer. I got the fabric and picnic basket for Mary’s from Cath Kidston. I also ordered their adorable cowboy fabric for Noah’s Ark but it never got here…a mixup with customer service or something. Bummer.
That’s all, folks. Super thoughtful, adorable, unique baby present. You will be the hit of the 1st birthday party!
Dear Stina,
I think we need to start a West-Coast Customs for wagons.
And can we please consider this love letter to your genius our thank-you note? I’m sorry for being so sucky with my written correspondence.
You rule. In every way.
Love,
Bailey
Adorable! Please share where y’all purchased the wagon add ons
Please tell us where we can find these! They are really adorable and I would love to purchase a few myself.
Bailey (and Stina), the wagons are ADORABLE! You two are so freakin’ creative! What an awesome present. In fact, I’d sort of like one for myself…!
Bailey (and Stina), the wagons are ADORABLE! You two are so freakin’ creative! What an awesome present. In fact, I’d sort of like one for myself…!
ge.ni.us.
Thank YOU!! I needed a 2nd birthday present for my SN nephew. I didn’t know what to get. This is perfect for soooo many reasons. 1. Doesn’t look “special needs”. 2. Lets him get out and see his hood! Doing this right now!!!
You guys need to get into some of the high-end toy stores and do these custom order. My mom used to run a children’s boutique in the Hamptons and people would have gone crazy for these.
Her very own swagger wagon! Presh!
So cute and creative! I want an adult one
oh my dear lord, i laughed out loud. the ‘picture me rollin’ baby lounging in the wagon was WAY too much … i loved it! TGIF!
omg i just laughed out loud. the whole picture in my head of “picture me rollin” baby lounging in wagon was too much, i love it!
TGIF!
these are SO cute I cannot even stand it. what a great way to personalize a classic gift. love it, thanks for sharing!
No way! This is my family’s favorite gift to give when we know someone with a new booger. We actually have a custom car paint guy do the lettering so 123 DIY craft points to you my friend!
I love the wagon! I was wondering how much spray paint was needed for the wagon?
One would probably have been plenty, but I got two to be safe. Depends on the spray paint though…
Hi Bailey, do you know or could you ask your friend the font for “Gracies Lil Red Wagon”, its adorable and I love the lettering would like to have it for other projects