Something happened the other day, and I think we accidentally tapped into our inner Martha Stewart. But I’m not talking about table arrangements or fancy quiche. I am talking about artsy car mods that are designed to enrich a person’s life. Customizing a car is a great way to set oneself apart from everything else on the road, and it’s a great way to make a vehicle more memorable and fun for those who ride in it.
So why all the artistic inclinations all of the sudden? Well, to be completely honest we find that there is something to be said about a person who takes the time to craft a car into a rolling piece of art. Anyone can slap a sticker onto a car or hang fuzzy dice from a rear-view mirror, but it takes some real focus to make a car “Pinterest worthy.”
After a bit of research online the other night we came up with five easy artsy projects that are guaranteed to make any car a unique expression of the person behind the wheel. Now fair warning, some of these mods can be a little bit time consuming. However, there are also a few quick projects on this list that can be slapped together in a matter of moments.
There really is something for everyone here, and for those of us with kids this is a great way to work on a family project alongside the little ones. And for readers who are unsure if getting artsy with their pricey piece of property is a good idea, rest assured in knowing that nothing on the list cannot be undone if so desired. We just hope that people’s projects come out the way they want so that we can see them someday.
1. Custom sun visors
A custom sun visor can add a whole new level of color to an utterly bland interior, and in this descriptive DIY video we found recently it appears to be far easier than we thought. All you need for this project is some fabric adhesive spray, a plastic trim tool, super glue, an Exacto knife, some scissors, a couple of clamps, and a healthy amount of wax paper. After you pick out a fabric that you don’t mind looking at every time you get in the car it’s time to start! This fun modification is not nearly as difficult as it is time-consuming, and we think that with the right fabric, and a little bit of patience, a set of Snoopie sun shades would look fantastic in anyone’s beater!
2. Organic air fresheners
I recently made these custom air fresheners for my car by printing up some old cartoons I drew in college and dabbing them with organic essential oils. I started by using heavy card stock, printing the sheet so that I could fold the paper over (thus doubling its thickness and rigidity), and then started cutting out my cartoon. After cutting out both sides of the freshener I folded it in half, took a Q-tip and put a streak of essential oil down the folded spine, and used a glue-stick to seal it shut. Once the glue was dry I punched a hole in the top of the freshener and stringed it with some elastic twine. Now I have a chemical-free air freshener that doesn’t look like a boring yellow tree, and when it starts losing its scent I can “recharge” it with a fresh smear of oil. I also highly recommend starting with the soothing scent of Ginger Verbena Oil if you are not sure what fragrance would be best.
3. Superior cereal trash collector
This is one of those mods that is so intuitive that it makes you wonder why you didn’t think of this years ago. Just buy a plastic cereal container (make sure it has a hinged lid that is big enough), decorate however you please, toss a trash bag inside it, reattach the lid so that the bag won’t collapse to the bottom, and begin chucking trash in it! This is a great mod for anyone who wants a container for stickier items like soda pop cans, ice cream wrappers, and banana peels since the lid will keep aromas and stickiness trapped inside. I strongly recommend using vinyl wrap, an Exacto knife, and a soft spatula to properly wrap the container so that it matches the car’s interior. A couple of long strips of Velcro on the bottom and on the sides will also help keep the bucket upright during spirited drives.
4. Trunk-or-treat
Here is a great way to get together with all of your car buddies in an empty parking lot on Halloween without the wife getting pissed at you. Just get a ton of party paper, some poster board, scissors, some markers, and some glue, and you’ve got yourself one cool car for kids to grab candy out of! Just tossing a bunch of pumpkins and lights in the trunk will pass in a pinch, and the list of customizable options can be pretty vast if someone has enough time on their hands. Some of our personal faves can be found on this page, where creativity seems to run rampant at every turn.
5. Getaway wedding car decor
This is something that is probably illegal in most states, and yet people do it anyway without consequence. Some of our favorite “soft touch mods” are trails of hand cut hearts on lengths of twine and long trails of fluffy paper balls attached to lengths of string. But being from Alabama, I have seen far more creative ideas than this, and a train of empty PBR beer cans threaded alongside some spent shotgun shells and a raggedy old boot from both the bride and the groom will suffice just fine.
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