Plastic Camera Makeover DIY

hi there! i am excited to share with you a new project i made this week. it's scary doing DIYs for the first time (sometimes it can be a disaster in the experimenting stages!) but this one worked out even better than i'd imagined. here's my idea for giving your cute plastic 'toy' cameras a makeover....  

i've been collecting plastic cameras for a few years now. Holga, Polaroid, Lomo and Diana are just a few of the 'toy' cameras that have become so popular for their unpredictable and perfectly imperfect photos. recently i decided to start collection blue cameras because i want to do a home decor display with them when they aren't in use. 

i decided to try to paint a few of my plastic cameras that i already owned to match my new collection. here's the 'BEFORE' photo: 

the Holga was a gift (so sweet) and the lomo super sampler is a recent eBay purchase. i scored a great deal because the camera was used and in pretty bad cosmetic shape (although it still works perfectly!). 

choosing the right paint is the most important part of this DIY. i used indoor/outdoor craft paint. it is very inexpensive and can be purchased at most craft stores. here are some brands that i've tried.... 

choose the colors you fancy the most and grab a few small paint brushes if you don't already have some. 

it took me about three coats of paint (dying completely between each coat) to put a 'base color' on my cameras. i used a tiny brush to do the edging on the Holga (i always prefer to use a small brush over taping edges off, but that would work too). Next, I added the flower design (and my name... i couldn't resist!) to the Holga and a cute little heart to the Lomo. i gave them 24 hours to dry, just to be safe! :) 

 

Hope you enjoyed this! It's a really fun DIY and a great way to makeover items you already own! 
XOXO. elsie     

Comments

[Michelle Clement]

These are seriously rad! :) your painting detail is just lovely, too - so inspiring!!

[Liz]

these are theeeeeee prettiest! i'm obsessed.

[Jenna]

That is awesome!

[Diana]

Brilliant!! My Pop9 has the gold coat chipping off, this gives me the idea to spray paint it! So amazing!

[DinDin]

This is so adorable! I'm thinking of getting a Holga soon and definitely want to give this a try! thanks for sharing with us :)

[KatOfDiamonds]

A Bite of Allison (on blogger) sent me here...

... I am Favoriting your blog because you are wicked talented! just sayin'

[Stephanie Greer]

I love the colors you chose.And I love the flowers on the back, and little heart/arrow. Good Job Teach.

[Angela]

OH MY GOD! HOW CUTE ARE THEY?!Can I come and sleep on your doorstep rug so I can come in whenever you create something? You are so creative!

[Amy Martin]

I love it! I have a black holga begging to be painted now! Thank you for the awesome instructions! I will post a picture and link back here when I have finished. Thank you!

[Delightfully Tacky]

Hmmm, I may just have to do this...

[Emma]

They look fantastic!

[drummbellina]

They look brilliant!!

[Kasia]

so beautifull!

[Job]

I like taking pictures of my friends and family. I have both a digital camera and a Polaroid camera.

[the abstract/poetic]

great idea! love the aqua on the holga

[lou]

amazing!

[Foxy]

it's perfect :) really nice work <3

[Mona]

BEAUTIFUL!!!
If only I owned one..

[elisabetta]

simply... wonderful!!!

[Shieri]

they both look absolutely fabulous! :)

i was wondering if i could stick some big-but-cute tape on it instead of paint.