Ideas for Decorating a Clown Trunk

[Mr. Dazzle]

Alright Guys and Gals...

I have an old chest that I used to use as a toy chest. It a light weight chest (when empty) and it is made out of some sort of maroon leather covered thin plywood...

A while back I painted the chest with a coat of white primer... I also coated it with one layer of white housepaint.

Now I am looking for ideas on decorating it. I know that when the lid of the trunk is opened with the back of the trunk facing the audience, I want the top of it to read "Razzle-Dazzle D. Clown" and "Sullivan Theatrics & Entertainment"... Other than that I haven't thought much about decorating it...

Today it struck me that I could paint some funny words like "This End Up "(with an Arrow... the joke being that it is painted upsidedown pointing towards the bottom of the trunk)... Also "Fragile" etc...

Do you all have any other ideas?? I love hearing from each and everyone of you ... so share your two cents (or more) with me... Who knows... before long I might have a whole dollars woth of two cents...

[Hopper]

Well, all I can tell you what I did. Firstly, I didn't want mine to be too "busy" Some guys throw all kinds of different stickers all over their trunk and I didn't care for the look...plus the more junk on your trunk, the less likely it is that your name will jump out.

I'd suggest one more color to trim the edges if you're going to keep it white. I'd go with red or blue...but red might make it look a little too Christmasy. (Decent quality colored tape might even be a better option than painting trim, if you can find some.)

Now me...I'd make a mess of the job trying to paint my own lettering, so here's what I did.

Get some mac-tac or contact paper that contrasts with the white on your trunk. Design your name/logo on a printshop program or some such. I'd suggest just the name Razzle Dazzle and maybe drop the "D clown" from it...the fact you're a clown is probably apparent, but whatever works for you. (My own clown doesn't see himself as a clown, so it wouldn't say so on his trunk.)

Do up the logo in full size, but be prepared that you may have to break it down so all the parts can be printed on normal printer sized paper. (I had one sheet that said "HOP" and the other one said "PY'S" to put together and make it a full size logo.)

Anyway, draw up the logo, then transform it so its just an outline of the letters. Then mirror/flip the image so its backwards, then print it out on the backing of the contact paper. Then use scissors or an X-acto blade to cut out your personalized logo. Then do up some complimentary shapes. (if your clown sees himself as a magician, then stars and moons. If he's a cowboy, use horseshoes...etc etc.) Stick it all on your trunk and walla!

It takes time to do this, but the end result is well worth it....and looks so much better than store bought letters.

Of course, if you can paint letters by hand, then more power to ya!

[Fitzwilly]

From experience I can offer just a couple of tips. White props DO NOT stay white very long. It the base color of your trunck remains white be prepared to touch up the scrapes and bruises on a regular basis. The other thing, flat housepaint also shows where it has been bumped or rubbed or scraped or looked at wrong very easily. A satin finish or a semi gloss works well and seems to hold up fairly well. Over the top you can even use a clear coat if you want. I would recommend a semi gloss so that it doesn't glare and prevent people from seeing you name.

[Sassy Frass]

You guys really inspire me ...I hav an old trunk in my garage that is about to turn Orchid Pink with Custom Lettering "Sassy's Things" on it!!!

[Mr. Dazzle]

Glad we could help Sassy...

This is a left over project from last summers VBS that never got finished... I intend on finishing it soon.

I painted it white as a base coat because I ran out of spray primer... I do have some bright green paint left over from a house project in my garage aswell... The main thing is that I'm trying not to buy any more paint. As far as I know it is some sort of gloss aswell.

[Sassy Frass]

Good Luck Razz, I know how things can get behind!! I just got back from Mexico the second week of Dec. and the way it looks I may be caught up by oooohhhh end of Feb. first of Mar.???

[Mr. Dazzle]

Wow... I've never been to Mexico... Did you have a good trip?

[Sassy Frass]

Yes, we did, it was a mission trip, we go every year...It's alot of work! We were really blessed to meet some new people this year and go to some new churches. This year my husband and I did the Banana/Bandana skit and people were bending over laughing! The children loved it!! (we always take them bananas, and their Christmas gifts)..The churches that we visited do not take clowning as seriously as we do so we did not get to "dress". But it was still fun. Most of these children have nothing to smile about, and much less laugh. It really did my heart good to see them roar with laughter! Our ladies aux. @ church had made some beautiful Bible covers and put Spanish Bibles in them...(700 of them). We were trying to link the skit with following the directions in the Bible. (they did not know they were getting a new Bible) So we were able to do this with effect. Praise the Lord!

[Scruffy]

Pint it with a hard enamel pain, Go to someone that does graphic design work and can cut vinyl lettering. Let them letter it.

[Mr. Dazzle]

thanks for the tip Scruff... I may do that in good time ... however I'm trying to cut down costs and use paint that I already have... I already have some bright green house paint... so it will get a coat of that... and maybe multicolored Letters on the top of the trunk.