Smiling Train Rolling Along for Happy Birthday

A gentle color plan to get started — mix in your own anytime.

• light blue
• bright red
• bright blue
• golden yellow
• leaf green
• pale yellow
• cream
• bubblegum pink
• chocolate brown
• royal blue
• light gray
• lime green

A suggested order, zone by zone — skip around as you like.

1. 1Start with the sky: color the three big clouds in light blue and the small stars in golden yellow.
2. 2Paint the engine: make the cab and boiler bright blue, the smokestack, collar and bottom skirt bright red, and the round face pale yellow, leaving the eye whites and face shine white.
3. 3Color the wagons and gift: the middle wagon in leaf green, the yellow wagon in golden yellow, the last wagon in bright red, and the gift box in bubblegum pink with its bow in golden yellow.
4. 4Add the balloons and cupcake: the top balloon bright blue, the left balloon bright red, the right balloon leaf green, the cupcake wrapper in chocolate brown and the frosting in cream with a pale peach cherry.
5. 5Color the party hat in bright blue with golden yellow brim and flower, adding dots in green, orange and yellow, then fill the wheels with bright blue rims and golden yellow centers.
6. 6Finish the track with chocolate brown ties and light gray rails. Optional: add a little shading on the clouds and the hat with a slightly darker shade of the same color.