DIY activity/train table ideas?

[justbeth]

I need some ideas! We are replacing our current coffee table and I really want to repurpose it into an activity table for Emma. The top is microfiber (I recovered it, but the original microfiber is still under there) and I'm thinking about painting it to look like a train table and road. Does anyone know if you can paint on microfiber? Maybe spray paint? Underneath there are two wooden trays. I was thinking about spray painting one into a chalk board. Any ideas with what I could do with the second one? I have thought about attaching a green lego mat to make it a lego tray, but Emma isn't really into Legos. Does anyone have any other ideas??

Funny tid-bit: The top also comes off and Emma likes to prop it against the table use it as a slide. She invented this game herself while I had the flu.

Here is the table:

[mightybee]

Great idea! Not sure about painting on microfiber, but maybe you could make the train table top/road out of felt and just attach that to the top.

Other ideas for the trays: white board, magnetic board, felt board.

Or how about using the area underneath for storage by adding some large bins?

Have fun and let us know how it turns out!

[Riverdong11]

Not sure about painting microfiber, but since the top comes off you could get a piece of wood to replace the top and paint that. For the other tray, I saw paint at Home Depot to turn surfaces into dry erase boards.

[justbeth]

Thanks ladies! I bet DH could make a new top. I might try painting the microfiber and if it doesn't work then try building a new wood top. A dry erase board is a great idea! I've never seen that paint, Riverdong11, but it sounds cool!

[roo1582]

I wonder if regular old fabric paint would work on the microfiber. Or you could make a new cover for it in felt, and then make road pieces, buildings, etc our of other pieces of felt. That way she could constantly create new roads, neighborhoods, etc that she can use with her toys.

[justbeth]

That is a great idea, roo1582! If I used felt it could be a train table set up or used like a regular felt board, which I've always wanted to make her but never have. This may be my new plan! Do you happen to know where I could buy felt that is in larger pieces? I've only ever seen it in the small squares.

[roo1582]

Jan 25, 2015 10:27:50 GMT -5 justbeth said:

That is a great idea, roo1582! If I used felt it could be a train table set up or used like a regular felt board, which I've always wanted to make her but never have. This may be my new plan! Do you happen to know where I could buy felt that is in larger pieces? I've only ever seen it in the small squares.

I'm not 100% sure, but I know they sell it since I've seen them.  They might sell them at specialty fabric stores.  I haven't checked any places like Michael's or JoAnne's.  I'm sure you can find it online.  

[mrsrek10]

Jan 25, 2015 12:05:35 GMT -5 roo1582 said:

Jan 25, 2015 10:27:50 GMT -5 justbeth said:

That is a great idea, roo1582! If I used felt it could be a train table set up or used like a regular felt board, which I've always wanted to make her but never have. This may be my new plan! Do you happen to know where I could buy felt that is in larger pieces? I've only ever seen it in the small squares.

I'm not 100% sure, but I know they sell it since I've seen them.  They might sell them at specialty fabric stores.  I haven't checked any places like Michael's or JoAnne's.  I'm sure you can find it online.  

Barging in, I know Hobby Lobby here has felt by the roll like any other fabric. I used it in my classroom a lot when I taught.

[justbeth]

Thanks mrsrek10!! I'll go by there tomorrow.