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Creating beauty out of chaos and sharing my home decor stories

Checkerboard Game Table

Kiddos Game Table2

I bought this little table and chairs from Ikea several years ago for $19.99.  At the time it was unfinished wood.  Oh the possibilities! Last year, I decided to spray paint it a pretty cherry red but was never really happy with the end result.  So yesterday, I got out my trusty can of spray paint and decided to give it another try.  I told hubby that I wanted to make it black and white.  He didn’t like the idea.  He wanted it black and red.  He also is better at math than I am and said he’d map out the checkerboard if it stayed red and if I would make an apple pie.  Deal.  Especially since I may or may not still be known to count on my fingers at times.  Don’t judge me.
Hubby used packing tape which is a perfect 2 inches wide.  He marked off the borders, doubled up the packing tape, and then cut out 2 inch squares with an exacto knife.  He then just made a checkerboard with the packing tape. I spray painted it with some Big Lots Satin Black paint (cheap in price AND in quality, but I’m not paying more than $2 for my paint).  Waited for it to dry, and then peeled off the tape.

And here is what I ended up with!

I know the cherry theme is a bit girly but right now my boys are too young to mind. Woohoo!

The cake stand was purchased at the Christmas Tree Shop for less than $5.  I’ve seen them at Marshall’s and TJ’s but for more money.

I think this pic would make Mary Engelbreit proud!

If you want to see how I made the cherry seat cushions, click on this post.  They are sat in almost everyday and have held up great!

Gotta run.  We have some cherries to eat!  I hope to pit the leftovers and dip them in dark chocolate because let’s face it….almost everything is better when dipped in chocolate.

If you don’t have a pitter, here is a great trick using a pastry tip found via The Kitchen.
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Comments

  2. Super Cute! Now I'm on the look out for a small table! Thanks for stimulating my creative bug!

  6. I LOVE this! I have a "101 in 1001" list on my blog and one of my 101 is to make a game table for my son and I to play chess on! Very cute!

  7. This is SOOO COOL! I would love this for my boys. Every detail is perfect! I'm so glad you shared, this was a fun post.

  8. what a wonderful job, I just love the combination of the checkers and the seat design, wow so beautiful, I am a new follower of yours, come for a visit.

  9. Love it and love that your husband got to do all the hard work! It looks fantastic.

  13. Wow, that is soooo darn cute!!! I need to do a grown up sized version for my chess playing daughter. Like you, I am not great at math. My husband would definitely have to do the squares.

  17. That is so cute! I ask my husband for help with stuff like that too, especially when I wind up saying "it's too little lines past a half" {which I think should become a mathematical term}.

  18. Cute Cute Cute Beth! Great Job. What a great husband to volunteer to help cut out those squares.

  20. What a cute project! Love the fact that your boys are excited about learning to play checkers. It will be chess next! 🙂

    And your husband was sweet to help you out on that.

    Happy Met Monday…

    XO,

    Sheila 🙂

  21. So cute!! Yeah, my husband has to do the math at my house too. I don't do math!!

    This is adorable!

    Lou Cinda 🙂

  22. I absolutely LOVE it! I have a very similar IKEA table ($5 in their "as is" room 5 years ago). It's still plain beige. This is a GREAT idea for what I can do to it! Thanks!

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