Dare to Make It: Holiday

How to Make a Collaged Table with a Built-in Game

Lee Meredith, contributor

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You could choose a table about the same size as the board game, or one much bigger for more collage space like my table.

Lee Meredith

For my Scrabble board, I found these sign language images—perfect!

Lee Meredith

If you build the table, you can add a shelf or drawer to hold the game pieces so it's always ready for playing.

Lee Meredith

You could choose a table about the same size as the board game, or one much bigger for more collage space like my table.

Photo: Lee Meredith

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Ok, I know I already did a board game project, but this one doesn't have to be, since you can totally leave off the board game element if you so choose— I just think a coffee table with a built-in board game of your choice is awesome! This project could be a relatively quick one, or it could be pretty major if you are able and willing to build the table yourself, which is why I'm giving you the concept several weeks before the deadline. 

You'll need:

• A table
• Collage materials: game board, book/magazine pages, photos, and/or anything else 2-D that you want
• Scissors (and an X-acto knife might be helpful)
• Mod Podge glue sealer and foam brush
• Optional: Envirotex Lite for a completely sealed, waterproof finish

Whether you do go completely DIY with the table or you head to your local thrift store (or Ikea like I did), the tabletop needs only to be as big as the game board you want to use, or it could be much bigger if you want lots of extra collage space. A tabletop the same size as the board, decorated with nothing but the game, would result in a cleaner, simpler, less crafty look, so that might be the way to go if your recipient loves games but has a more minimalist aesthetic.

The first thing you'll need to do is take the paper off the game board, which happens to be the hardest part of this whole project. In my experience, the paper will rarely want to just peel right off; you will get some rips, which you will have to glue down as seamlessly as possible when adhering to the tabletop. Start by carefully picking at the corners with your fingernails to see where it most easily comes off.

With this board, the top and bottom edges came up fairly easily, while the side two couldn't be pried up at all.

Keep peeling, slowly and carefully, if you're able to. Right now, you want to see if it's going to be possible to peel off the whole thing in one piece. If you are able to keep going and get the paper off with minimal ripping, great! With this Scrabble board example, that was not the case...

You can see that red part of the board that stayed stuck while peeling—no good!

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Comments (13)

Katrine writes: Hey.. Looks awesome! I want to do something like this, but with postcards. They are a little thicker. Do you think that it is possible? Thanks for you're answer

- Katrine
Posted: 1:12 pm on January 7th

veems48 writes: I used a hair dryer on high to remove the board game paper. It's timely but it comes off easier and cleaner. =) Thanks for the idea!
Posted: 3:33 pm on June 6th

MissTui writes: I love this!
Posted: 5:50 am on August 30th

msnew007 writes: So much fun! I love board games, and this is a fantasic idea for a game room or family room!
Posted: 12:36 am on July 27th

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Posted: 12:15 pm on May 11th

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Posted: 12:14 pm on May 11th

Jadja writes: Thank you for the idea! We have a horribly abused coffee table in our TV room, the top has been toddlerized but the sides and drawers are in great shape. I was just going to paint it but this will look awesome, it's a great way to reuse too. :)
Posted: 3:41 pm on January 19th

Anasofia writes: I LOVE YOUR IDEA
IT IS SO CREATIVE
I WILL TRY IT!
Posted: 3:04 pm on December 7th

Shannonfnp writes: I love your table. I made my daughter a similar collage toybox. To avoid having to tear original pictures, I took a digital photo and printed it with a matte (non-glossy) photo paper. This I decoupaged onto the table after cropping out what I didn't need of the image. I think the tears give your table a more artistic and authentic look overall.
Posted: 2:27 pm on November 23rd

Ldybugs writes: OOh! I love this idea. I think the ripped scrabble board adds character. I would probably intentionally rip one. but if you wanted a perfect looking one just use a steamer. I picked one up on sale at Kohls for about $20 it is a garment steamer.
Posted: 5:28 am on November 19th

Toffy writes: Too bad the game board didn't come right off. I think I would soak it in water to get it loose then iron it flat and dry. This looks like a very fun project. Great idea.
Posted: 2:32 pm on November 18th

tagoean writes: It would be easier (plus you'd save your original game board) if you could take a colour copy of the board... Any copy center could do that.

Other than that: great idea, I'm so gonna make one...
Posted: 7:14 am on November 17th

Sister_Diane writes: Super, super awesome!!
Posted: 2:11 pm on November 15th

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