Everyone needs an extra table for family gatherings or a game night a few times a year, but you’ll have to find a place to store it for the rest of the year. Well, I have the solution for you, a card table that doubles as wall art when not in use.
Materials
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- Old card table
- (1) 1/2″ Sanded Plywood (birch or whitewood work well)
- (2)- 1″ X 2″x 8′ (or larger) paint-grade lumber
- Wood glue
- Wood filler
- Conduit straps
- Wood Primer (unless you have purchased primed lumber)
- Paint or artwork of your choice
- Polycrylic (or another food-safe sealant)
The Table
The idea started with this tired card table I found in a neighbor’s garbage. The top was in bad shape but the frame and legs were in perfect working order.
So I simply planned to make a new wood top for the table. For this, I used a 1/2″ thick piece of sanded plywood cut to 36″ x 36″. I also cut a mitered frame out of 1″x 2″ lumber to cover the raw edge. This frame can be as built deep as you like.
Once all the framing was cut, I applied wood glue and lined up the corned around my tabletop. I used a pneumatic brad nailer to attach the frame to the top but you could also nail in by hand or use a pocket hole jig to attach it from below.
Once the top was all put together I filled all the nail holes and any gaps with wood filler. When the filler was dry I gave everything a good sanding.
With the new top complete I could not reattach it to the base. Some of the original fasteners were still in place but others had rusted out so I added one of these 3/4″ conduit straps to each side for extra hold.
I used a few scraps of wood blocking to hold the leg frame centered while I attached them. This was about the time I had the brilliant idea to turn this into a work of art. When I folded the legs down I realized the frame was deep enough to conceal the legs and also reminded me of the hollow of a stretch canvas. This meant I could hang the table on the wall without the legs showing and use the tabletop like a canvas for art.
The Art
I started the next step with a coat of primer as a base for doing just about anything I wanted to do.
I decide on a fairly simple multi-color starburst design.
I already had spray paint left over from previous projects so it was just a matter of laying out the colors.
I used painter’s tape to create a stencil and craft paper to mask off the areas I did not want to receive paint.
I added one color at a time until I had my design complete. While I chose a graphic design but the art you choose can be anything that is flat. You could paint an actual painting, decoupage an art print, use a stencil, or cut vinyl designs.
When my artwork was complete I applied two to three coats of polyacrylic to protect the art from the ware and tare of use as a table.
With two long screws drilled into the studs, I can hang my art and easily remove it when needed for activities. That means my card table that doubles as wall art can be enjoyed all year round.
