Mama Reworks It!: Chalkboard Lap Desk

Over the past year, I've been treating Banana Fana Bo Bana's little friends' birthdays like challenges. I am usually most creative when there is a need to fill. Living temporarily without a house of my own to organize and decorate, birthday gifts are a great creative outlet for me. 

This present was for a girl, who was turning 5. Her mother is a former teacher, whom I know always makes learning fun for her kids.  

I imagined them practicing numbers and letters on this chalkboard.

And the best part about it is, it's also a lap desk! 

I bought an old frame and painted it yellow about 6 or 11 times. 
I painted tempered hardboard with chalkboard paint that I mixed myself, and secured it in place with the preexisting frame backing. 

Then, I took another piece of tempered hardboard and glued foam to the back, wrapped a piece of fabric around it, and stapled it in place. I used gorilla glue to secure the whole thing onto the back of the frame. 

It was very well received.

Banana Fana Bo Bana helped a lot. 

I let her use the electric staple gun and gorilla glue. 

  I'm teaching her early that it isn't about the money you spend.

It's truly the thought that counts.