Outdoor Checkerboard Table

The idea started with these little concrete containers that I wanted to cover in moss (I recently found boxes of moss I had bought for wedding decor and never used). I thought they would make adorable game pieces for a checkerboard.

I was working with the moss that I had, so I used two different types. Above is the peel and stick moss, a dream to work with, and some Reindeer Moss that I hot glued on. The Reindeer Moss colors I used are green and cream.

I went with the solid green for one set and the cream and white for the second set. You need 12 pieces per set. Once the moss was applied I decided on using Succulent plants for their durability.

Once the game pieces were completed, I had to figure out the checkerboard itself. I decided it would be pretty to make it green and white. I had my husband make a checkerboard tabletop out of wood. The table will eventually be moved to the Airbnb, which has some cover on the patio.

A checkerboard has 64 spaces. 8 up and 8 down. I established that I needed the squares to be 3.75 inches each to fit the games’ pieces. So the actual board had to be 31 inches square (that stretched my math abilities). Hubby used 1/2 inch plywood for the base and 1/4 boards for the outside of the frame. We used wood glue and a pneumatic nailer to assemble the tabletop.

For the base, I found an old cafe table in our shed that had seen better days and was a perfect size to use as the base, so he also added the 1 x 2 inside for a snug fit over the existing table. Yay for upcycling!! Next up, painting a checkerboard pattern.

Let me state I was not looking for perfection in this paint job. I wanted it to feel homemade and quaint. I decided to handprint the squares. The hardest part was how to paint them. I decided post-it notes would work. Plus, we had them on hand. I cut a larger size down to a 3.75 size and laid them out.

The post-it plan worked GREAT! I painted three coats of white (it had primer in the paint already) and two coats of green. When dry, I sprayed the entire board with 3 coats of exterior polyurethane for added protection from the elements.

I then spray-painted the table base white, and my husband secured the tabletop to the old cafe table with wood glue and a few screws.

And here is the finished table. I still have to move it over to the patio at the Airbnb, but since we have guests scheduled for the next few weeks, I took advantage and enjoyed a few games outside. It was an excellent way to celebrate the Spring weather we have been enjoying. And a bonus….I won all the games!! ;)

Check out a few of the other projects I made with that leftover moss!

https://alifeunfolding.com/moss-art-diy-textured-wall-decor-in-less-than-a-hour/

https://alifeunfolding.com/5-of-the-easiest-ways-to-elevate-your-dollar-store-vases/