Isn't this the loveliest playscape? Jennifer wrote to share this fabric mural she made as a backdrop for her son's train set and we can't take our eyes off it! Make sure to check out the detailed photos for a better look at her clever fabric choices which easily add beautiful detail to this simple, you-can-do-it project.
Jennifer: I moved my son's train set from his play table to the top of the buffet to free up some space. It looked so blah without a background so I thought I could make one out of some foamcore and fabric to make a little scene. She used felt and cotton scraps from her stash to create this sunny landscape which can easily be moved or even used as a background for other types of play.
She also added her versions of Bertie and Harold (of Thomas the Tank Engine fame) with 88 cent Walmart wooden figurines and craft paint which, besides being a bargain, we think are so much cuter.
Brava, Jennifer! We're sure your son loves it!
Wonderful! I love it!!!! My son just started getting into trains...something like this might be in our future!
view jeneric's profile
This is fantastic. I love seeing what other mothers are creating like this! I hope she had a lot of fun making it. I do wonder how he'll reach the table (other than one step or so) though. I guess he doesnt play with it much anymore--or is taller than I'm imagining?
view serelile's profile
Very sweet.
Can someone give me/us a primer on trains? My son is turning two and I have a set I am itching to unwrap. But most of the sets (including his) say 3 . Is this a choking hazard issue or an interest issue?
view JudiAU's profile
Thank you!! It was a really fun project!
We have a little table and chairs in our dining room for him and we originally decided to put the train on top of it (in lieu of an actual train table). He loved it because he could walk around the whole thing, but I missed being able to (easily) use the table for snacks and crafts when we had friends over so we moved the train to the top of our sideboard. It's only 18 inches deep and 26 inches high so he can reach everywhere, no problem. He just walks back and forth now instead of all the way around : )
view giggit's profile
I love it. I've been thinking about creating a train table for my daughter, but this is so much better than anything I had in mind. I hope it prompts a flurry of train tables submissions, much like the play kitchen flurry I'm still poring over.
view ksg's profile
JudiAU,
The '3 and up' is for safety (because the trains are made of small parts), but with a little supervision you likely won't have any problems. I bet your little guy would really like playing with a train set! Most toddlers I've known in several years as a nanny have LOVED the classic wooden train sets! Have fun!
view genkiliz's profile
The train backdrop is fabulous! Super cute!!
view genkiliz's profile
JudiAU,
I have a 2 year old and he's obsessed with trains. I noticed that the Ikea train set is cheap but holds up good as a first train set. As genkiliz said initially supervise...i'm sure he'll love it!
view jjibin's profile
the backdrop is amazing!
view jjibin's profile
Beautiful! I'm definitely inspired to at least cut out some felt grass/water pieces for my son's train set. Thank you!
view kellyjeanie's profile
What a great idea! And you could apply it to all sorts of things--dolls (a house mural in the background), stuffed animals (a forest), cars (a city).
view pennycarnival's profile
Love this! I am into fabric landscapes right now after taking a felting class recently, and as a quilter. Also love the train set! I have already started collecting train sets for my little guy who is only 3 months old. I hope he's into them--his mommy certainly is!
view upstategirl's profile
JudiAU-- my 2.5 yr old likes the trains a lot, but gets frustrated because he can't quite maneuver the trains around the track the way he wants. Also, we don't have room for a dedicated train track so sometimes he gets bored waiting for us to put one together. FWIW.
view nicole612's profile
Thanks for the comments all. I'll plan on breaking out the new trainset around his 2nd birthday. He isn't a mouthy kid so I am not too worried about small parts.
view JudiAU's profile