My kid wants to make the top of her desk blue...?

How about taping off and wrapping with newspaper the part you don't want painted and buying the spray paint that is used for plastic surfaces. I know many people use this for outdoor play equipment. You can buy it at any hardware store.

Good Luck!

Painting Laminate Countertops

Painting regular laminate is one of the easiest surfaces to cover. All you will need is sandpaper (80 to 120 grit), trisodiumphosphate (TSP), a high-density foam roller and tray, and melamine paint.

Here’s how you can do it:

First, you need to sand the laminate surface. This may require a little elbow grease to remove the gloss of the laminate but it is worth the time it takes to do this as it is important for long term paint adhesion. Once the surface has been well sanded, wash with TSP (trisodiumphosphate), which is a detergent that you mix with water, designed to remove gloss and grease from surfaces. Be sure to wear gloves when handling TSP. Once you have washed the surface, rinse thoroughly with clear water and allow the laminate surface to dry completely.

Melamine paint is designed to cover laminate surfaces. It creates a hard and durable paint surface but it best to be applied in three thin coats rather than one thick coat. The high-density foam roller is an ideal way to apply Melamine as it will not roll bubbles into the paint so the surface appears smooth and even. For vertical surfaces like cabinet doors, it is best if you remove them and place them on a horizontal surface while painting. For high-traffic counter tops try creating granite or speckled look with several colours of Melamine applied using a sea sponge.

Special Note: The curing process of Melamine takes six days. A Melamine painted finish will last up to several years depending on how hard you are on the painted surface.