Sorcha,
I use my Big Board right on a table surface; I feel like most ironing boards are wobbly, and worse so with the Big Board topper which is heavy.
With no "tools", you could easily make a big ironing surface with just a piece of plywood from Lowes -- they will actually cut it the size you want for a small fee -- and cover it with batting then flannel or ironing board fabric from Joannnes, where it's on sale right now.
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/p...RODID=prd10219
Use staples, or bulldog clamps, or duct tape to hold it all down - that way you can change it as needed for washing, or burned spots, or whatever. For storage it would also fit more easily under a bed, against the closet wall, behind a large piece of furniture, than the Big Board.
Jan in VA