Summer means family road trips! The only thing my kids beg me to bring along are the electronics to keep them occupied for the long drives! In the past, the kids have held the tablets on their lap to watch movies, but I worry about drops and them spilling food and drinks on them. With this DIY tablet holders, the problem is solved: keep the tablets out of the kids' hands during movie time, AND make one that's unique and fun! Make one for each of the headrests for your family!
Each tablet size is different, so there's no one-size-fits-call tablet holder! Lay out your table carefully on 3/4" birch plywood and mark its size. Be sure to leave a little wiggle room so that the tablet can be inserted and removed easily from the tablet holder.
Cut out the back of the tablet holder. You can use a circular saw or jig saw (or even a miter saw) to cut out the back. Use whatever tool is available and gets the job done.
Cut out the sides. You'll need 2 longer pieces and two shorter pieces. You'll end up with 4 pieces. NOTE: I didn't realize it at the time, but I did also need a 1/4" piece of birch plywood that would serve as a brace to hold the tablet in place. That piece will be the width of the tablet holder and as tall as needed to prevent the tablet from falling out.
Using wood glue, carefully assemble and glue the tablet holder together.
Use the orbital sander to smooth the edges and make sure it's even along the joints.
Craft stores have rolls of map sheets that you can use for decorative projects. A friend of mine had given me this roll and it was perfect for this project! You can buy a roll for under $10! Check for coupons at craft stores to get it for even less.
Lay the tablet holder on top of the map and fit the map around the edges, rolling it up and over the edges of the tabled holder.
Trim the map so that the sides will easily fold up onto the tablet holder once it's time to adhere it.
This is the top piece I referenced back in STEP 3. You'll need a small piece of 1/4" plywood that will prevent the tablet from falling out. Use your nailer to attach it, then fill the holes with wood filler. Sand smooth before painting.
Paint the inside of the table holder an ocean blue to go nicely with the map and travel theme! :) When it's dry, use a clear wax or a clear topcoat to protect it from scratches.
Very carefully spray each section of the tablet holder and map with spray adhesive. For a strong hold, wait at least 30 seconds before adhering the map after spraying. Be sure to use napkins to prevent sticky over-spray from getting on other parts of your project and workspace! Work it section by section, applying the spray and adhering the map to the tablet holder.
Stencil "ROAD TRIP" or some other cute saying on the top brace. I used my Silhouette Cameo cutting machine to cut the stencil and used white chalked paint with a sponge to apply it.
Staple on some Velcro brand fastener to create an adjustable strap to hold the tablet holder to the car headrest! Super easy! This project can be done in as little as 2 hours or less!
Summer means family road trips! The only thing my kids beg me to bring along are the electronics to keep them occupied for the long drives! In the past, the kids have held the tablets on their lap to watch movies, but I worry about drops and them spilling food and drinks on them. With this DIY tablet holders, the problem is solved: keep the tablets out of the kids' hands during movie time, AND make one that's unique and fun! Make one for each of the headrests for your family!
Each tablet size is different, so there's no one-size-fits-call tablet holder! Lay out your table carefully on 3/4" birch plywood and mark its size. Be sure to leave a little wiggle room so that the tablet can be inserted and removed easily from the tablet holder.
Cut out the back of the tablet holder. You can use a circular saw or jig saw (or even a miter saw) to cut out the back. Use whatever tool is available and gets the job done.
Cut out the sides. You'll need 2 longer pieces and two shorter pieces. You'll end up with 4 pieces. NOTE: I didn't realize it at the time, but I did also need a 1/4" piece of birch plywood that would serve as a brace to hold the tablet in place. That piece will be the width of the tablet holder and as tall as needed to prevent the tablet from falling out.
Using wood glue, carefully assemble and glue the tablet holder together.
Use the orbital sander to smooth the edges and make sure it's even along the joints.
Craft stores have rolls of map sheets that you can use for decorative projects. A friend of mine had given me this roll and it was perfect for this project! You can buy a roll for under $10! Check for coupons at craft stores to get it for even less.
Lay the tablet holder on top of the map and fit the map around the edges, rolling it up and over the edges of the tabled holder.
Trim the map so that the sides will easily fold up onto the tablet holder once it's time to adhere it.
This is the top piece I referenced back in STEP 3. You'll need a small piece of 1/4" plywood that will prevent the tablet from falling out. Use your nailer to attach it, then fill the holes with wood filler. Sand smooth before painting.
Paint the inside of the table holder an ocean blue to go nicely with the map and travel theme! :) When it's dry, use a clear wax or a clear topcoat to protect it from scratches.
Very carefully spray each section of the tablet holder and map with spray adhesive. For a strong hold, wait at least 30 seconds before adhering the map after spraying. Be sure to use napkins to prevent sticky over-spray from getting on other parts of your project and workspace! Work it section by section, applying the spray and adhering the map to the tablet holder.
Stencil "ROAD TRIP" or some other cute saying on the top brace. I used my Silhouette Cameo cutting machine to cut the stencil and used white chalked paint with a sponge to apply it.
Staple on some Velcro brand fastener to create an adjustable strap to hold the tablet holder to the car headrest! Super easy! This project can be done in as little as 2 hours or less!
