Easy DIY Laptop stand for bed

Have you ever been laying in bed, laptop on your lap and your legs heat up? Or you are worried that your computer isn't getting enough ventilation and will heat up? Yeah, that was me all the time! I'm guilty of blogging or surfing Pinterest until  late at night on my computer after all of the kids have fallen asleep. A laptop desk for my bed was ALWAYS on my wish list. Heck, I had even looked some up on Amazon to buy a few times. Then I saw some expensive ones from Pottery Barn and thought, forget that! So, when I was asked to create something for the Create & Share Challenge with a piece from Walnut Hollow, I finally knew what I had to do. The best thing about it...  I'm showing you how to easily make your own so that you don't have to buy one that costs $100!

It  all started with this tray from Walnut Hollow. 30 of us bloggers were asked to take one of their products and transform with for the Create & Share Challenge hosted by Casa Watkins.. I chose the pallet tray and thought it in for a while. I wanted to do something out of the box for this challenge and I think I did! So, let's get started.

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED:
Pallet Tray from Walnut Hollow $14.99 Use code SPRING2016 for 20% off until March 31st
1 4ft poplar wood slat 3/4 inch by 1 1/2 inches wide $4 at Orchards
8 Wood screws 1 1/4 inch long
Circular saw
Chalk paint. I used General Finishes in the color LIMESTONE
2 hardware handles. $1.38 I got mine from Lowes but I usually always get my hardware from D. Lawless
Sand paper or sander
Drill

Start out by cutting 4 legs 11 3/4 inches long. You will also need to cut 2 crossbars 11 inches long so then you will end up with 6 slats.

Flip your pallet tray to the right side of the tray and place one poplar slat in the corner and screw it in from the inside so that the screw is hidden.

Continue to screw all 4 legs on.

Take your cross bar and set in on top, on the inside of the legs and screw those one. VRS TIP* When screwing in screws and you don't want the wood to split, wet the  screw with your mouth  or run it over a bar of soap. Sounds really funny but it never fails! 

Sand down all of the cut edges and rough corners. I chose to round out the edges.

Paint with your color of choice. My absolute new color of gray paint is Limestone from General Finishes. It is the perfect soft true gray. No purple tint! Then let it dry and add your handles to the side with your drill.

Now you can check out the other 29 projects. So many creative ideas!

Pallet Tray Projects

Casa Watkins: DIY Succulent Garden Dry Erase Board

Pocketful Of Posies:  DIY Military Coin Shadow Box

Vintage Romance Style: Easy DIY Laptop Stand

Shabby Grace Blog: Herb Garden Tray

Vintage Paint and More: DIY Vintage Pallet Tray

Domicile 37: Electronics Tray

Iris Nacole: Bohemian Tray

Lovely Etc: Simple Pallet Photo Display

The Southern Couture: How To Decorate Your Home For Every Season

Green With Decor: Decorating The Bathroom Walls

Medium Basswood Round

Run To Radiance: Faux Succulent Centerpiece DIY

A Shade of Teal: DIY Clock

One Mile Home Style:  Golden Home Sweet Home Wall Art

Flourish & Knot: Monogrammed Cheese Board

Lehman Lane: DIY Rustic Boy's Room Sign

Knock It Off Kim: Rustic Treat Stand

Farmhouse 40: Wood Open Sign

DIY Beautify:  Wood Slice Clock

Creatively Homespun:  DIY Children's Step Stool

Chatfield Court:  DIY House Numbers

Large Round Clock

Monica Wants It: Gold Polka Dot Clock

The Twin Cedars: DIY Lazy Susan

Tastefully Frugal:  DIY Drum Clock

Uncookie Cutter: Tabletop Clock

The House Down The Lane:  Kid's Art Cheese Tray

Refashionably Late: Stenciled Clock

Homeology: Rustic Modern Wall Clock

My Life From Home: DIY Baseball Clock

Old House To New Home: DIY Stenciled Clock