I’ve seen a lot of my blogger friends make an iPad stand. I’ve wanted to make one for a long, long time. Have you been looking for an easy way to make your own iPad stand for your kitchen? I was talking to Jamie about it, and she came up with the best idea of how to actually make the iPad stand sit on the counter without falling over. Actually she was talking about using a picture frame for the iPad stand…. but that made it become a light bulb moment for me.
Let’s take a look at this easy iPad stand project.
I bought two cutting boards for a dollar each last may in Bowling Green at Grandma’s Attic. I thought using one of them for this month’s Thrift Store Décor project was a no-brainer.
Materials for DIY iPad Stand
What you’ll need to make this easy iPad stand for your kitchen.
- Thrift Store cutting board
- Scrabble tile holder
- small picture frame
- Minwax stain (I used Dark Walnut)
- rag
- Minwax Polyurethane
- cheap chip brush
- nail gun
- Gorilla Glue Construction Adhesive
- vinyl image of your choice
- Hem Guide (optional)
How to Apply Vinyl with a Hem Guide
Jamie recommended that I do a negative stencil with the word yum, staining over the vinyl, allowing the letters to be the original light colored wood. Sometimes I like to use painter's tape as a transfer tape. The hem guide helps to center the word on the cutting board iPad stand.
I applied the vinyl word yum that I cut out of contact paper.
Stain Cutting Board and Scrabble Tile Holder
I used a rag to apply the stain to the cutting board and the tile holder.
oops! The stain bled under the contact paper stencil. This probably wouldn't have happened if I had painted the cutting board before staining.
Scrabble Tile Holder will Hold the Tablet
I used my staple gun to attach the tile holder (from the back). Then I used the chip brush to apply the poly to seal everything.
NOTE: you don't need a nail gun, you could use your favorite means of fastening--wood glue, hot glue, or super glue.
I hung the cutting board from the handle to allow the poly to dry.
What makes this iPad stand different than any other?
Picture Frame Easel
On to Plan B—I’ll be putting the back (easel) over the word yum. I used Gorilla Construction Adhesive with my caulk gun.
Isn’t it genius? It’s so simple, it’s brilliant actually! No hinges involved. As I mentioned above, when I told Jamie that I was doing this project, she mentioned using a picture frame, then there was some brainstorming happening, and somehow it was decided that the back easel of a picture frame would be perfect to support the new tablet stand.
NOTE: The easel doesn't go all the way to the bottom of the cutting board. This allows a good "tilt" to the iPad stand.
Add Monogram to iPad Stand
I did a monogram on my Silhouette Portrait. As always I used my hem guide to help with the placement of the vinyl.
DIY iPad Stand in the Kitchen
If you do a lot of cooking or baking a tablet stand like this is great for displaying recipes.
Find this great toll house cupcakes recipe at Create and Babble
Of course it can also be used for browsing your favorite sites, or watching a movie while you work in the kitchen.
This was a very fun project to do. Be sure to check out the other Thrift Store Décor projects from my friends below.
Lettered Sock Bin Bliss Ranch
Farmhouse Candle Holder Our Southern Home
Thrift Store Chair Makeover DebbieDoos
Wooden California Clock Domestically Speaking
Spray Painted Thrift Store Decor Petticoat Junktion
Globe Makeover Setting For Four
What have you made over from the thrift store lately? Do tell!
gail
Related Content:
Repurposed Cutting Board, Chalkboard, Tablet Holder PLUS Key Rack
If you love thrift store makeovers, you may want to check out these projects:
Repurposed Washboard Memo Holder
Sandra Smith
Some great ideas here! But, did you keep the YUM or not? Can you be more specific on the steps involved in doing a reverse stencil? Thanks for creating such a unique and terrific item! Sandra
Gail Wilson
Sandra,
No, I didn't keep the YUM. A stencil means you remove the letters and toss them. For a reverse stencil, you USE the letters to paint or stain over them. One way, the project remains the same color, the other way the project color is changed, leaving the original color under the letters. Gee that's confusing, isn't it?
Just take another look at the pictures and maybe it will make sense. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and taking time out of your busy day to leave a comment. I read each and every one!!
gail
Edie Marie
You are a genius! Thanks for the clever idea. I think I'll attach a picture hanger on the backside, on the picture stand, to store as wall decor in my kitchen. And what a nice gift it will be for the cooks I know!
Happy holiday Gail !
Blessings, Edie Marie
Gail Wilson
Thank you so much Edie!
It really is THE easiest way to make an iPad stand, right?
Have fun making your own version.
gail
Cheri
I would never get around to making the ipad stand (altho a great idea), but I do like the washboard!!! In fact, I actually have a small one in the attic. A few years ago my granddaughter visited an old plantation and got to wash clothes on an old washboard. She thought that was just soooo cool, so she asked for one of her own. I got her one, she used it once!!!! Guess it wasn't as fun as she thought it would be:) Thanks for giving me an idea of what to do with it:) I still am unable to enter my website address below!!!! Don't understand why??????
Tania
I just recently made one and just used it yesterday! I had been wanting to make ome big enough for my Kindle and cell phone at the same time (I like to jam while I cook). I bought something from Restore for $1 that was just perfect. I think it was one of those roll out shelves that is used for your cutting board. I also used a hinge that I didn't use for something else and a piece of scrap wood for the stand. I absolutely love it! It works great for reading off my recipes and it's also large enough for a recipe book. But on this, the pic frame backing is genius! Wish I saw this sooner. I probably would have done the same thing.
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
I love that you made your iPad stand customized to how you needed it Tania! That's what DIY is all about. Thanks for thinking the picture frame easel is genius, I thought so too! I haven't seen anything else like it before. It's so difficult to come up with something "new".
gail
Christy Little
I love this idea! I could really use one in our kitchen. I'm on the hunt now for the supplies!! Well done my friend!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
My neighbor really loved it when she saw it, so I told her "since you cook more than I do, you're welcome to it" So I suppose I'll have to make another one for me. Have fun hunting for the perfect supplies to make your own.
gail
Cynthia Chilson Finger
This is genius, Gail. Love it! Thanks for sharing, Cynthia
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Thank you Cynthia, I thought it was the best route for me. Sort of like taking the easy way out.
gail
Mindi
Super genius Gail!! How ease to just glue the picture frame stand onto the back!! Seriously love it! Pinned!
Robin @ Redo It Yourself Inspirations
You make me want to get a tablet! That is the cutest tablet stand ever! The easel is so very clever. Love it!
girlfromwva
will be on the look out for a wooden cutting board at the thrift store! simply genius idea!
Maryann @ Domestically Speaking
I need one! I know what I'm looking for next time I'm in a thrift store!
Debbie @ Refresh Restyle
Love it Gail! I made over a thrift store piece recently that I'm using for my ipad 🙂
Debbie Manno
I love this idea Gail! how clever. I would love to make one fro my friends who is always cooking up something in the kitchen.
Val
Hi Gail,
OK this is one of those projects that makes you smack yourself on the forehead and say, " Why didn't I think of that?" 😉 Genious!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Exactly! Isn't it the truth? So, so easy!
gail
JULIE
This is so smart!! I need one for my phone, too! I also want to go to Grandma's Attic!
stephanie
I love this idea Gail! So simple yet so innovative. You and Jamie make a great team. Daughter's are the best!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Thank you Stephanie! I was sooo happy to find the perfect easel solution for this iPad stand! And... yes--you're right. Daughters are bhe best!
gail
Wendi @ H2OBungalow
Love this! I'm always trying to keep my ipad out of the cooking mess when I actually do cook.. LOL Sharing & pinning 🙂
Sherry Fram
Love this stand! Thanks for sharing it with us!
kathy@petticoatjunktion
How ingenious (thanks auto correct!). Love this idea and the photo frame stand makes it so easy!
gail@myrepurposedlife.com
Thanks Kathy.
I know! I looked and looked at so many stands, and this is by far the easiest iPad stand ever.
Bliss
Baking tollhouse cookies for the neighbor? I'm tucking the easel idea in my overloaded memory bank.