Chess or Checker Lap Table

For someone who is bedridden - injured or sick - life can be really sad and boring. But it wont be when you make that person a chess or checkers lap table. The patient can sit in bed while the table straddles the legs. With the chess or checkerboard in place on top, theres no telling how many hours can be enjoyed. The chess lap table is even great for someone who is practicing alone. The bonus is that, the lap table is so simple to make, you wont be surprised to see the bedridden person - or even a child - make the table in no time.If youve got a nice-size cardboard box you have nearly everything you need to make the lap table. The box should start out to be at least as wide as your hips - with a couple of inches to spare. It can be slightly larger but not smaller than that. A square box is especially easy to work with but a rectangle thats slightly larger than a square will work.The perfect box is one that has a bottom without flaps. If the box has a one-piece cardboard thats exactly what you need. That way, your chess board wont have a split, right down the center. Turn the box upside-down so that the bottom of the box is facing upwards. The cardboard piece facing up will now become the top of the lap table.Cut part of the original top half of the box off - if needed - so that its as tall as the height you want for the lap table. A good height is nine to eleven inches. Then, on the sides of the box, cut an archway on each. Cut two archways, on opposite sides, and the game can only be set one way in front of you. Cut four archways and you can set the lap table on you in either direction. The archways should each be tall enough to allow your legs a comfortable amount of room.What remains of the box is a tabletop with four legs. Paint the top white, and allow to dry completely. It could take more than one coat to get full coverage. When the paint is dry, use a square, rubber stamp, a marker, or another method, to draw or paint black squares. Youll need eight rows across, and eight down, with each row alternating black and white squares. Its helpful to look at online pictures of chess boards to see the arrangement. Alternatively, you can often find black and white contact paper that makes the tabletop much easier to craft.To stabilize the box - and make it look much less like cardboard - wrap the legs, as well as the edge of the top, with duct tape, or colored electrical tape. Get out your chess pieces, sweet-talk a visitor, and maybe youll get to use your new lap game today.