DIY Network

TV Tray Cribbage Board Craft a custom cribbage board from a TV tray. From "B. Original" episode DBOR-106

Michele Beschen shows how to create another classic game atop a TV tray.

B. Original host Michele Beschen loves cribbage—and building her own fun. So designing and building a custom cribbage board from a wooden TV tray is a natural.

TV trays make great game boards: They're pretty, portable, freestanding and easy to store. Follow the how-to below, and you'll be ready for your next family fun night. If you want to make an entire set of TV tray game boards, check out Michele Beschen's TV tray Chinese checkers game, also on diynetwork.com.

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Michele Beschen's woodburner work gives this piece a funky, folksy charm.

Materials:

wooden TV tray
graph paper
cardboard
awl
hammer
double-headed nails
drill
bit to match diameter of nails
stopper or tape for drill bit
woodburning tool
polyurethane sealer

	Figure A
	Figure B

Lay Out Your Cribbage Board

Cribbage boards come in a wide variety of styles: Figure out which suits you best. After all, you're creating a fun family heirloom—make it something you love. You can model your design after a cribbage board you already have, or search out new ideas. Research cribbage designs online: You'll find plenty of different styles plus inspirations for embellishments.

• You'll want to create a game board for two players, since you can't fit more than two people comfortably around a TV tray.

• Use graph paper to map out your board. You'll need 120 holes per player; they're usually broken into groups of five (figure A).

• As you map out your design, be sure to leave room on the tray for the cards.

• Transfer your graph paper design onto a sturdier material like wood or cardboard, marking your holes with an awl (figure B).

	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F

Create Your Board

• Remove the legs from the TV tray and set aside. You may want to tape the leg hardware to the legs so it doesn't get lost.

• Cut out your graph paper grid and trace the outline onto your tray table.

• Tape the cardboard template to your tray. Mark your holes using an awl and hammer—240 holes total (figure C).

• Use a drill bit that accommodates the size of nails or pegs you're using. Michele Beschen used double-headed nails for her cribbage pegs (figure D).

• Drill halfway through your tray top at every marked hole. Use a stopper or tape to mark your drill bit so you don't accidentally drill too far (figure E).

• Don't worry if everything's not perfectly lined up. Michele Beschen says a whimsical, folk art look adds to the board's charm.

• Sand down any varnish or other finish on your try. Use a woodburning tool to define your board design, and use a wide round tip on the woodburner to go straight up and down inside each hole to give it a "sealed" edge (figure F). Also use the woodburner to burn in your outlines and section boundaries.

• Burn in additional lettering or designs if you like then paint around your wood-burned designs. Seal with wipe-on or spray polyurethane.