Fun to play and fun to make!
I am always on the hunt for a fun game to play. Caleb is always on the hunt for our next craft project.
Today, we decided to mix it up by combining the two! We had the idea to create our own game using nature items and a little bit of paint!
We named our homemade game Lizards vs. Frogs. This was a huge hit in my house and well worth the extra effort, instead of just buying another game to sit on the shelf. It was meaningful to create a game together and customize it to my son’s interests.
Here is our step-by-step guide in creating your homemade tic tac toe board:
This short yet competitive game is perfect for all ages. The object of the game is to get three of your pieces in a row (i.e., tic tac toe rules apply). Two players (kid vs. parent or kid vs. kid). Prep time: Less than one hour.
- Collect 10 rocks: We explored our backyard for the perfect rocks and found some flat stones. Actually, I am not quite sure where all of our stones came from (I have a feeling Caleb brought a few home from recess and hid stones in the backyard). Pick the perfect size and texture to paint. Variety is encouraged. It is important to wash dirt off the stones and make sure they are dry before painting.
- Paint or decorate rocks: Because we are animal critter fanatics, we made our stones critters. Lizards and frogs, to be exact! Decorate your stones according to teams, five stones each. Caleb painted his team a mix of colors (that eventually turned out gray) and my team was blue. From there, let them dry and draw eyeballs or add another layer of decorating to make the game pieces extra special.
- Make the game board theme: Now that you have your pieces, they need a scene! We made ours a pond and decorated a round wooden plank. Game boards can range anywhere from a small poster board, to a wooden plank. to the sidewalk with chalk.
- GAME ON! Once you have your pieces and the scene, you are ready to play!
We have a total blast with our homemade game. This is very special as a keepsake or a gift, too. It’s a unique item in our house and when we have guests over, they are drawn to the game board. Caleb LOVES to show it off and play a round with friends and family.
Have fun and game on, Mama!
