About the projects
Game, set, match! Some of the games we play today come from games
played around the world and long ago. Make a fun board, card, or outdoor
game to play with your friends and family, while learning about each
game’s history, rules, and culture.
The projects range in difficulty from VERY EASY to
AVERAGE.
This page provides descriptions and illustrations of each game
project. Browse through, then select a project and get crafty! Or jump to the category index for a listing of all crafts.
Description ↓
Patience games come in both card and board versions. In this
project, you will make a simple game board for the French version of
board solitaire, sometimes called patience. The rules for playing
French board solitaire are included in the project.
VERY EASY
Description ↓
Sometimes it’s fun to play games by yourself! English
board solitaire, also known as peg solitaire, is an easy little game
that has been played for centuries. You can make this board by just
printing, cutting, and playing! Or, make a special keepsake board
with more durable materials.
VERY EASY
Description ↓
Pachisi is the national game of India and is
usually played on a cross-shaped game board made of decorated cloth.
In that tradition, this craft project shows you how to use felt to
make a pachisi game board. The project includes rules for playing
pachisi and the history of the game.
AVERAGE
Description ↓
Why did the turkey cross the road? You’ll
find out with this fun race game for the whole family. Challenge your
family to a game of Turkey Trot after Thanksgiving dinner, or
whenever you want to fowl around! The project also includes patterns
and tips for creating game boards of your own invention for other
holidays or themes.
EASY
Description ↓
Solitaire isn't just a card game! In this project, you'll make a
board game for one player called board solitaire or peg solitaire. The
board in this project is designed for marble playing pieces, but can
also be made as a simple print, cut and play game board.
EASY
Description ↓
Take an imaginary trip to
Hawaii by playing the game of lu-lu with dice made in this craft
project. The dice in lu-lu are painted 2-sided discs usually
fashioned from volcanic stone. In this project, you have the option
of making the dice with coiled paper strips or with cardboard discs.
EASY
Description ↓
Take a
little day trip to the West African country of Ghana with Achi, one
of an ancient group of games of alignment. In the United
States, one of the most popular games of alignment is
tic-tac-toe—try Achi, and see how it is both different and similar!
You can make this board game with either felt or paper.
EASY
Description ↓
Make a game board for
another 3-in-a-row game, this time from the Keres Pueblo People of New
Mexico. There are patterns for making a durable felt or pieced paper
game board from square and triangle shapes, and printable print and
play game boards, including one for you to color any way you like.
EASY
Make a set of cards for the game of memory. This is a fun and very easy
project that young kids really love doing! It is great for families or groups, and with a
little preparation by the adult or teen leaders, this project is fast and fun.
VERY EASY
Description ↓
It's fun to play games and fun to make games, but it is even more fun
to create your own game! In this craft project, you will make a
do-it-yourself racetrack
game board with space stickers that you can arrange to make your version
of the Race Game.
EASY
Description ↓
Make your own Alquerque game board and play this classic strategy
game with marbles! This craft is easy to follow and includes all the
instructions you need to make your own Alquerque game board. Once
your board is finished, learn how to play this classic game that
originated in Egypt, and challenge your friends and family to a
match!
EASY
Description ↓
Parents and children can work together to make this fun and
educational game that includes 3-D fish and a fishing rod with
hooks. Making and playing the game is a great way to develop fine
motor skills and learn about numbers. The project page lists all the
materials needed, along with detailed instructions and printable
patterns. Let's get crafting!
EASY
Description ↓
You don’t need a plane ticket to visit Africa! In this project,
learn to play two versions of the African game of mancala. Create
your own mancala game board from homemade dough clay, and try out
ba-awa and kiuthi right where you are.
AVERAGE
Tic-tac-toe (noughts and crosses) is a classic, whether played with pen, lipstick, or
this handy reusable game board! Take it on car trips, picnics, or to
the beach. Wherever you go, X (or O) marks the spot!
VERY EASY
Description ↓
What do you have in
common with ancient Vikings? The game of Fox and Geese, of
course! Vikings called it Hala-tafl, meaning “the
Fox Game”—you’ll just call it fun. Roll up the paper-and-felt board
and store game pieces in its pocket when you go on Viking
adventures!
EASY
Description ↓
Make a roll-up game board for the game of Catch the Hare that includes a pocket for storing game pieces. The game
board is made of paper and felt using iron-on adhesive, and requires no
sewing. This Moorish hunt game is known as Cercar La Liebre in
Spain and dates back to the 13th century.
EASY
Find out how far
and how accurately you can throw a set of rope rings with the
classic game of ring toss. Play it inside at a party, or outdoors at
a picnic or cookout! Aunt Annie includes a set of rules so everyone
knows how to play. Various forms of ring toss are played
around the world and most likely developed from the British game of
quoits.
EASY
Description ↓
Was that
a puppy or a mouse? Match cards take memory to another level. Aunt
Annie’s card designs feature a cute Scottie, a rabbit, colorful
balloons, and more—or, come up with your own special deck by drawing
on card blanks. Learn about how playing cards used to be made, and
play three different games with your match cards!
EASY
You
already know how to make faces. In this project, make a lot more!
Mix-and-match cards are a simple project that combines drawing with
imagination. What kind of funny faces can you mix up?
VERY EASY
Description ↓
These shape puzzles were invented in China over 200 years ago, but
they reinvent themselves every time you make a new tangram! This
game includes tangram patterns and printable puzzle sheets . How
many different tangrams can you think of?
VERY EASY
Great for
group crafting and gifts! Kids love transforming their favorite
pictures into reusable picture puzzles—from aarvarks and
airplanes to zebras and zinnias, putting together the pieces has
never been more fun.
VERY EASY
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