Games and puzzles are expensive but you can make a deluxe game yourself and not only will it save you money, it will be very uniquely your own. Instead of using bulky cardboard game boards you can pack many games into one by using felt for the board. Purchase felt pieces already cut or purchase by the yard and make your own. Most fabric stores carry the felt in many different colors and many stores carry the felt pre-cut into board game sized pieces. You can also use thick cardstock or even plastic sheeting, cut to size.
Various games require different board pieces so start by purchasing a dice set, poker chips, decks of cards, and assorted novelties to be the moving board pieces. You’ll also need permanent markers, a ruler and scissors.
Many families love checkers so make one of the felt pieces a checkerboard. Use the ruler to draw the squares: eight across and eight down. Color in every-other square with black marker. If you’re using black felt color every-other square with red. Inexpensive checkers can be purchased at dollar-theme stores and other discount retailers. You can also make them out of cardstock then use markers to color them two different colors.
Since the checkerboard can also be used as a chess board purchase pieces for a chess game or make your own. Craft stores have all types of little people, castles, horses, and other novelties that would be perfect for a chess set. You can purchase novelties in glass, plastic and other choices, depending upon how much you are willing to invest in your game set.
Games like Parcheesi require a little more time to make. Draw the board by using a diagram from an online picture site or by copying an old game board. You can even go online and find instructions that can be printed for each game you make, and inserted into the deluxe game box.
For Chinese Checkers you can either cut out a 6-point star or draw it onto a square felt piece. Instead of using round marbles try the flat kind, that come in different colors, from a craft store.
For games like Scrabble purchase the tiles at a craft store or make your own from small wooden tiles and a marker. Draw the Scrabble board onto the felt and use cardstock to make the trays. Fold the cardstock to where it makes a “V” with one side of the “V” being 2″ long and the other, 4″ long. On the longer side fold two inches of the cardstock back upwards. The “V” shape will make the tray stand up and the extra folded piece will support the tiles. The trays will lay down flat, if need be, or can be put in the game box as-is.
The great thing about making your own deluxe board game set is that you can include kids games such as Chutes and Ladders or Animal Rummy. Games that have special cards are not hard to make, either. Poster board and other similar cardstock is made in various colors, shapes and sizes. If need be, cut the pieces down to card size and draw with permanent marker or stamp with rubber stamps.
Giant games, like Twister can be made with a very large piece of felt or plastic. Make your own spinner with cardstock and a clockworks pointer. Games that take a timer simply require you to purchase a small game-type hourglass, found at most any craft store.
You can even make up your own board games. Use the checkerboard game and small novelties like barn animals to play a game that is a cross between chess and checkers. Small kids try to get their barn animals to the opposite side of the board while the opponent tries to stop them, with the largest animals being able to “jump” the smaller animals, for instance. Write simple rules that a child can understand and follow.
Since sometimes grown-ups play the games while little children have to sit out, try making the little ones some puzzles. Simply cut a picture from a calendar, wallpaper, or another thick paper then gluing it to cardstock. Cut the picture where kids can scoot the pieces back together.
You can make most any board game by simply drawing the board onto the felt or plastic then purchasing small pieces to accompany it. Use a large wooden box or metal tin to hold the pieces. Use cardstock or cardboard to make separate compartments, in the tin, for storing each set of game pieces. Be sure to include instructions for each game with the set. The deluxe game set is perfect for family game night or to give as a gift.
