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How to Make a DIY Checkers Game

This travel DIY checkers game is so easy to make with Duck Tape! You probably already have the supplies in your home. Kids will love it!

Skills Required: Beginner. Adults can easily do this craft, as you’re just taping and cutting. As far as children, I think this is appropriate for older kids, 10+, tweens, and up. They’ll love customizing the colors!

DIY checkers game

Many of you know I recently moved to the west coast – back to where I’m from and back to my family. It’s been a long, difficult journey but we’re finally here! What you may not know is that now that I’m back in town – the games have begun. And I mean literally.

My family are very serious game players. We love everything from board games to UNO to dominoes. We’re turning my niece onto games too! She’s way into checkers, so we made this DIY checkers game using supplies at my mom’s house!

And that is what I love about this DIY checkers game. You just need a few simple supplies beyond Duck Tape, and they’re probably in your cabinet right now. Learn how to make this easy and fun project below – even a kid can do it!

Tip: if you’re looking for some additional easy kids’ crafts for summer, check out our slime recipe or our toothpick cacti!

make your own checkers game

Make Your Own Checkers Game

Gather These Supplies

  • 2 rolls of Duck Tape (one light color and one dark color is best)
  • Quart size Ziploc bag (not the slider type)
  • 24 buttons (that will fit nicely on your checker board)
  • Scissors
  • Wax paper
How to make travel checkers

Use one color of Duck Tape to completely cover the Ziploc baggie (yellow is shown above but we ended up with turquoise). Make sure not to tape over the opening of the baggie, so it can still be used to store the pieces.

Be sure to press out any bubbles, and to cut your tape with straight lines. The Duck Tape can overlap if need be.

travel DIY checkers

Place several strips of the other color of duct tape (in our case we used neon yellow) onto a sheet of wax paper. Cut 32 squares that are all the same size to make your checker board game. Peel from the wax paper like stickers and attach them evenly to the top of the baggie in alternating rows of four.

how to make checkers pieces

Cover twelve of your buttons with one color of tape, and twelve with the other color of tape. To cover the buttons, place a small square of tape over the top of the button.

Press the Duck Tape down and smooth, then use scissors to trim around the edges of the button; press down the remaining tape to give it a smooth top.

how to make checkers

Store your buttons on the inside of the baggie for safe keeping. Keep your DIY checkers in a backpack or in the car for play on the go. It’s the perfect size to be your travel companion. So you and your family members can game whenever you want to!

how to make a checkers game
Yield: 1 game

DIY Checkers

how to make checkers

Learn how to make a checkers game using Duck Tape! This is easy and perfect for travel.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $5

Materials

  • 2 rolls of Duck Tape (one light color and one dark color)
  • Quart size Ziploc bag
  • 24 buttons
  • Wax paper

Tools

  • Scissors

Instructions

  1. Use one color of Duck Tape to completely cover the Ziploc baggie. Make sure not to tape over the opening of the baggie, so it can still be used to store the pieces.
  2. Press out any bubbles, and cut your tape with straight lines. The Duck Tape can overlap if need be.
  3. Place several strips of the other color of duct tape onto a sheet of wax paper. Cut 32 squares that are all the same size.
  4. Peel from the wax paper like stickers and attach them evenly to the top of the baggie in alternating rows of four.
  5. Cover twelve of your buttons with one color of tape, and twelve with the other color of tape. To cover the buttons, place a small square of tape over the top of the button.
  6. Press the Duck Tape down and smooth, then use scissors to trim around the edges of the button; press down the remaining tape to give it a smooth top.
  7. Store your buttons on the inside of the baggie for safe keeping.

Did You Make This Project?

Please leave a rating or share a photo on Pinterest!


If you like games, don’t forget to check out our DIY bean bag game. And if you like this Duck Tape craft, check out these craft ideas below:

melanie currie

Monday 30th of May 2022

so much fun thank you for help me make father day's present

Amy

Tuesday 31st of May 2022

My pleasure!

SweeBee

Monday 12th of April 2021

TYSM for this easy diy. I think I'm going to try to make it with a gallon ziplock bag and tape a layer of vinyl craft magnet to it between the bag and the gameboard layer to make it easier to play in the car. I love duck tape too! In fact I made a first aid kit up for my son and it's going to have a lil roll of duck tape in it:) Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!

I really like that this project IS it's own storage solution!

Bellumio Fan

Friday 22nd of September 2017

I love this, How much did the project cost? I think I’ll make mine dark blue and white, with red around the outside just to keep the patriotic vibe going! Thanks for the simple and totally “doable” project.

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