Kids of all ages love playing travel games. Along with frequent stops, tasty snacks and refreshing drinks, activities make long road trips easier to endure for everyone. Some of the most entertaining games of all are classic favorites, and one in particular can be designed especially for travel. I recently made a travel tic-tac-toe game to give as a gift to my nine year old daughter, and she loves it. The game I devised is far better than a similar item that we found in a store, and I plan to make many more to sell and give as gifts to family and friends that enjoy travel games.
Supplies for a Travel Tic-Tac-Toe Game
To make a travel tic-tac-toe game will need a plastic or metal lid approximately six inches in diameter, fabric of your choice, approximately twenty-four inches of rickrack, five flat buttons with four holes, five additional flat buttons of a different color, thread that will clash with the first set of buttons, fabric glue and peel-and-stick Velcro brand squares. You will also need a pair of fabric scissors, a sewing needle and paper or another material to protect your work surface.
Procedure
Begin by cleaning and drying a lid of choice that will be used for the base of the game. I used a plastic lid from a large peanut butter jar. Any large lid or something similar will work to make a travel tic-tac-toe game.
Next, cut the fabric of choice to size. I used heavy cotton fabric, and I cut around with the lid in place to make sure that it would fit. I wrapped the lid like a gift, and I applied plenty of glue to hold the material firmly in place on the inside. I allowed the glue to dry for about twenty four hour.
The next day I cut four strips of rickrack to size and used it to create a crisscross tic-tac-toe pattern on the lid. I glued the rickrack in place, and I allowed it to dry overnight. In the meantime I made the travel tic-tac-toe game pieces.
To make the travel tic-tac-toe game pieces I used deep red thread and light pink buttons. I created a crisscross pattern with thread to form miniature X’s on five of the buttons. After knotting the thread, I applied the looped side of peel and stick Velcro squares to the backs of the buttons. I applied the soft squares to the fabric covered tic-tac-toe game board. I did not embellish the O’s with thread. I simply applied looped peel-and-stick Velcro to the backs of five round white buttons.
Playing Travel Tic-Tac-Toe
My daughter loves her travel tic-tac-toe game. She plays it when she has an opponent next to her on long road trips. We have also played it at home. The travel tic-tac-toe game is just one of many homemade games that I have created for my daughter and my grandson. They are easy to make using craft items found around the home and a creative imagination.
Source: Personal and Professional Home Design, Crafting and Decorating Experience