Monday, March 28, 2011

Checking up on Checkers...A Checkers Bag Tutorial

When I ordered Scout's Boy Scout sash from Scoutstuff.org (don't ya jus' luv that name?) - I saw these giant checkers on sale for 88¢ - they're designed for a checkers grid that's apparently printed on the bottom of their tents - which I also thought was a cool idea...but I immediately started thinking of how we could take these big ole checkers camping with us this summer...they come in a black mesh bag - so my first thought was to thrift a red towel and print the black squares on that...but as luck would have it - I was unable to find a red towel for 25¢ - and not being willing to pay $5 for one at Stuff-Mart - I was, however, lucky enough to find a red pillow case for a quarter...and then I thought how serendipitous that was - because it's actually so much better - we'll just tie the checkers up in the pillow case and only have the one thing to tote instead of a towel and a mesh bag...so YAY!...

...the first step was to put some newspaper inside the pillowcase to prevent the paint from leaking through...

...then I laid out the checkers to make sure they'd fit...

...then I measured and divided for the eight by eight grid...

...I had an old scrubber sponge that I cut up to make the square...

...I squirted a little bit of Outdoor Gloss paint onto a plate...

...and mixed it with a little bit of water - I was going for more of an ink effect - and thought that the paint would be too thick...but you'll see in a little bit that I may have watered it down too much as some of the squares bled a bit...I still like it - but if you want crisp squares you'll probably not want to thin your paint...

...then I donned some gloves and dipped my sponge into the paint and started stamping...

...it's not an exact science and I just sort of eyeballed it...when your stamp runs out of ink and doesn't make a perfect square - it's time to dip it in the paint mixture again...

...when all the squares were stamped - I took a Sharpie and drew a line at each end - and this is the one step that I'm wishing now that I had NOT done - as I liked it better without the line...but it's up to you - and of course I couldn't undo it once it was done...

...so there you have it...the finished grid...

...ready to play...

...and then - because I really can't leave well enough alone...I turned the pillow case bag over...and turned my sponge sideways and just sketched in a tic tac toe grid as well...

...now we have two games in one...

...this will be fun to take camping...or just out in the yard...or to the living room floor...

...if you ranked the three of us in this house...guess where I come in...that's right...THIRD...and I'm sweetly reminded of all the games I lost on purpose when Scout was little and learning to play the game...I'm somewhat better at the Tic Tac Toe game...as the Cat usually gets most of them...

...do you like playing checkers?...

13 comments:

  1. Clever of you to re-purpose a pillowcase for this. The game squares look great!

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  2. You are so clever!

    We call the game 'draughts' - who knows why the names are not the same - I haven't played for years! I do love the large checkers, we used to have wooden ones.

    There was always a game of draughts in the 'Compendium of Games' I always got for Christmas. (Not always the same Compendium, of course!)

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  3. This is fantastic! Would be great to keep a set in our camping gear or even just in the car...

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  4. I love this spring header and this great idea! Thanks!

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  5. Anonymous4:59 PM

    there you go again - just making what you want and need. :)

    as always - you make me smile.

    happy playing!

    elizabeth
    bitsofsunshine.typepad.com

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  6. Fun camping games! I love the idea of printing them on a pillowcase.

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  7. this is awesome, and so easy!! I love it!

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  8. Too cute! I love a good game of checkers.

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  9. Brilliant idea! My son was given a set of giant checkers which came with its own mat. We have had endless use out of it. The mat isn't as neat as your idea though.

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  10. Very cute idea. MOM

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  11. Very clever of you. I don't like playing checkers because I get too emotionally invested and anxious. ;)

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  12. board games are not my favorite thing to do. Especially while the kids are learning how to play (and how to be a god winner and loser). But I could play settler of catan any day of the week!

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