How to Make a DIY Winter Checkers Game

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This DIY winter checkers game is so charming and unique! It makes a lovely handmade gift, or keep it for your own family as an heirloom. You’ll love trying this fun how-to!

How to make a DIY winter checkers game
How to make a DIY winter checkers game
How to make a DIY winter checkers game
How to make a DIY winter checkers game

True story: this is the most fun I’ve had making a DIY project in a long time! There’s something about this magical little DIY winter checkers game that is just so fun and charming to work on.

When I asked on Instagram what kind of projects you’d like to see this holiday season, lots of people responded that they’d love winter projects that are non-holiday specific. So I came up with this and I want to teach ya how to make a DIY winter checkers game!

Psst – if you like this project, you’re gonna love these:

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Make This DIY Game to keep Or To Give Away!

I adore this project. It’s whimsical and fun but totally functional (we’ve been playing checkers by the fire!), and it looks great set out on a table as winter decor as well.

The whole “deer vs. trees” thing is kind of adorable, I have to say. It’s like playing checkers in a little forest. It would also make a killer holiday gift.

The tiny pieces are so dang cute, and I’m finding that kids and grownups alike are totally drawn to it when they visit. We’ve made lots of DIY games here, but never a winter-themed one. I’m so excited!

Materials for a DIY Winter Checkers Game

Materials

Make Time: 1 Hour

How to make a DIY winter checkers game

How to Build Your DIY Winter Checkers Game

  1. Start by cutting green felt into one inch squares (super fast and easy with a paper trimmer!).
  2. Arrange the squares on the wood in a checkerboard pattern. You’ll need four squares per row, also leaving four empty spaces per row so that each row should be eight inches long. I recommend laying out the squares first without sticking them to the wood so that you can rearrange if needed. Then, peel and stick the squares one by one.
  3. Next, use hot glue to affix your trees and deer to the snowflakes. I find that for the deer, it’s easiest to put a small dot of glue on all four feet and then place the deer onto the snowflake, rather than the other way around.
  4. Make 12 deer and 12 trees glued to snowflakes. Use a small paintbrush to apply True Snow to the tips of your trees and to the deer on their antlers, backs, and around their feet. While the True Snow is still wet, sprinkle the pieces with fine glitter.
  5. If you want to embellish your board, glue on a couple of extra trees and a little mushroom to make a forest scene. Add some snow and glitter.
How to make a DIY winter checkers game
How to make a DIY winter checkers game
How to make a DIY winter checkers game
How to make a DIY winter checkers game
How to make a DIY winter checkers game
How to make a DIY winter checkers game
How to make a DIY winter checkers game
How to make a DIY winter checkers game

How to King Your Game Pieces for Checkers Play

You need a way to “king” your pieces! Here’s how.

  1. Make scarves for your deer and stars for your trees. To make a scarf, cut out a piece of red felt that’s 3 inches long and 1/4 inch wide. Cut a lengthwise slit in the scarf about a third of the way from one end. You can wrap this around your deer to king him.
  2. For the trees, cut out small stars. The stars will stick to the sisal trees until you pull them off.

Now you get to play! This is now one of my favorite winter DIYs ever, for so many reasons. I loved making it, it’s perfect as decor, and it’s actually functional and fun to play. If you try this one, please let me know! I’d love to see how yours turns out. Have fun! xoxo

P.S. See all our DIY games here, and more holiday ideas here.

How to make a DIY winter checkers game
How to make a DIY winter checkers game
How to make a DIY winter checkers game
How to make a DIY winter checkers game
How to make a DIY winter checkers game
How to make a DIY winter checkers game

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How to make a DIY winter checkers game

DIY Winter Checkers Game

Yield: Winter Checkers Game
Active Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: Intermediate
Estimated Cost: $40

This DIY winter checkers game is fun to make and even more fun to play!

Materials

  • wooden slab
  • mini deer
  • mini sisal trees
  • mini mushroom
  • True Snow
  • iridescent glitter
  • green felt with adhesive backing
  • wooden snowflakes

Tools

  • scissors
  • optional: paper cutter
  • glue gun
  • paint brush

Instructions

    1. Start by cutting green felt into one inch squares (super fast and easy with a paper trimmer!).
    2. Arrange the squares on the wood in a checkerboard pattern. You'll need four squares per row, also leaving four empty spaces per row so that each row should be eight inches long. I recommend laying out the squares first without sticking them to the wood so that you can rearrange if needed. Then, peel and stick the squares one by one.
    3. Next, use hot glue to affix your trees and deer to the snowflakes. I find that for the deer, it's easiest to put a small dot of glue on all four feet and then place the deer onto the snowflake, rather than the other way around.
    4. Make 12 deer and 12 trees glued to snowflakes. Use a small paintbrush to apply True Snow to the tips of your trees and to the deer on their antlers, backs, and around their feet. While the True Snow is still wet, sprinkle the pieces with fine glitter.
    5. If you want to embellish your board, glue on a couple of extra trees and a little mushroom to make a forest scene. Add some snow and glitter.
    6. Make scarves for your deer and stars for your trees. To make a scarf, cut out a piece of red felt that’s 3 inches long and 1/4 inch wide. Cut a lengthwise slit in the scarf about a third of the way from one end. You can wrap this around your deer to king him.
    7. For the trees, cut out small stars. the stars will stick to the sisal trees until you pull them off.

Notes

You need a way to "king" your pieces! Here's how.

  1. Make scarves for your deer and stars for your trees. To make a scarf, cut out a piece of red felt that's 3 inches long and 1/4 inch wide. Cut a lengthwise slit in the scarf about a third of the way from one end. You can wrap this around your deer to king him.
  2. For the trees, cut out small stars. The stars will stick to the sisal trees until you pull them off.

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7 Comments

  1. The deer/tree checkers game! This is the very cutest idea I have ever seen!!! And functional and fun, too!!! Wow!!