Introduction: DIY Yard Dice
If you're looking for a fun way to get your family to spend more time outside this spring and summer, this simple project is a great way to get everyone excited about being in the backyard! You may even already have all of the supplies on hand (I did!), which makes it incredibly cheap or maybe even free. That's my favorite kind of project.
You can get more details and photographs (along with some other fun outdoor ideas) on the full blog post:
Step 1: STEP 1: Gather Your Materials
Here's what you'll need (affiliate links are included below):
- 1 4X4 piece of wood (I used cedar. You'll only need about 2 feet to create a set.)
- Miter saw
- Power sander
- Wood stain (this one is my current favorite)
- White vinyl
- Small circle punch (I believe mine is about 0.75")
- Mod Podge
- Bucket to store dice
Step 2: STEP 2: Cut Your Dice
The first thing you'll do is cut your wood down to create the dice. A 4X4 piece of wood is actually 3.5X3.5, so you'll cut your wood at 3.5" to create a cube. 6 dice is a great number to start with for most games.
Once your dice are cut, sand all sides thoroughly - pay special attention to the sharp corners!
Step 3: STEP 3: Stain or Paint Your Dice
Now you're ready to stain or paint them - you can do whatever you prefer. I chose to stain mine. Another option would be to stain them after putting on the vinyl pips, then peeling them off to leave a 2-tone look for your pips. Get as creative as you want with it!
Step 4: STEP 4: Add the Pips
Use a small circle punch to create the pips for the dice, then place them on each side of the dice.
Note: I recommend having an actual dice nearby as you're working to help keep you on track with where each number goes!
Step 5: STEP 5: Seal
Finally, you're ready to seal your dice. I used several coats of Mod Podge on mine - however, this is not a good solution if you plan to store them outside, as it may melt and your pips will fall off. If I were doing this again, I would do a few layers of Mod Podge to seal in the vinyl, then add some Polyurethane on top of the Mod Podge to fully seal the dice.
Step 6: STEP 6: Toss Them in a Bucket and Enjoy!
Once your dice dry, you're ready to enjoy them! If you check out the full blog post (linked below), I have a list of ideas for games you can play, and I've also created a full-page Yahtzee scorecard if you want to print that out and play with your family!
GET THE (FREE) SCORECARD HERE:
