DIY Yard Dice
When the days start getting longer and warmer, my projects start to focus on the outdoors. I love having fun things for my family to do while we are soaking up some sun and fresh air.
While I was out shopping one day, I saw a set of yard dice and promptly added it to my “Things To Make” list. They turned out to be pleasantly simple to make and they are so much fun to play with!
Here’s how to make your own set of DIY Yard Dice:
Materials:
- 1 – 4×4 post (large scraps will do just fine)
- Sand paper
- Wood stain (optional)
- Paint, Wood burning tool or stickers to make the dots
- 6 dimes – this will make sense at the end, promise 🙂
Instructions:
Cut your 4×4 into 3.5″ pieces to make as many dice as you would like. If you have 4×4 scraps to use, this project can be practically free.
Sand down the edges of your squares to make them smooth. You can use an orbital sander with 120 grit sand paper, to wear down the edges to a more rounded shape.
Next stain your dice, if you so choose.
Add the numbers. (I tried to be technical with the measurements but then I realized that eyeballing it is works fine too.)
Use the dimes to lay out the pips. Did you know that is what the circles on dice are called? I didn’t until just now when I looked it up.
Once you have your pip placement, decide how you will mark them. I tried out my wood burning tool on one set and painted the other.
You could also use stickers or vinyl circles cut from a Cricut or Silhouette, but they might need to be sealed to be more permanent.
How simple was that?!
Now you can use them to play Yahtzee or other dice games. And, you can use them to help your kiddos learn math.
~ Read more of Jillian’s tutorials ~
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Have you thought about using a thick varnish, or a coat of polyurethane to seal them? That way, they’ll last a lot longer in the elements. Great work, and thank you for sharing!
What a great idea, and thanks for sharing your process of making them! Another option could be to use different colours and turn them into a sort of Rubik’s cube for children…and adults of course 🙂
What kind of wood burning tool did you use?
Hi J, I used a woodburner pen with a rounded tip and just traced the circles I had made with the dimes.