Three Lawn Games You Can Build Yourself

Summer's here which means it's time to throw on that sunscreen, fire up the grill, and build yourself some amazing DIY yard games. DIY yard games are a fun addition to anyone's summer plans, and you can save big when you make them yourself. Yard games can be expensive, so when you make them yourself all you need is a few supplies and a little time to take your yard from basic to bunches of fun.

There are so many yard games out there that you can DIY, but here are a few of our favorites.

Tic-Tac-Toe

Everyone has played the classic tic-tac-toe game, whether it's on a piece of paper or a tic-tac-toe set, but not everybody has played giant backyard tic-tac-toe. To make a giant Tic Tac Toe board you will need wood, nails and wood glue, a saw, and some paint.

Start by creating a giant square, we made ours four feet by four feet. Then, using smaller one inch boards, create a grid of nine equal-sized squares. Once you’ve laid your grid out and you like the look, attach the wood with wood glue and secure it with a few small finishing nails.

Fill the nail holes and paint or prime your board with outdoor paint or primer. Then you need to cut out your Xs and Os. If you don’t have the ability to cut out your own, check Etsy and see if you can purchase them already made. Paint the Xs and Os contrasting colors and let them dry.

Once they’ve dried, you’re all set for a giant game of tic-tac-toe. If you want to take your tic-tac-toe board to the next level add magnets. You can add magnets to the board and to the back of the Xs and Os so that you can prop the board up and play like that.

Giant Jenga

If you are a fan of classic Jenga, you are going to love giant Jenga. Giant Jenga is the yard game show stopper that is fun for both kids and adults. Unfortunately, giant Jenga can run you upwards of several hundred dollars if you're buying it online. That's when DIY giant Jenga comes into play.

To make giant Jenga, you will need fifty-four feet of two by fours. You will cut the two by fours into fifty-four equal pieces, which makes them just a tiny bit over ten and a half inches long apiece.

Then the fun begins because you need to sand every single Jenga piece. Use a medium grit sandpaper, and if you don't want your arm to die, an electric sander. Once the pieces are sanded we do recommend staining them with a weatherproof stain so that you can play with these out in the yard without worrying about warping.

Cornhole

Born for the backyard, cornhole is a classic backyard game that's perfect for lazy afternoons and BBQs alike. Cornhole is another backyard game that can be pretty pricey if you buy it free made. To make your own cornhole game, you will need wood, paint, and bean bags. You can make your own bean bags or you can buy them from a craft store.

Make your own cornhole boards for your backyard, you will need wood, screws, a drill, and a jigsaw or a hole saw. We used plywood for our boards, but you're welcome to use any kind of wood that is about half of an inch thick. Your final board should be twenty-one inches wide and forty-eight inches long with twelve-inch legs propping it up at an angle.

Building a cornhole board isn't a beginner's woodworking project, and you may need to watch a tutorial or two online to make sure that you get everything perfect. But once your board is done—personalize away. That's our favorite thing about building our own corn hole boards is that you have the ability to personalize them however you want.

Make sure you seal whatever you paint on the board though, with an outdoor water-proof sealant. This will protect your game for years and years to come.

If you’re new to cornhole but it sounds like a game you'd be interested in playing, head to YouTube and watch a few tutorials. It's an easy one to pick up and it's fun for the whole family.

Now that your backyard is full of games, check out these DIY landscaping ideas and backyard beautification projects that will complete your new look.