Peek-a-Boo Match Game

Little ones will have tons of fun challenging their memories with this matching game.

Kids can play with friends or even by themselves! Here's how to play: Lay all the pieces face down; flip them up two at a time. If the pieces don't match, flip them back over. If they match, you collect them. The player with the most pieces at the end of the game wins.

A handy carrying case allows kids to take the game with them wherever they go.

Read below for these free project instructions!

Supplies & Materials:

Supplies Needed:

3/4 yard felt (for game pieces)
2/3 yard (total) quilted cotton fabric (two different colors, 3/8 yard each, for back, inner lining, and strap)
Small pieces of quilted cotton fabric (for front and back panels)
3/8 yard lightweight canvas (for front)
1/2 yard heavy weight interfacing
Medium-weight cutaway stabilizer
Temporary spray adhesive
Air-erase pen (or other marking tool)
Extra-wide double fold bias tape
3 inch to 3 1/4 inch round object for tracing; we used a ribbon spool
Snaps and snap tool

Designs used:

For game pieces:

A Peek-a-Boo Zoo Design Pack - Small

For carrying case:

Peek-a-Boo Zoo Elephant - Medium

Languid Leaves Border - Small

These designs are also available in other sizes:

A Peek-a-Boo Zoo Design Pack - Large, Medium

Peek-a-Boo Zoo Elephant - Large, Small

Languid Leaves Border - Large, Medium

Finished Size:

Carrying case: 9 1/2 inches wide by 12 1/2 inches high

Game pieces: 3 1/4 inch in diameter

Project Tips:

Create as many game pieces as you like -- we made a total of 18. Make sure to create two matching game pieces for each design you embroider.

When choosing designs for this project, it's best to choose some that are about 4"x4" in size or smaller, so the game pieces don't get too large. Here are a couple design packs that we suggest: Dino-Mite Dinosaurs, Magnificent Menagerie, and Quick-Stitch Baby Characters.

Gather Materials:

To begin, we will prepare the fabric for the embroidered game pieces. Cut a piece of felt a bit larger than your hoop. Using an air-erase pen (or other marking tool), trace a 3 inch to 3 1/4 inch in diameter round object (like a plastic lid or ribbon spool) in the center of the fabric.

Hand holding a purple marker poised to draw on light blue felt fabric; a round wooden disk with barcode and text rests on the fabric on a wooden surface.

Create a paper template of the design by printing it at full size using embroidery software. If you don't have embroidery software, you can cut a piece of paper the shape and dimensions of the design to help with placement and centering.

If you do not have an embroidery software, take a look at our helpful video on using dielines.

We also recommend Wilcom's Hatch software which comes in different levels depending on what you'd like to use the software for. Hatch Organizer works well to view your designs, print dielines and templates, change design colors, and create basic design layouts. (This is an affiliate link. We may earn commission on purchases made with this link.)

Close-up of a hand coloring a small circular paper cutout with a monkey design using a purple marker on a light blue felt background.

Remove the template and draw lines to connect the marks. These lines will be used for hooping.

Hand holding pen draws purple marks on light fabric using metal ruler; marks include a vertical line, horizontal line, and semicircle.

Start Embroidering:

Spray a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric. Attach the hoop to the machine and load the design. Move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point on the fabric. Embroider the design.

Hand holding white felt fabric hooped in embroidery frame on wooden surface, with purple markings in center of felt and a plastic embroidery hoop part nearby.

When the design has finished, trim around the shape, leaving about one inch of excess fabric.

Next, we will create an embroidered game piece/interfacing/felt "sandwich." Using the embroidered piece as a template, cut out a piece of the heavy-weight interfacing and another piece of felt. Spray the back of the embroidered piece with adhesive and smooth it on top of the interfacing. Then, spray the back of the interfacing with adhesive and smooth it on top of the felt piece.

Close-up of a hand peeling a white paper backing from fabric showing embroidery of a brown monkey face surrounded by green fern leaves and colorful rings.

Cut out the shape.

Round embroidered patch with a brown monkey peeking from behind green fern leaves on a white fabric background, next to scissors and fabric.

To finish the piece, sew around the entire outer edge of the shape using a zigzag stitch.

Repeat the entire process to create the remaining game pieces. We embroidered nine designs, two times each, for a total of 18 game pieces.

Close-up of a sewing machine embroidering a felt circle with an appliqué design of a dog's face and green fern leaves on light blue fabric.

Now we will prepare the front fabric of the carrying case. Draw a 10 1/2 inch by 10 1/2 inch square onto the lightweight canvas fabric. Measure and mark the center of each side of the shape by measuring and dividing by two. Draw lines to connect the marks. Create a paper template of the design, poke a hole in the center, and align it with the center point on the fabric. Make sure the design fits well within the shape -- there should be at least 1 1/2 inches of space between the edges of the design and the edges of the shape.

A hand holding a purple pen marks a green and white checkered fabric with grid lines. A paper with a black-and-white elephant design is centered on the fabric.

Create paper templates of the remaining designs, poke holes in the centers of the templates, and align them with the vertical line above and below the center design. We positioned the design about 1 1/4 inch from one another. Mark the horizontal axis points.

Hand drawing lines on green and white check fabric with three paper cutouts pinned: a gray elephant in center, green leafy designs above and below.

Remove the templates and draw lines to connect the marks. Spray a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top. Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together by aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric. Attach the hoop to the machine and load the first design. Move the hoop so that the needle is directly over the center point on the fabric. Embroider the design.

Repeat the hooping and embroidering process for each design.

Green and white gingham fabric folded in half with horizontal and vertical lines marked in blue. A hand holds a pen and metal ruler on a wooden surface.

When the designs have finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the back of the embroidery.

Hand holding orange scissors cutting white fabric with an embroidered gray mouse and green leaves, on a dark wooden surface.

Cut two pieces of quilted cotton fabric 10 1/2 inches wide by 1 3/4 inches high. Align the quilted cotton pieces along the top and bottom edges of the embroidered piece with right sides facing, and pin in place.

Square fabric piece with a central yellow gingham panel featuring an embroidered elephant holding leaves, bordered by quilted light blue fabric.

Sew a 1/2 inch seam along the top and bottom edges and then press the back seams open. Topstitch a 1/4 inch seam along each side of each of the seams.

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching a green leaf embroidery pattern on green and white check fabric bordered by solid light blue fabric.

To prepare the fabric for the bottom of the back piece, cut a piece of quilted cotton 10 1/2 inches wide by 13 1/2 inches high.

To prepare the top back piece, cut a piece of fabric 10 1/2 inches wide by 2 1/4 inches high. Align the top fabric along the top edge of the bottom fabric with right sides facing, pin in place, and sew a 1/2 inch seam along the top edge. Press the seams and top stitch a 1/4 inch seam along each side of the seam.

Hand holding up corner of lavender quilted fabric with light blue quilted fabric strip pinned at top, placed on wooden surface.

To prepare the strap, cut a piece of quilted cotton fabric 24 inches wide by 2 1/2 inches high. Fold the long sides over 1/2 inch to the wrong side and press.

Close-up of a white iron pressing a quilted yellow fabric strip with diamond stitching on a light blue ironing board cover.

Fold again, bringing the long folded edges together. Press and sew a 1/4 inch seam along the folded, open edge.

Close-up of a white and black iron pressing a folded strip of light green fabric on a pale blue ironing board cover.

Lay the back fabric flat with right sides facing up. Align the front panel on top with right sides facing, aligning it with the bottom edges of the back fabric. Tuck the strap in between the layers, with the raw ends aligned with the seams of the front panel -- allow about 1/4 inch of excess to extend out past the edge of the fabric. Pin in place and sew a 1/2 inch seam around the entire outer edges of the front panel.

Hand holding a quilted fabric with an embroidered elephant and leaves in the center, folded over a quilted blue, yellow, and purple mat on a wooden table.

To prepare the inner lining, cut a piece of quilted cotton 10 1/2 inches wide by 12 1/2 inches high for the front, and cut a piece 10 1/2 inches wide by 14 3/4 inches high for the back. Align the front fabric on top of the back fabric with right sides facing, and the front fabric aligned with the bottom edges of the back fabric. Pin in place and sew a 1/2 inch seam along the entire outer edges of the front fabric.

Hand holding partially lifted quilted fabric square with colorful pins on a wooden table, showing diamond stitching pattern.

Turn the embroidered outer shell portion right side out and insert it inside the inner lining. Align the seams and raw edges, pin in place, and sew a 1/2 inch seam along the outer raw edges of the top of the back pieces only -- leave the front open for turning.

Hand holding open a small quilted fabric pouch with light green exterior, blue and lavender quilted interior layers, and pins along the top edge inside.

Turn the fabric right side out and insert the inner lining inside the outer shell. Align the seams and sew a 1/8 inch seam along the raw edges to tack them in place. Wrap bias tape around the raw edges, pin in place, and sew a seam along the inner edge of the tape.

Close-up of a quilted fabric pouch in cream, blue, and green gingham with an elephant appliqué. A hand pins blue fabric trim at the top edge.

To add the snaps, measure and mark 2 inches in from the bottom corners of the top flap and 1/2 inch up from those marks. Add the button portions of the snaps at these marks.

Close-up of a pink and light blue quilted fabric piece with brass snaps; a hand-held hole punch tool is positioned near the snaps on a wooden surface.

Fold the flap over and mark the fabric from the center of each button portion. Add the bottom portions of the snaps at these marks. You're done!

Close-up of a quilted fabric piece with light green check pattern and embroidery of green leaves and a blue butterfly wing. A metal snap tool and brass snap buttons are attached.

Get Inspired:

Jet is having a fantastic time playing with his Peek-a-Boo Match game.

Smiling young boy with red hair wearing a blue and black striped shirt and khaki shorts, sitting on carpeted floor holding a small green patterned fabric bag with a bird and leaf embroidery.