A unique superhero twist on the classic tic-tac-toe game -- this version uses superheroes and villains in place of the traditional X's and O's. Customize your bean bag toss game with icons that suit your personal preference -- Apples vs. oranges! Lions vs. tigers! Cats vs. dogs!
The game board features a nylon back, making it easy to clean and somewhat water resistant so that the game can be played both indoors or out. This game is easy to store by folding the bean bags up inside the game board with a ribbon tie to hold it all neatly in place. Not only does this project make a great game for birthday parties and get-togethers, it also makes a great gift!
Read on for instructions to make one of your own!
Supplies & Materials:
Supplies Needed:
- 1 1/3 yards (total) of outdoor canvas or denim (for front of game board - I chose four different colors/prints, 1/3 yard each)
- 1 yard nylon (for back of game board)
- 1/2 yard (total) of denim (for bean bags - I chose two different colors, 1/4 yard each)
- Medium weight cutaway stabilizer
- Temporary spray adhesive
- Air-erase pen
- 3 1/2 yards wide single fold bias tape (7/8" wide)
- 3 1/2 yards double fold bias quilt binding (7/8" wide)
- 5 pounds of dried beans (for bag filler)
- 1 3/4 yards - 1/2" to 3/4" wide ribbon (or cord - for ties)
- Masking tape
Designs used:
For the tic-tac-toe toss game, I used the designs from the small size of the Superhero Power Design Pack. I also embroidered "Tic! Tac! Toe!" on three separate squares using the letters from the Architect Alphabet Design Pack (3 Inch Height).
The superhero versus villain is a fun twist to the tic-tac-toe game, but you can use traditional X's and O's too. To find a variety of alphabets available at Embroidery Library, click here.
Finished size:
Game Board: 31" by 31"
Bean Bags (10 total): 5 1/2" by 5 1/2"
How to Play the Game:
Play the tic-tac-toe game by taking turns tossing the bean bags onto the game board using the traditional tic-tac-toe rules. Be the first player to claim a row of three squares either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, and you win -- or come up with your own version!
Gather Materials:
First, I will prepare the fabric for the game board. For each square, draw an 11" by 11" square on the fabric (we used outdoor canvas). Then, using an air-erase pen or other marking tool, measure and mark the center of each side of the shape by measuring and dividing by two. Draw lines connecting the marks - where the lines meet is the exact center of the shape.
Then, create paper templates of the designs by printing them at full size using embroidery software. Poke a hole in the template 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" of space between the outer edges of the design and the outer edges of the shape. The designs that I embroidered are about 3 1/2" from the outer edges of the designs and the outer edges of the shapes.
Start Embroidering:
Remove the template and then 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.
When the design has finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery.
Then, cut out the shape. Repeat the fabric marking, hooping, and embroidering process for a total of 9 squares. I also added text to three of the squares. For more information about adding text to your project, click here.
Now that all the pieces are ready, it is time to assemble the game board. Arrange the squares how you want them.
Assemble each row horizontally one at a time. To do this, lay the center square flat and then align the side squares on top of the center square, right sides together, and pin in place. Sew a 1/2" seam along each side edge only. Then, press the back seams open with an iron.
Next, when all the rows are assembled, lay the center row flat and align the top row on top of the center row, right sides together, align the seams, pin in place, and sew a 1/2" seam along the pinned edge only. Then, lay the assembled top/center rows flat and then align the bottom row on top of the center row, right sides together, align the seams, pin in place, and sew a 1/2" seam along the pinned edge only. Press the back seams open.
Next, lay the assembled front panel flat. Then, center strips of the single fold bias tape over the seams on the inside of the panel and pin them in place - start with the two horizontal seams first. Pin the strips in place and then sew a 1/8" seam along each side edge of the tape. Then, pin the tape in place along the vertical seams and sew a 1/8" seam along each of the side edges.
To prepare the back fabric, lay the assembled front panel on top of the fabric (we used nylon) pin in place, and cut out the shape. Then, cut a piece of ribbon (or cord) to 60" long. Measure and mark the center of the back fabric by measuring and dividing by two through the center of the fabric vertically and horizontally. Then, fold the ribbon in half. Pin the half-way point to the fabric with the ribbon lying horizontally across the fabric. Then, stitch it in place.
Next, so the ribbon will not be sewn over in the next steps wrap the ribbon up in the center of the fabric and tape it in place.
Align the front and back panels together, wrong sides together, with the ribbon running horizontally at the back. Pin in place.
Wrap the quilt binding around the entire outer edges of the fabric (both layers), folding the binding at each corner. Pin in place, and sew a seam along the inner edge of the binding.
To prepare the fabric for the bean bags, draw a 6" by 6" square on the fabric (we used denim). Then, mark the center of the shape just as you did earlier with the game board squares. Create paper templates of the designs. Align the template with the center point on the fabric - there should be at least one inch of space between the outer edges of the design and the outer edges of the shape. Hoop the fabric with medium weight cutaway stabilizer and embroider the design just as you did earlier.
When the design has finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery. Repeat the fabric marking, hooping, and embroidering process for a total of 10 squares - two different themes, 5 squares each (the game requires a total of 10 bean bags). I chose a superhero design for one set of 5 bags and a villain design for the other set of 5. Then, to prepare the back fabric, lay the embroidered front piece on top of the fabric, right sides together, pin in place, and cut out the shape. Then, sew a 1/4" seam along the side and top edges only - leave the bottom edge open for turning.
Turn the bag right side out and fill it about half way full of dried beans (you can also use uncooked rice or craft beads for filler).
Then, fold the fabric of the opening in 1/4", press (or finger press), and pin in place.
Sew a 1/8" seam around the entire outer edges of the bag - push the filler in along the sides of the bag as you turn each corner.
To fold up and store the game, lay the game board flat and stack the bean bags in the center square.
Next, fold the top and bottom edges of the game board over the bean bags.
Then, fold the side edges in and tie the ribbon in a bow to hold it all in place.
Get Inspired:
And now your tic-tac-toe toss game is complete! A fun and fresh addition to any party or gathering. Let the games begin!
