Burlap and Branches Tic-Tac-Toe Game in a Bag

If you’re looking for another inexpensive, fun, and relatively-easy homemade gift idea…this Burlap and Branches Tic-Tac-Toe Game in a Bag is for you! I was inspired by an outdoor tic-tac-toe game I saw at a barn sale that I recently went to that was set out as entertainment for the kids. It was made out of large branch slices (about 8-9 inches in diameter and 2-3 inches thick) and used stone tiles as the game board. Here is a picture I took on my phone:

After seeing this,  I immediately knew I wanted to use the branch discs we made last year for our Tree Branch Blocks  to make our own tic-tac-toe game with its own drawstring bag! If you don’t sew, you could easily make your own mat with a piece of a vinyl tablecloth and duct tape!

Here’s what you’ll need:  Branch blocks, fabric (I used some leftover burlap), ribbon, a sewing machine, and a permanent marker (or paint).

 

1. Cut your piece of fabric. My bag ended up being 14 1/2″ x 17″ when it was complete, so the piece of fabric was about 16″ wide by 40″ long (when I factored in seam allowance and the drawstring top.

 

2. Use ribbon to create a tic-tac-toe board on the top half of your fabric piece. If you don’t want to use ribbon (which you’ll need to sew or hot glue on), you could also just use duct tape!

 

3. Pin the ribbon onto the fabric. I normally have an aversion to using pins, but in this case…it is completely necessary. :)

 

 4. Sew the ribbon onto the fabric.

 

 

 

 5. Fold the fabric, with the tac-tac-toe on the inside, and pin the sides to create the bag.

 

6. Sew each side.

 

 7. Rip out the seam on the top inch of one of the sides. Place the ribbon inside and fold down the top of the exposed fabric to create the drawstring.

 

8. Sew the flap closed, making sure not to get the ribbon into the stitching.

 

 9. Gather your branch blocks. Directions for these are here.

 

10. Use a permanent marker (or paint) to draw your X’s and O’s onto each branch block (and by the way, I’m not left-handed…I had to take the picture with my right hand, so I had to fake writing with my left). :)

 

 

 

 Ready to play!

 

 

 

 

 

He’s strategizing!

 

 

 

 

 

One you’re done playing, just slip the X’s and O’s into the bag…

 

…and pull the drawstring shut!

All-in-all, I spent $0 (since I already had everything on hand) and less than an hour to make this fun game!

Be sure to check out more great homemade gift ideas here and on my Pinterest board!

 

8 Comments

  1. Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this blog.
    It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s very difficult to get that “perfect balance”
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    Also, the blog loads super quick for me on Chrome. Outstanding Blog!

  2. What a really cute idea. Burlap Bags are perfect for this and if you aren’t a DIYer you can just purchase bags. This is perfect for in the car or on the go to take with you.

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