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The DIY Yardzee Backyard Game

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Inside: The perfect DIY Yardzee game, including how to make your Yardzee bucket and scorecard. 

Usually when you think of Family Game Nights, you think of little kids playing Chutes & Ladders with Mom and Dad. We’re about a decade past that stage, but that doesn’t mean Family Game Night has to disappear! So when PPL Electric Utilities asked if they could partner with me to show different ways to have fun with the family without using electricity, I knew this would be a great chance to show how to have a Family Game Night Teen-Style!

Now that my kids are older, our games consist mostly of outdoor activities. They love playing tennis, volleyball, being let loose on a trampoline, or just heading up to our local track and challenging each other to races. My husband and I are feeling our age lately, though, and prefer games that are little more low-key than who can run the fastest mile! Umm, I’ll give you a clue… it’s not me!

That’s where DIY backyard games like this one, or my Frisbee Tic Tac Toe, come in.

How to Make Your Own DIY Yardzee Backyard Game

So when my nephew made this Yardzee Backyard Game as his homemade gift for my son this past Christmas, I’ll admit that I was probably just as excited as anybody! A chance for family fun that all 4 of us can enjoy without any TV or other electronics!

It also was the perfect chance to participate in PPL’s PowerHour where they’re challenging us (and you too!) to have your family go one hour without electronics.

Project Envolve Logo (r)

No checking your phone, no setting the DVR, no heating up a snack in the microwave.

Just one hour, where your family is engaged with each other and the current activity! Do you think you guys could do it?

It seems as if it’s a no-brainer, doesn’t it?? Who wouldn’t say “Sure, I can go for one hour! No problem!”.

But if you stop and think about all of the small ways we use electricity, or how we’re almost trained to check our phone every time we hear that chime… you’ll realize that it’s a lot harder than it seems!

But with a hands-on, interactive game-like Yardzee, it makes it not only easier but more enjoyable too! Plus, for my family personally, when we sit inside and play board games, we all have our phones sitting right beside us. Even if I tell everybody to put them in a different room, they still hear the chimes! They’re also more inclined to get up in the middle of the game to put some popcorn in the microwave.

DIY Yardzee Game

Why I love Yardzee Family Game Night

Being OUTSIDE, with your phones INSIDE, and chasing dice around the yard, you’re much more inclined to just forget about them entirely and enjoy yourself! And your family! Guys, I could lose every game for the rest of my life, but I’m pretty sure I’d consider myself a winner if my kids would forget about their phones and be engaged in family time!

Recently I put a picture on Facebook of my 15-year-old son and about 10 of his friends in the backyard. I commented that no one had a phone pulled out. The number of parents who responded to that was crazy! It was unreal to them that a group of teenagers could hang out without checking phones constantly. But they were throwing a frisbee and kicking a soccer ball. They were engaged!

And you can get your own kids and the whole family to have just as much fun with this DIY Yardzee Game! It’s even fun to make it together! It’s kind of like growing a garden… kids are more inclined to eat the food if they helped grow it. Maybe your kids will be more inclined to play the game if they helped make it!

DIY Oversized Dice

How to make a DIY Yardzee Backyard Game:

This simple and easy DIY includes how to make your Yardzee dice, Yardzee bucket and Yardzee Scorecard!

4″x4″x8′ board

Black Sharpie or Paint

Yardzee Score Card

Dry Erase Markers

5 Gallon Bucket with Lid

  1. Cut your wood into 4″ sections so that you have perfect squares. To make it easier on yourself, have someone at Lowe’s cut the wood for you before you even leave the store!
  2. Sand the wood squares to remove any rough edges.
  3. Draw your circles on each side to mimic a dice. My nephew drew them on by hand, but you could also cut out vinyl circles with your Cricut if that is easier. If you use vinyl circles, I would Mod Podge over them to seal them before using.
  4. You’re ready to play! The Yardzee scorecards are laminated, so use your dry erase markers to keep score and then just erase at the end of the game so you’re ready for next time!

Once the game is done, just pack up it and store in your Yardzee bucket. This will keep it all contained and ready for the next family fun night!

Yardzee bucket

How would your family take the PPL PowerHour Challenge to spend one hour without using electricity?

Would you head outside? Play board games? Do you think you could make it the full hour?

How to Make a DIY Yardzee Backyard Game

PS. To make family fun night a little sweeter, check out this easy S’ mores muffin recipe! Also, if your family loves the large than life outdoor games like Yardzee, check out this Giant Jenga tutorial!

I am a Project Envolve ambassador and receive products and/or compensation for these posts. All opinions and ideas are 100% my own.

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40 Father’s Day Gift Ideas That Kids Can Make – DIY Arts & Crafts – NttConsultants – Crypto, Tech, Finance & Business News

Tuesday 2nd of June 2020

[…] Yardzee (aka Yard Yahtzee). Cut a four-by-four into sections to make five perfect cubes. Sand the corners so there aren’t any rough edges. Then use a black Sharpie to make large dots on each side to mimic dice. The object is for each player to obtain the best dice rolls they can over a series of rounds. Keep track of scores using a scorecard. You can make one or buy a reusable one complete with gameplay rules on Amazon. Get full instructions for making the giant-size yard dice on A Turtle’s Life for Me. […]

Outdoor Summer DIY Backyard Games for Kids and Adults

Sunday 22nd of March 2020

[…] Yardzee is such a fun way to get the family up and moving. The game consists of 13 rounds to see who can get the highest score, but you have to score once in each category. It’s so easy to make your own dice for this game using 4×4 blocks of wood. Put them in a bucket to jumble them all up. | A Turtle’s Life for Me […]

Sara Anders

Wednesday 29th of March 2017

That is awesome. Might have to try that for game day this summer. We get together with our nephew and family about once a month for "game day" and usually play board or card games all afternoon. This would be a great way to get some outside time too.

I love the idea of the 5 gallon bucket for storage.

Natalie

Thursday 30th of March 2017

Yes, this is a perfect way to take your game day outdoors and get some fresh air! My kids love playing it! And bucket for storage is VERY handy! It all fits perfectly inside and nothing is every lost. Hooray!

Jennifer

Wednesday 29th of March 2017

This is SUCH an awesome idea! I wish I was crafty enough to make this. My oldest has a graduation party coming up in June, I just *may* have to attempt making these to play!

Natalie

Thursday 30th of March 2017

Thanks, Jen! It really is very easy to make! You can do it!