Thursday, March 11, 2010

Wooden Memory Game - Tutorial


Looking for an easy project to do today???

Remember playing the game "memory" as a kid? Heck, you might even still play it now! Well, I was trying to think of some education toys for my daughter who will be 3 in a couple of weeks. I was browsing Amazon and came across this cute wooden memory game set.


Of course when I saw these, I thought about making my own! So I headed to good old HobLob so conveniently just around the corner and picked up some wooden cards (very inexpensive)! Then I had a thrifty day at Micheal's earlier this week, all the $1 bin items were on special 2 for $1. So I picked up a pad of coordinating papers for 50 cents. The rest of what I needed I had at home in my pile of crap in the corner of the dining room craft room.

Here is the awesome tutorial so simple you don't really need one for making your own set of wooden memory cards!



WHAT YOU NEED
images for the cards
wooden cards
coordinating set of decorative papers

contrasting paper

modge podge

foam brush
scissors

paper plate


Google search "animal clipart" "animal silhouettes" or just use basic shape...depending on what your theme is. You could use insect silhouettes, construction equiptment, vehicles, their favorite cartoon characters...whatever!

Print out your selected images and cut them out.

Trace your images onto the back of your decorative paper and then cut out. Repeat, making two of each image.

Using a contrasting decorative paper, cut out rectangles just smaller than the wooden card for a backdrop. I had 12 cards so I needed 12 rectangles.

Using a foam Brush, apply a layer of modge podge to the entire surface of your wooden card. Carefully line up your paper rectangle and press down. Set aside to dry and repeat until all cards are done.



Starting with the dry wooden cards, apply a second layer of modge podge over the paper rectangle that is now dried to the wooden card. Line up your animal silhouette (or whatever image you are using), press down and smooth out using your foam brush. Brush a layer of modge podge over top of the entire card and set aside to dry. Repeat to complete all cards.



Allow your set of wooden cards to dry completely. Then wrap as a gift or start playing with the kids!



This would make a great little handmade gift for boys or girls! Need something cute for their Easter Basket???



A Classic Game for exercising the memory! Let the family fun begin!

5 comments:

Crystal Escobar said...

That is such a cute idea!!! I'm totally going to make it sometime. My daughter and I made a puzzle the other day, thanks to your clever idea :) I'll post a picture and send people back to you, love how creative you are. And we also made a collage out of all our Christmas cards. They were just sitting in my pantry and I was about to throw them away until I remembered your idea about junk mail.

Candace @ Candace Creations said...

YAY! I can't wait to see how the puzzle turned out! You just reminded me of another great idea for christmas cards! I had a friend at MOPS who would put their Christmas cards between contact paper (or glue them to a sheet of construction paper and laminate them) creating placemats. Then at dinner each night, they would take a moment to pray for the people on their placemat, reminding the kids to think of these other people in their lives and to pray for others too and not just always for ourselves. I thought that was a great idea!

Amy said...

This is so amazing. I could do this for a gift to. Thanks. Most of all thanks for linking up to my Round Robin. I hope you had fun..

Thanks again..

Have a wonderful weekend.

Maria-Isabel @ Agape Love Designs said...

wow, these are so cute. I love the idea of a wooden set! And so easy to make. I love them. thank you for the tutorial.. I am a new follower now! :)

Tasha said...

My daughter has two birthday parties this week and I was a little stressed about a gift. I'm the kind of person that likes to do handmade gifts, but as they get older your options get limited. When I saw this I knew it would be perfect! I let her do a lot of the work so she can feel like SHE made it for them. Thanks for the great idea!