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Make Your Own Pick Up Sticks (plus game instructions)

 
 This is our second to last week of Handmade Christmas, it’s hard to believe, isn’t it? We’ve had some great ideas posted, so make sure and look over the last few weeks.

We are a game loving family. We love hanging out and playing cards or board games, especially during the longer winter nights. Last year, Josiah made a fun classic game for us and for each family in our extended families. Pick up sticks!

SchniederPeeps - Pick Up Sticks are such a fun classic family game.  You can easily make your own set and sets to give as gifts.  This post also has downloadable game instructions. Josiah etched some Starbucks Frappachino bottles to hold the sticks. A guy’s gotta do, what a guy’s gotta do for his family. I’m telling you, the frappachinoes were a “sacrifice”.

Besides a frappachino bottle you will also need between 15 and 30 feet of thin dowel. Something to cut the dowel with – Josiah used a small hacksaw. Acrylic paints in black, red, blue, green and yellow. Josiah stained his instead of painting them and we just count the number of sticks each person gets instead of using a point system. You’ll also need a pencil sharpener.

handmade pick up sticks game

~ Cut the dowels into 30 sticks. They can be anywhere from 6″ to 12″ long.

~ Use the pencil sharpener to sharpen to a point both ends of each stick.

~ Paint or stain each stick. Even if you stain them, you need one stick that is a different color. If you paint them, you need 1 black, 7 red, 7 blue, 8 green and 7 yellow.

~ While the sticks are drying, drink a frappachino and wash out the bottle. Then etch the glass, I shared a tutorial for etching glass last week.

~ When the paint or stain is dry and the bottle is etched, put the sticks into the bottle and you’re done.

Just in case you can’t remember how to play pick up sticks, I made a downloadable instruction sheet here.

Enjoy your game!

This post is linked to Barn Hop,

 

Thanks for sharing with your friends!

Heather Jackson

Wednesday 20th of November 2013

How fun! This is basically the same technique I used for making double pointed knitting needles! (And thanks for including instructions, it's been a LONG time!)

Angi Schneider

Wednesday 20th of November 2013

I never thought of making knitting needles. Thanks a great idea!

Jo Rellime

Wednesday 20th of November 2013

What a CUTE idea! I love this! Fun project followed by a fun time with the family. You have such great ideas!

Angi Schneider

Wednesday 20th of November 2013

awww, Thanks, Jo. We do like our games around here.

Patrick Blair

Wednesday 20th of November 2013

I might have to do this! Very nostalgic. I had a 'pick up sticks' game when I was a kid. :)

Angi Schneider

Wednesday 20th of November 2013

They are nostalgic. It's fun to see my kids all huddled around the pile playing. My 4 year old loves this game - although I heard yesterday that she has different standards for movement when it's her turn.