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DIY Travel Tic Tac Toe Game

Packing games when you travel is smart so you have something to do in case of bad weather. If you don’t have any games, make this DIY Travel Tic Tac Toe Game.

For more things to make, check out all of our DIY posts.

A wooden coaster with a tic tac toe board and pieces on it with the words "DIY Travel Tic Tac Toe Game" digitally written on top.

I love games that don’t buzz or beep, and I try really hard to make sure to not buy electronic toys for our nephews and our friends’ kids. I would rather give them something where they need to use their brains and imagination.

That’s how I feel about road trips too.

When kids are on a long summer road trip or on plane rides, so many parents want to just turn on DVD players. And sure, that probably works, but I remember my mom always making games for us to take on long car rides. So, from that inspiration, I created a DIY Travel Tic Tac Toe game.

It was actually pretty quick to make and I love it. Pete and I have taken it on trips and actually played it in the hotel when it rained on our beach vacation.

Quick note: This is a really fun game for kids who are a little older. The tic tac toe pieces can potentially be a choking hazard for small children.

Apples to Apples and Cranium board games on a table with the words "20+ Board Games For Families To Play Together" digitally written on top.

Playing games is a great activity for the whole family. If you’re looking for more, check out our list of 20 Board Games For Families To Play Together for more games.

DIY Travel Tic Tac Toe Game

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How To Make A DIY Travel Tic Tac Toe Game:

A wooden coaster and a piece of red felt.

Cut a piece of felt the size of the unfinished wood coaster.

Use the hot glue gun to glue it to the back of the coaster. This will create a little friction if you’re using this in the car. That way the game board won’t slide off your lap while the car is driving.

A hashtag painted onto the front of a round wooden coaster.

Flip the coaster over. Paint the front of the board with a tic tac toe grid (that’s a pound sign or hashtag, depending on how old you are). Let it dry completely.

Alternatively, you can use a black paint pen instead if you don’t think you can paint straight lines. Or, skip any sort of paint and use a thin Washi tape to make the grid.

Fingers holding red and white striped tape under a clear flat marble.

Now that we have the tic tac toe board, it’s time to make the playing pieces.

Stick a piece of Washi tape on the back of one of the clear flat marbles. Cut it to fit the size of the clear flat marble. Stick it against the back.

Five blue and white flat marbles and five red and white striped flat marbles.

Make five of one pattern and five of the other.

To be clear, yes, you’re affixing the sticky part of the Washi tape to the flat side of the marbles. You’ll be able to see the print of the Washi tape through the clear marble. It’s so much easier to do this than try to cover the round part of the clear marble with Washi tape.

Travel tic tac toe in a bag.

Put all the pieces into a ziptop plastic bag or a drawstring bag and close the bag so it’s ready for your next trip.

DIY Tic Tac Toe Game: Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to use Washi tape?

If you don’t have Washi tape in your craft supplies, but you still want to make this game, we have an alternative. You can use any excess scrapbook paper you have instead. 

Of course, scrapbook paper won’t self-stick to the back of each playing piece like Washi tape does. So, what you’ll want to do is cut small circles to fit the back of the game pieces. Paint a thin layer of decoupage glue (aka Mod Podge) on the back of the clear marbles. Then, press the top of the paper on the marble (print side against the glue). Mod Podge dries clear, so you will be able to see the pattern when it’s dry.

Mod Podge does take about 24 hours to dry, so if you do make it this way, you want to let it sit overnight before playing with it.

How can you play tic tac toe with young children?

​We don’t suggest playing a game of tic tac toe with these clear marbles with young children because, as we mentioned before, they could be a choking hazard.

But, I have a good idea for you. Use bags of Goldfish Colors crackers. You might already have those in your home for a snack for your kids. They come in multiple colors in the pack (orange, red, and green). Use five of one color for player 1 and five of another color for player 2.

I actually did that with my 5-year-old nephew when I was visiting for his birthday. My brother had picked them up for the goodie bags and had extras. We played for a little while before he told me, “This game is making me hungry” and very quickly ate all the pieces.

Monster Travel Tic Tac Toe Game.

Purchase Travel Tic Tac Toe Games Online:

If you like this travel tic tac toe game, but you really don’t feel like making it, you can actually purchase versions of it online, like the monster-themed Travel Tic Tac Toe game above. That listing actually has a unicorn and rainbow version and an alien version too.

Find more travel tic tac toe games online at:

Be sure to check for a store’s minimum cart total to qualify for free shipping before ordering. Also, consider instore or curbside pick up, where available, to avoid paying shipping charges.

Photo memory match game pieces spread out on the floor.

More DIY Games

This DIY Tic Tac Toe travel game isn’t the only game tutorial we have on Drugstore Divas. If you want something else, you can also make our DIY Photo Memory Match Game. I used pictures of our whole family to make that one. It was a big hit.

Yield: 1 Game

DIY Travel Tic Tac Toe Game

Packing games when you travel is smart so you have something to do in case of bad weather. If you don't have any games, make this DIY Travel Tic Tac Toe Game.

Active Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Difficulty Easy

Materials

  • Felt
  • Unfinished wooden coaster
  • 2 rolls of Washi tape
  • Hot glue gun sticks
  • Black acrylic paint
  • 10 3/4-inch clear flat marbles
  • Plastic bag

Tools

  • Scissors
  • Hot glue gun
  • Paint brush

Instructions

  1. Cut a piece of felt the size of the unfinished wood coaster. Use the hot glue gun to glue it to the back of the coaster.
  2. Flip the coaster over. Paint the front of the board with a tic tac toe grid. Let it dry.
  3. Stick a piece of Washi tape on the back of one of the clear flat marbles. Cut it to fit the size of the clear flat marble. Stick it against the back.
  4. Make five of one pattern and five of the other.
  5. Put all the pieces into a ziptop plastic bag or a drawstring bag.

Have you made this DIY Travel Tic Tac Toe Game? Let us know how it went in the comments.

Shirley Wood

Friday 14th of July 2017

Such a fun idea! I'm going to make one for the grandchildren!

Lori Leeper

Sunday 9th of July 2017

Cute travel game!

Sandie

Friday 30th of June 2017

Love the tic tac toe ! I will definitely make it !

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