Make a game from scrap
Design and build a playable board game from recycled scraps like cardboard, bottle caps, and paper, then create rules and playtest with friends.
Step-by-step guide to design and build a recycled board game
How to make a ring toss game using recycled materials
Step 1
Gather all the Materials Needed and bring them to a clear workspace.
Step 2
Pick a fun theme for your game like space pirates jungle treasure or racing cars.
Step 3
Decide the win condition for your game such as first to reach the finish collect five stars or have the most points after ten turns.
Step 4
Sketch a quick board layout on a scrap piece of paper to plan where spaces and paths will go.
Step 5
Cut the cardboard base to the size you want for your board.
Step 6
Draw your board layout onto the cardboard with a pencil following your sketch.
Step 7
Divide the board into playing spaces by drawing lines to make squares or paths.
Step 8
Number the spaces in the order players will move on the board.
Step 9
Cut small paper tokens for each player to use as markers.
Step 10
Glue a paper token to the top of a bottle cap to make a sturdy player piece.
Step 11
Make a spinner by drawing a circle on cardboard and dividing it into numbered slices.
Step 12
Cut several small cards from scrap paper to make your deck of action or event cards.
Step 13
Write one short action or event on each card using clear simple words.
Step 14
Play the game with friends and notice one thing that felt confusing or not fun.
Step 15
Fix one small confusing rule or board space and then share your finished creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if cardboard, glue, or bottle caps are hard to find?
Use a flattened cereal or shoebox as the cardboard base, tape (clear packing or masking) instead of glue to attach paper pieces, and small buttons, coins, or LEGO pieces glued or taped to paper tokens in place of bottle caps for sturdy player pieces.
My spinner won't spin or my bottle-cap tokens fall off—how do I fix those problems?
Make the spinner by pushing a straight pin or a pencil through a paperclip axle or use a coin-and-pencil spinner for smoother turns, and strengthen bottle-cap tokens by adding extra glue, a drop of hot glue, or wrapping tape around the paper token before attaching it to the cap so it stays put.
How can we adapt the game for younger children or older kids?
For younger kids, enlarge board spaces, use illustrated action cards and a simple 'first to finish' win condition, while for older kids increase strategy by adding numbered point cards, longer decks of action/event cards, or a rule to collect five themed tokens before winning.
What are some ways to make the game more fun or unique after finishing the basic version?
Personalize and improve replayability by decorating the board with theme art from scrap magazines or paint, expanding the deck with custom event cards players can write during play, laminating the board with clear tape for durability, and then sharing photos of the finished creation on DIY.org.
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Facts about recycled crafts and board game design for kids
♻️ Cardboard and paper are among the easiest materials to recycle and are commonly accepted in curbside programs worldwide.
🧴 Bottle caps, cloth scraps, and cardboard make perfect low-cost game pieces that kids can decorate into unique tokens.
🌱 Building games from recycled scraps teaches creativity and helps reduce household waste.
🧩 Playtesting is crucial — many beloved board games were refined through dozens of prototype versions.
🎲 The earliest known board game, Senet, was played in ancient Egypt over 5,000 years ago.
How do I design and build a playable board game from recycled scraps?
What materials do I need to make a recycled board game?
What ages is designing and building a recycled board game suitable for?
What are the benefits and safety tips for making a board game from recycled materials?
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