Travel Tic Tac Toe

Original DIY Tic Tac Toe travel game board from the 1990's

I loved this DIY Tic Tac Toe traveling game so much as a child that I still have the original game that I made.  It's super easy to make for your child and even with your child that you may feel brave enough to have a large group of kiddos over to instruct.  Adult Child Group Fun!  a.k.a. birthday parties, project parties, rainy days, etc.  The best part... The game board and playing pieces are made out of felt so that when playing in the car, the pieces are not lost. So clever.

I think I was about 6 to 8 years old, so I believe it was my awesome Sunday School teacher Denise Kistner who instructed our class to make this project.  I don't want to leave out Connie Hester either...just in case it may have been her as she was another one of my awesome Sunday School teachers.  Kudos!

Make it yourself using the instructions below.

The felt pieces don't fall off when tipped over

Write the kid's name and a message of your choice

Materials Needed:

• Felt, 4 different colors
• Pinking Shears
• Foam Core Board
• Glue
• A Permanent Marker
• Gallon Size Zipper Bag

Instructions:

• Measure the foam core board to 8 inches by 8 inches and cut.
• Write a message on the back on the side you have determined to be the back of the board.
• Measure felt color #1 and cut with the pinking shears. Approximately 8 inches by 8 inches (make sure it's large enough to cover the board!).  Once cut, glue this to the foam board.  Gluing it now will allow it to have some time to set prior to adding the next layer.
• Measure strips from felt color #2 and cut using the pinking shears. Approximately 1/2 inch by 8 inches.  Not too thick, not too thin.  If the fabric is cut with the pinking shear points lined up then the width may go a little over a half inch, that is okay.  Make 4 of these.
• Measure rectangles from felt color #3 and cut using the pinking shears.  Aproximately 1 inch by 1 3/4 inch.  Again this is approximate, the main point to remember is to make sure the pieces are large enough for hands to pick up easily but small enough for them to fit inside the tic tac toe boxes. Make 5 of these and perhaps one back up if you'd like.
• Measure circles from felt color #4 and cut using the pinking shears. Approximately 1 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inch.  Again this is approximate, the main point to remember is to make sure the pieces are large enough for hands to pick up easily but small enough for them to fit inside the tic tac toe boxes.  Make 5 of these and perhaps one back up if you'd like.
• Glue the measured strips that you cut from felt color #2 to the felt covered foam board, using the lattice style method.
• Do NOT put your foam rectangles/circles on the foam board until you know the board has completely dried.  You wouldn't want to accidentally glue pieces to the board making them permanently unplayable, would you?
• When complete, store in a zipper bag and keep it in the family car.

With Angela O'

Make at least 5 pieces each shape

BAG IT AND STICK IT! in the car

New York City Party

Earlier this year I organized a New York City themed party for a high school Post Prom (after prom) event.  I ordered cardboard stand-ups online and made a few other decorations.  The food bar included popcorn with a 1920's styled machine, bagel bites (NYC Pizza), hotdogs (Coney Island), Pretzels, Apples and Jelly Beans.  Ice cream bars were part of the plan but we decided to avoid the mess and served a tray of cookies instead.  I handmade man holes by using aluminum foil, cardboard, glue, paint, foam alphabet stickers and $1.00 round pizza pans from the Dollar Tree.  One activity that was planned was New York City trivia.  After a long search I determined that I could not find a satisfactory trivia game for NYC so I decided to make one and today I am sharing it with you. 

~ With Angela O'

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NYC Tourist Photo Center

NYC Decorations

NYC Decorations

NYC Food Carts

Pizza, Popcorn, Pretzels, Bagels, Giant Pickles, and Other Cart Goodies

Old Fashioned Popcorn Machine

NYC Mocktails for Underage Guests

A Bit of Breakfast for Morning Survivors

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Manholes:

Completed Manhole. (See larger photo at end of this blog post)

$1.00 Pizza Pan from Dollar Tree

Cut cardboard pieces glued on to pan.  Foam Alphabet Stickers.

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Cash Cab Trivia:

1.  What supernatural action movie from the 1980’s starring Bill Murray filmed a scene inside the New York Public Library?

A: Ghostbusters

2.  Name three famous talk shows based in NYC?

A: The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon, Late Night, The Today Show, 

Rachel Ray, The Colbert Report, Good Morning America

Late Show, The People’s Court

3.  What actress is famous for her little black dress, black gloves, sunglasses, and her up-do when she walks up to Tiffany & Co. with a pastry in her hand?

A: Audrey Hepburn

 4.  Name the four female characters of Sex and the City?

A: Carrie Bradshaw

Charlotte York

Miranda Hobbes

Samantha Jones

5.  Name three epic film couples of New York City.

A: Carrie Bradshaw & Big – S&TC

Chuck Bass & Blair Waldorf – Gossip Girl

Ross Gellar & Rachel Green – Friends

Maria & Alan – Sesame Street

Peter Park & Mary Jane Watson – Spider Man

Jay Gatsby & Daisy Buchannan – The Great Gatsby

6.  What show holds the record for the longest-run in the history of Broadway?

A: Cats

7,  List two old-timer shows that were set in New York.

A: I Love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Welcome Back, Kotter

Different Strokes, Bewitched, Family Affair

All in the Family, The Cosby Show

8.  What was/is the tallest building in Manhattan?

A: One World Trade Center

9.  What are the names of the pizza-loving, crime-fighting, skateboarding turtles that reside in the sewers of NYC?

A: Leonardo, Michaelangelo

Donatello, Raphael

 10.  What show is famous for their deliveryman who drives a brown truck dropping off packages before coming home to his wife in Queens?

A: The King of Queens

11.  What show about nothing was filmed and takes place in NYC?

A: Seinfeld

12.  Which animated tv show that takes place in the year 3000 (aka the 31^st century) takes place in New York? 

A: Futurama

13.  Who plays Doug Heffernan in The King of Queens?  He also played in Grown Ups and Mall Cop.

A: Kevin James

 14.  In what community does Peter Parker live with his Aunt May?

A: Forest Hills, Queens NY

15.  What currently aired television series takes place in NYC during the 1950’s through the 1970’s?

A: Mad Men

 16.  What is NYC’s nick name?

A: The Big Apple

17.  What movie took place in New York during the Revolutionary War era? Hint: It starred Johnny Depp

A: Sleepy Hollow 

 18.  List how many and name the professional football teams in the state of New York.

A: NY Giants

NY Jets

Buffalo Bills

19.  Who is the biggest rival team of the New York Yankees?

A: Boston Red Sox

 20.  Name the two baseball teams in NY.

A: NY Mets, NY Yankees

21.  What is the name that is collectively used for the 5 communities that make up New York City?

A: The Boroughs

 22.  What are the five boroughs of NYC?

A: Manhattan, The Bronx

Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island

23.  What NYC baseball team did Jackie Robinson play for in the late 1940’s to mid 1950’s?

A: The Brooklyn Dodgers

24.  How I Met Your __________ takes place in NYC with the architect named Ted and the Canadian news anchor named Robin?

A: How I Met Your "Mother"

25.  What foods are NYC most known for?

A: Bagels & Pizza

26.  The famous movie featuring Macy’s and the Macy’s Parade during the Christmas season, took place on what street?

Hint: Miracle on ______ Street

A: 34th

27.  What movie starred Audrey Hepburn at a now extremely famous jeweler in 1961?

A: Breakfast at Tiffany’s

 28.  What large animal is legend to live in the sewers of Manhattan?

Hint: Because people would flush these down the toilet as baby pets

A: Crocodiles

29.  Who directed The Godfather?

A: Francis Ford Coppola

 30. Who played the Don in The Godfather?

A: Marlen Brando

31.  Who played Michael Corleone in The Godfather?

A: Al Pacino

32.  Home Alone 2 is _______ in New York.

A: Lost

33.  This Real Estate Tycoon is famous for his tagline “You’re Fired” on The Apprentice.

A: Donald Trump

 34.  What NBA team does Jay-Z partially own?

A: The Brooklyn Nets

35.  Name three films that New York City is devastated?

A: King Kong, Independence Day, Planet of the Apes,

Armageddon, End of the World, Godzilla,

        Ghostbusters, The Day After Tomorrow,

War of the Worlds, I am Legend, Cloverfield

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Zoomed View of Manhole.  Finished by covering with aluminum foil, pressed and then grey paint.

"It's a High Tea" ~ Bridal Shower Game & Invites

"It's a High Tea"   

Bridal Shower Game & Invites

These game cards are very simple and make shower appear more elegant.  All you need is card stock, lace, a shaped stamp, a stamp pad, 2 colors of spray paint, hot glue and a base-object (our's are Victorian-Era Teapot, Traditional Teapot, and Teacup made from wood).  I was commissioned by one of my dear best friends early this summer to make 'game cards' for her twin sister's bridal shower.  It was a catered tea at the Fleur De Lys Mansion in St. Louis, Missouri.  Congratulations on your wedding Courtney!

Step 1:

Put down a plastic table-cover onto a flat surface, preferably outdoors.  Lay down the base-object that you will be using.  Spray paint the first color on one side of the object.  You may need to spray light and let dry, repeating for a few coats.

Step 2:

Over the dry base-objects, place a large piece of cut lace over the top. Holding down firmly, spray paint over the top of the lace.  Be careful not to blow the lace away with the spray can pressure or you will ruin your design.

Step 3:

Remove the lace before the paint dries.

Step 4:

Using pre-cut cardstock, position a piece of cut lace on top hot-gluing into place.  Then place the decorated base in the hot-glue puddle.

Step 5:

Stamp a pretty print beside the finished shape, slightly overlapping the lace.  Be sure to have a hard surface underneath or the stamped design will not be even.

Step 6:

Voila! Here you go.  Now if you are using as a game and wish to have them hidden from your guests, place them inside an envelope.  Depending on your guest number, select a few cards to have a special marking on the backside.  This could be a passive game for a door prize.  If your guest has picked a card with the special mark then they get a prize.

If you are using these as an invitation, write out the party information on the opposite side of the decorations.

xoxo,

Angela O'

A Beatrix Potter Baby Shower

One of my best friends recently gave birth to her first child, a son.  She introduced the first year of his life to many classic nursery rhymes incorporating them in the baby shower, baby nursery, and soon-to-be first birthday celebration.  A connection that she and her twin sister once shared from their childhood nursery.  Unfortunately I could not travel to the baby shower, as it was to be in St. Louis and I had just gotten settled in at Austin.  Her sister was the hostess and I co-hosted games from afar.  I handmade all of the games to be a custom fit for her Beatrix Potter theme.  In addition, I presented them in a way that she could keep them nicely tucked in a box so that when the baby was old enough Mommy and Daddy could play the games with him.  A neat and interactive way to learn the very interesting history of Beatrix Potter.  

Today I would love to provide inspiration to anyone who is tired of the stale games offered in books, online, and at party stores.

Supplies Needed: color printer (or office printing store), scissors, nice scrapbook paper,  8.5x11" sheets of blank & printed paper, glue, metallic marker, organza ribbon, saftey pins, and a scrapbook brad to connect multiple pages (used on the Left/Right game hostess sheet).  Both the Bazill brand Prince Charming blue and the Beatrix Potter print paper were from Archiver's which I purchased in Winter 2011.  They are in 12x12" sheets that I cut down to size.  These papers were used to make the hostess sheets and game cards so that the back was a pretty sight for the guests and guest-of-honor.

I also made hostess instruction cards that were approximately 6x6 inches (12x12 sheet, quartered) so that when the day came each game would run smoothly.  The colors were coordinated to be tied in to the look of the shower but small enough to hold and be discrete.  All you do is print the instructions on computer paper and then past the instructions onto the cut down scrapbook paper for a matted look.

PASSIVE GAME:  Under the Chair 

Before any of the guests arrive place a symbol under one of the chairs so that the guest who will be seated there will later be announced as the winner of a door prize.  I used a printed nursery rhyme picture adhered to textured scrapbook paper, monogrammed with a silver BP to make a small note card that would fit securely under the chair with tape.   

PASSIVE GAME:   "Don't Say Baby"

As everyone arrives be sure to give them a ribbon with safety pins.  Each ribbon has 4 playing pins plus one attachment pin for the guests blouse.  Instruct all guests to not say the word “baby”.  If they are caught saying "baby" they have to give one of their safety pins to the person they said it to.  At the end of the shower, ask the guests to tally up their pins.  Whoever has the most pins wins a prize.  This would be a great game to designate to a co-host to stand at the door to pass out and quickly explain the rule.

ACTIVE GAME:  "Angela's Signature" Left Right Game

Left/Right Game Hostess Sheet - Front & Back

Left/Right Game Hostess Sheet - Front

The hostess will need to use an object to pass around the table, like a flower or stuffed animal. Only one item can be used.  If there are multiple tables then designate one corner of each as the bridge so that the item moves on to the next table smoothly.  The hostess will read the story out loud to the guests.  Each time the guests hear the word “right” or “left” (spelled in many different ways) the guest holding the object will pass the item in the designated direction.  The last person holding the item wins a prize.  Do this game first as it is very active and will get the ladies excited.  Do this while the guests are sitting but before they eat because it is a bit of a riot. *The Left/Right story is at the bottom of the blog

ACTIVE GAME: Beatrix Potter Trivia 

The Beatrix Potter Trivia Hostess Cards

Beatrix Potter trivia cards.  Use these hostess cards to announce the question.  They are made to look like game show cards.  Give the guests approximately 10 seconds or so to hand write their answer on their own answer sheet.  There are 13 questions, at the end of all the questions the hostess will then announce the answers.  Making sure to  re-read them in the same order.   The person with the most correct wins a prize. 

**Save time by placing the guest blank sheets at the guest seats before they arrive.  Include pens.  This game should be done during eating or after, while at the table.

*The Beatrix potter trivia is at the bottom of the blog

ACTIVE GAME: The 23 Tales

The 23 Tales Hostess Sheet

The guest answer sheet for 23 Tales & BP Trivia

The 23 tales of Beatrix Potter. The hostess will announce to the guests that they will get 4 minutes to jot down as many Beatrix Potter tales that they know on their game sheet once you say “GO”. Once the four minutes are up the hostess will read off the answers from the hostess sheet.  Ask the guests how many they got right.  The person with the most wins a prize.

**Save time by placing the guest blank sheets at the guest seats before they arrive.  Include pens. This game should be done after eating or during dessert, while at the table.

*The 23 Tales List is at the bottom of the blog

PRESENTATION:

An easy way to transport to the shower and to present is to tie organza ribbon on the game cards.  

BP TRIVIA:  All based on my own research of Beatrix Potter

Q: What is Beatrix Potter’s first name? 

A: Helen 

Q: What year was Beatrix Potter born? 

A: 1866 

Q: What was Beatrix Potter’s brother’s name? 

A: Bertram (Walter Bertram) 

Q: What year was The Tale of Peter Rabbit published? 

A: 1901, privately 

Q: How many children did Beatrix Potter have? 

A: 3 

Q: After receiving book proceeds and a legacy from her aunt, what did Beatrix Potter purchase? 

A: “Hill Top Farm” – near Sawry, a tiny village 

Q: How many books did Beatrix Potter publish? 

A: 23 

Q: Beatrix Potter stories have been told in four ways. 1. Song 2. Film 3. Animation and 4. _________ 

A: Ballet 

Q: To earn money in the 1890’s what did Beatrix and Bertram do? 

A: Designed and printed their own Christmas and Special Occasion cards 

Q: What were Beatrix Potter’s “Four Little Rabbits” names? 

A: Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter 

Q: Finish this title… “The Tale of ______Nutkin” 

A: The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin 

Q: What are two stories that represent Beatrix’s life of Hill Top Farm? 

A: The Tale of Jemima Puddle Deck & The Tale of Tom Kitten 

Q: What was the name of the ballet film released in 1971 and directed by Reginald Miller? 

A: “The Tales of Beatrix Potter”   **This was performed in costume by the Royal Ballet

The 23 Tales

The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902)

The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin (1903)

The Tailor of Gloucester (1903)

The Tale of Benjamin Bunny (1904)

The Tale of Two Bad Mice (1904)

The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (1905)

The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan (1905)

The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher (1906)

The Story of A Fierce Bad Rabbit (1906)

The Story of Miss Moppet (1906)

The Tale of Tom Kitten (1907)

The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck (1908)

The Tale of Samuel Whiskers or, The Roly-Poly Pudding (1908)

The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies (1909)

The Tale of Ginger and Pickles (1909)

The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse (1910)

The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes (1911)

The Tale of Mr. Tod (1912)

The Tale of Pigling Bland (1913)

Appley Dapply's Nursery Rhymes (1917)

The Tale of Johnny Town-Mouse (1918)

Cecily Parsley's Nursery Rhymes (1922)

The Tale of Little Pig Robinson (1930)

Angela’s Signature Game “Right/Left” 

This is a story about Mrs. Wright's baby shower tea party. She lived right at the end of Lefty Lane, the third house on the left. Today, Mrs. Wright was hosting a baby shower tea party. The women would enter left, right through the front door and greet Mrs. Wright, they would head right down the stairs, turning left then right into Mrs. Wright's family room where the mommy-to-be was.

Two of the girls were left-handed so they would sit at the left of the table. Mrs. Wright held up her right hand and all of her friends grew quiet, except the left-handed girl on the right patting Mrs. Wright's dog named Hefty Lefty.

Mrs. Wright asked Sarah Wright and Julie Wright to pass out the teacups starting to the left. Sarah Wright and Julie Wright started out left but turned back because they left the cups just to the right of the table, right next to the spoons. Mrs. Wright said, "That's all right." 

Mrs. Wright began to serve her friends some pie when Grandma Wright smelled the delicious desserts and left her bedroom to join the Wright girls. She went down the stairs and turned left than right, right into Mrs. Wright's family room.

Grandma Wright knocked and entered left and sat in the rocking chair on the left. Sarah Wright and Julie Wright invited Grandma Wright to join them at the table.

Grandma Wright had been to many baby showers as a young girl and right before they realized it, Grandma Wright was telling them stories from when she was the mommy-to-be and went to the right cabinet and in the left drawer were pictures of her baby shower.

As the party ended right on time, they all put their dishes right in the left side of the sink and thanked Mrs. Wright and Grandma Wright for such a wonderful time. Soon, all of the women from the Wright baby shower tea party turned right than left, then left again to return to the front door and out to the right car that they arrived in. Down lefty lane they went. Now who ended up with the right gift?

 **This is considered Angela's signature baby shower game simply because it is always so popular and the guests have so much fun.  I did not create this game but it has been so long since I first used it I can't remember who was the original source.