This DIY tic tac toe board is the perfect board game to add to your patio or back porch for summertime fun. And, it's small enough to take with you while traveling in the car or to a vacation spot.

Wooden tic tac toe board with white and black stars as the playing pieces.

There's something about classic games like Tic Tac Toe that brings back memories of childhood and summertime. All you really need is a piece of paper and a couple of pencils/pens.

However, I thought a small wooden tic tac toe game board would be fun on our porch for anyone who wants to play. In addition, this one is small enough to stow in a bag for travel.

Supplies

Small Wooden Board (5 x 7 inches)
Wood Playing Pieces (you'll need 10)
Gel Stain (optional)
Acrylic Paints (two different colors for the playing pieces)
Tracing Paper
Paint brushes
Pencil
Ruler
Black Sharpie Pen

I picked up the board and the stars from my local Michaels craft store, but you could probably find the same or something similar at places like Hobby Lobby or the Dollar Store.

Making a Wooden Tic Tac Toe Board

Step 1. Stain the wood board first if you wish. You could also paint it.

Painting five mini wooden stars white and five black for game pieces.

Step 2. Paint the playing pieces. You'll need 10 (5 in each color). You may need to sand the rough edges and use a couple of coats of paint to make them look their best.

Tic Tac Toe Board Lines Template

Tic tac toe lines image for tracing. — click for printable PDF file

Step 3. Print out the template above for tracing. You may be able to do this with just a ruler, but the template makes it easier.

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Wooden board topped with tracing paper and the crosshatch image traced with a pencil.

Step 4. Use tracing paper between the template and the wooden board, trace the lines of the tic tac toe board with a pencil. You can also use light colored chalk rubbed all over the back of the template instead of using tracing paper.

Traced lines on wood board for tic tac toe.

Here's what it looks like with tracing paper. If you use chalk, the lines will be the color of the chalk.

Using a ruler and a black Sharpie pen to fill in the lines on the board.

Step 5. Use a ruler or any straight edge and a black Sharpie pen to fill in and darken the lines.

Tic tac toe board with star game pieces, a drawstring bag and a mini bag for pieces.

I found a little muslin drawstring bag in my stash that the board fits in and a little baggie for the game pieces. Perfect for storage and travel.

Now you have a fun little game to enjoy during the lazy days of summer on your back porch. Or play the game while sitting on an airplane, or on a long car ride with friends or kids. Wouldn't it make a great gift?

More Summertime Crafting

A small wooden tic tac toe board with black and white star pieces on top of a draw string bag and a small plastic bag with an extra white star.

DIY Tic Tac Toe Board for Travel

This travel sized tic tac toe board tutorial with black and white star playing pieces is an easy DIY you can bring with you on the go.

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Equipment

Computer and printer
Ruler or straight edge.
Scissors
Paint brushes

Materials

Wooden Board 5 x 7 inches
10 Mini Star Wood pieces
Gel Stain
White Craft Paint
Black Craft Paint
Tracing Paper
Pencil
Black Sharpie
Carrying Bags

Instructions

Stain the board and paint the stars, half white and half black.
Print and cut out the line template.
Use tracing paper to trace the lines image with a pencil onto the stained board. You can also use white chalk on the back of the image for tracing.
Use a ruler or straight-edge to darken the lines with a black Sharpie pen.
Store the playing pieces in a small bag, then add the small bag and the board to a larger bag for storage and travel.

Notes

You can use any two different playing pieces or the same in two colors. You don't have to have X's and O's

You may find that the wooden stars need to be sanded a little if they have rough edges.

You may need to paint a couple of coats of paint on the stars.

You can trace the image without tracing paper by using light colored chalk rubbed all over the back of the image.

You can probably use a ruler to draw lines with a Sharpie instead of using the template.

Tried this project?Tag @hearthnvine on Instagram