How to Make Paper Dice in Different Ways
Dice have been used in various types of games for centuries and can be made from some very diverse materials. Wood, bone, stone and plastic have all been used to mold dice. Another less popular material for dice is paper. Paper is less sturdy than other materials, but you can use paper to make dice at home. Help your children make their own large or small paper dice, and then create a game using them. Make dice as small as your pinky fingernail or as large as a child.
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Things You'll Need
- Grid paper
- Markers
- Paint
- Paintbrushes
- Glue
- Butcher paper
- Square boxes, any size
- Glazing medium
Instructions
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How to Make Dice from Grid Paper
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1
Choose paper with a grid no smaller than half an inch, but you can choose anything larger. Small grid squares are difficult to cut out and fold. Larger ones are easier to manipulate, especially for little fingers.
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2
Outline six squares on the grid with a dark pen, marking four squares directly on top of each other and one square on either side of the second square down so your outline forms a cross.
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3
Cut out the squares you just outlined, snipping some extra paper on the ends of the outermost squares for glue tabs. Fold the squares up and around the grid lines.
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4
Dab a small amount of glue on the tabs and press them into the inside of the folded squares. Allow the die to dry and draw the appropriate dots on it with a marker.
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5
Weather-proof your dice with glazing medium. Wait until the glue and paint dries and apply an even coat of glaze with a paintbrush. Allow the glaze to dry for about an hour and apply a second coat. For outdoor use, apply a third coat.
How to Make Dice from a Box
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6
Choose a box of any size and set it on a piece of butcher paper. Trace the bottom of the box on the butcher paper, then cut out the paper square.
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7
Use the paper square as a template to cut out five more paper squares. Glue one square to each side of the box. Allow the glue to dry for about 30 minutes.
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8
Paint the appropriate dots on each side of the die, or paint numbers or symbols like hearts, stars or anything you like. If you're creating a game for your dice, use symbols appropriate to the game. You can also paint different symbols on each die.
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9
Paint visible edges of the box all one color so the die looks even with a colorful outline.
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10
Wait for the paint to dry and apply two or three coats of glazing medium to each side. Let each coat dry before applying the next one.
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