How to Make a Valentines Day Board Game

Playing a homemade Valentine's Day board game is an inexpensive and romantic way to celebrate the holiday.

What better way is there to cozy up to your loved ones on Valentine's Day than by playing a board game together? By making your own Valentine's Day-themed game, you can personalize it to your specific situation -- whether you want an activity for the whole family or are looking for a way to get close to that girl or guy you've had your eye on.

Things You'll Need

• Construction paper
• Dice
• Red and pink pens
• Glitter, lace, dried flowers, or other decorations

Instructions

1. Create a game board. Either download a template online or get creative and draw your own. For the most basic shape, draw a big "S" on a large sheet of paper and an identical one next to it. Draw horizontal lines from one 'S' to the other to create squares. If you're feeling creative, make up a shape of your own, like a spiral or a zigzag.

2. Write an action in each square with red or pink pen or colored pencil. For instance, "lose a turn," "go back three spaces" or "roll again." Make sure some of the spaces say "draw an activity card."

3. Make activity cards. Cut a piece of card stock or construction paper into squares, and write one activity on each. They can be as innocent or as risqué as you wish. Examples for kids: "Do five jumping jacks" or "Give the player to your left a hug." For adults: "Kiss the player to your right" or "Remove an item of clothing." Put these in a pile, face down. If the player lands on a space that directs him to draw a card, he must take a card and complete the action on it.

4. Find game pieces, such as pebbles, multicolored Hershey's kisses or pieces from a board game you already have.

5. Decorate the game board. This is what will really set your game apart, so be sure to make it attractive. Use pens or colored pencils to draw hearts or kisses -- or put on red lipstick and make your own lip-prints. Other suggestions: Make designs out of glitter, lace or dried flowers. Just be sure you can still read the writing in the spaces.

6. Play the game. Players take turns rolling a die and moving that many spaces forward. They must follow the direction written in the square they land on. The first player to the end of the game board and back wins.

References

• Tools for Educators: Make and print board games with Valentine's Day images

Resources

• Board Game Designers Forum