How to Make Lawn Chess Pieces

Making the Forms for Lawn Chess Pieces

• 1

  Sketch out how you want each piece to look.

• 2

  Cut eight of the 2-by-4s in half to make them the correct size for a pawn. Cut a couple inches off the top of two 2-by-4s for your queen pieces. Cut 1/4 off the top of four 2-by-4s for the bishops. Cut 1/3 off the top of eight 2-by-4s for the knights and rooks. Throw the scraps away or recycle for another project.

• 3

  Hammer a 6-inch circle of plywood to each 2-by-4. Mark what each piece is on the bottom of the base with a pen or sharpie to avoid confusion later.

• 4

  Staple chicken wire around the base of each circle leading about half-way up the piece and tapering in to create a sloped shape for the base of each piece. Secure the top of the chicken wire to the 2-by-4s with staples.

• 5

  Cut a circle with an opening for the 2-by-4s slightly larger than the top of the slope for the rims on the top of the base for the kings and queens. Slide them down from the top of the 2-by-4s. Tape them into place at the top of the chicken wire slope.

• 6

  Use posterboard to make a cone that starts at the cardboard circles (starting slightly smaller than the circle) and gradually flares out to the top of the 2-by-4s for the kings and queens. Tape in place and fill it in with crumpled newspaper. Add crowns to the kings and queens making sure they are different so players can tell the difference between them.

• 7

  Cut the 2-by-4s on the pawn and bishop pieces down to the top of the chicken wire. Cut a circle slightly larger than the top of the chicken wire slope for the rims on the top of the base. Nail it to the top of the 2-by-4s. Blow up balloons to the desired shape for the bulb on the bishops and pawns. Tape to the top of the cardboard piece. For the bishop, cover the balloon with newspaper tapering in to a cone top.

• 8

  Cut rampart shapes (top of a castle) out of cardboard and wrap it into a circular shape. Tape it in place above the chicken wire slope, covering to the top of the 2-by-4s to form the tops of the rooks.

• 9

  Use chicken wire and newspaper to form horse heads for the knights. Tape it above the chicken wire slope and covering the top of the 2-by-4 to form the top of the knights.

Covering Your Lawn Chess Piece Form with Paper Mache

• 10

  Rip newspaper into 6-by-6-inch pieces and 6-by-1-inch strips.

• 11

  Mix together flour and water to make paste. Try about 4 cups of each to start. The paste should be thinner than pancake batter, but thick enough to cling to the newspaper strips.

• 12

  Start working on one chess piece at a time. Dip a larger newspaper piece into the paste mixture. Use fingers like a squeegee to wipe off excess. Place the piece on the chicken wire and smooth out any wrinkles or air bubbles. Add pieces until the chicken wire is almost covered, then layer smaller strips on to overlap and fill the gaps. Repeat in a criss-cross pattern, at odd angles and slightly overlapping, until chicken wire is entirely covered. Then move up to cover the sculptural elements on the top of the piece with strips of newspaper covered in the flour paste.

• 13

  Let it dry completely. While it is drying, move on to the next piece and repeat until all the pieces have a base layer.

• 14

  Return to your first piece. If it is completely dry, add a second layer, using the steps of the first layer. Repeat on all pieces and then repeat for a third layer. The layers add strength to the pieces.

Finishing Your Lawn Chess Pieces

• 15

  Let the pieces dry completely in the sun. Sand out any unwanted wrinkles or blemishes using a fine sandpaper.

• 16

  Paint the piece according to your sketch. You may want to use more than one coat--sanding between coats--to get the best coverage. Let dry.

• 17

  Add a final clear coat or spray with weather proofing clear sealant.