How to Make Bean Bag Toss Games for a Carnival

The Toss Game Board

• 1

  Cut sturdy ½-inch plywood into a rectangle of at least 3 feet by 2 feet for very young children. Cardboard of thinner material can be used, but will not hold up as well.

• 2

  Cut larger plywood rectangles for older children. The board can be set up a few feet away from the starting line, or several yards away for older youth. The challenge is to get the bean bag in the hole.

• 3

  Plan to paint the board bright primary colors or with an enticing picture. The picture will have holes cut for the bean bag to be tossed through.

• 4

  Glue wallpaper or poster pictures to the board and plan for holes to be cut in interesting places. A clown might have a hole cut where it's face would be. A restaurant waiter could have his tray cut away from his hand. For painted boards, use a bright red background. Paint outlines of various shapes such as hearts, stars, triangles and squares in blue, yellow and green around the cut holes.

• 5

  Cut 4-inch holes with a hole saw bit purchased to be used on a drill. For larger holes use a saber saw. The holes don't have to be round.

Setting the game up

• 6

  Cut three 2-foot-by-2-foot boards the length of the game's longest side. Cut one 2-foot-by-2-foot board the width of the game.

• 7

  Screw two of the 2-by-2s onto the bottom of the games corners with the hinge. Fasten the hinge so that the game's "legs" will fold up for storage. Attach the 2-by-2 cut to the width of the game to the ends of the two hinged legs with nails.

• 8

  Measure the game's width and divide by 2. Measure the game's height and divide by 4. Mark this spot with a pencil and attach the third 2-by-2 to the spot with the third hinge. Place this hinge under the 2-by-2, so that this leg will fold down for storage.

• 9

  Set up the game by folding down the hinged legs. Bring the third leg out and rest it inside the rectangle's frame. The game will lean back just enough to be sturdy, much like a picture frame.

Bean Bags

• 10

  Cut sturdy material 4 inches by 8 inches. Fold it in half with the outside fabric facing in.

• 11

  Sew the three sides together with a ¼-inch seam, leaving 1 inch of space not sewn. Turn the fabric inside out.

• 12

  Roll the sheet of paper from the lower corner to the upper corner, making a flexible funnel. Insert one end of the paper funnel into the 1-inch opening. Pour 1 cup of small, dry beans into the bag.

• 13

  Sew a new ¼-inch seam around the entire bean bag to secure the beans inside.