Make your own custom tic tac toe rocks to play a backyard game. These painted rocks are easy to make with paint pens and smooth rocks.
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This post was originally published on One Mama’s Daily Drama in 2020.
Some of our favorites are simple classics, like tic tac toe. You can play it almost anywhere in a bunch of different ways. This tic tac toe version We’re sharing today is made with painted rocks for a fun backyard game.
To create these tic tac toe rocks, we just collected a handful from the gravel patio in our backyard. You can dig them up out of the ground, collect them on a nature walk, or even purchase rocks for this craft idea.
The other thing you need is paint pens. We like these pens from Artistro because they’re very easy to use. You just shake, press down to get the paint flowing, and then draw like you would with a pen. They are very kid-friendly.
You’ll also need something to serve as a game board. You can draw lines in the dirt, use chalk on the sidewalk, or even pick up a few sticks to use to create the grid.
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How to make painted tic tac toe rocks
Get the kids involved! Set up a painting station and let everyone make their own set of pieces.
Supplies
- 10 smooth, flat rocks from your backyard (or these rocks on Amazon)
- Paint pens
- Newspaper, for protecting your workspace
Instructions
1. Clean the rocks.
Start by washing the rocks with warm water to remove any dirt. Let them air dry thoroughly.
2. Choose your color scheme.
You can use any color combination for rock painting. I chose pink, yellow, and orange because they’re so bright and cheerful. Use your kids’ favorite colors or paint the rocks to match your patio decor.
3. Draw the tic tac toe Xs and Os.
Use one of the pens (I chose white) to draw the outline of the Xs and Os on 5 rocks each.
4. Color in each X and O.
Use the paint pens to color in the shapes on each painted rock. I painted mine with stripes on the X pieces and polka dots on the O pieces. Make them all matching or completely different – it’s totally up to you!
5. Let the paint dry.
Once you’re happy with the designs, let the paint dry overnight. I didn’t seal my tic tac toe pieces, and the particular paint I used doesn’t need to be heat-cured. If you use a different kind of paint, check the instructions to see if it needs to be baked.
Play tic tac toe
To play, choose who will use the Xs and who will use the Os. Create a game board wherever you want to play. Take turns placing rocks and trying to get three in a row to win.
It’s popular to play three rounds and the winner is whoever wins two of them, but your kids might end up playing for much longer.
Tic tac toe rocks would be a fun craft to make and take to the park, on a camping trip, or to the beach!
Printable instructions
Painted Tic Tac Toe Rocks
Make your own custom tic tac toe rocks to play a backyard game. These painted rocks are easy to make with paint pens and smooth rocks.
Materials
- 10 smooth, flat rocks
- Paint pens
- Newspaper, for protecting your workspace
Instructions
- Clean the rocks. Start by washing the rocks with warm water to remove any dirt. Let them air dry thoroughly.
- Choose your color scheme. You can use any color combination for rock painting. We chose pink, yellow, and orange because they’re so bright and cheerful. Use your kids’ favorite colors or paint the rocks to match your patio decor.
- Draw the tic tac toe Xs and Os. Use a contrasting pen to draw the outline of the Xs and Os on 5 rocks each.
- Color in each X and O. Use the paint pens to color in the shapes on each painted rock. Make them all matching or completely different - it’s totally up to you!
- Let the paint dry. Once you’re happy with the designs, let the paint dry overnight. We didn’t seal the tic tac toe pieces, and this paint doesn’t need to be heat-cured. If you use a different kind of paint, check the instructions to see if it needs to be baked.
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