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    Ladybugs Vs. Tadpoles Outdoor Tic Tac Toe Game

    Crafting, Kids' Crafts

    Disclosure: This post is sponsored by DecoArt as part of their Core Blogger Program and includes affiliate links.

    The Ladybugs have started out the summer fun and games season with a strong 5-0 record under the guidance of Coach Jackson, but the rival Tadpoles are poised for a comeback!

    Paint your own ladybugs vs. tadpoles tic tac toe game. Tutorial at AttaGirlSays.com

    I mentioned before that we’re a little bit competitive when it comes to games, right? But win, lose or draw, we’ve been having a blast playing with this cute-as-a-button outdoor tic tac toe game I painted using Patio Paint from DecoArt.

    Paint your own ladybugs vs. tadpoles tic tac toe game. Tutorial at AttaGirlSays.com

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    So much cuter than X’s and O’s!

     

    I’ve been waiting to make one of these tic tac toe games every since we played a similar version during our trip to the North Carolina mountains last fall.

    Playing Tic Tac Toe

    You can paint your own version in an afternoon, and the kids can even help with this one. They’ll have a blast decorating the tadpoles and ladybugs!

    Supplies:

    Paint your own ladybugs vs. tadpoles tic tac toe game. Tutorial at AttaGirlSays.com

    Patio Paint 2 oz. – Robin’s Egg Blue
    Patio Paint 2 oz. – Fern Green
    Patio Paint 2 oz. – Wrought Iron Black
    Patio Paint 2 oz – Sunshine Yellow
    Patio Paint 2 oz – Citrus Green
    Patio Paint 2 oz – Geranium Red
    Patio Paint 2 oz – Cloud White
    Patio Paint 2 oz – Sprout Green
    Large Basswood round plank
    Assorted paint brushes
    10 smooth rocks
    wax paper or paint palatte

    Instructions:

    Paint your own ladybugs vs. tadpoles tic tac toe game. Tutorial at AttaGirlSays.com

    Paint the basswood round wooden plank with two coats of Patio Paint in Robin’s Egg Blue.

    Paint your own ladybugs vs. tadpoles tic tac toe game. Tutorial at AttaGirlSays.com

    Paint half the rocks with Citrus Green Patio Paint and half with Geranium Red Patio Paint. Use 2-3 coats for full coverage, then repeat on the other side of the rocks.

    When paint has dried on the wooden plank, paint a grid of nine lily pads — three rows of three. (To make a lily pad, draw a heart with a rounded base instead of a point.) I used a mix of Patio Paint in Sprout Green and Fern Green for my lily pads.

    Paint your own ladybugs vs. tadpoles tic tac toe game. Tutorial at AttaGirlSays.com

    Once rocks have dried completely, decorate the red rocks to look like ladybugs, using Wrought Iron Black and Cloud White Patio Paint.

    Paint your own ladybugs vs. tadpoles tic tac toe game. Tutorial at AttaGirlSays.com

    Paint eyes on the green rocks using Cloud White and Sunshine Yellow Patio Paint. Randomly decorate the tadpoles with spots in Sprout Green and Fern Green Patio Paint.

    Allow to dry completely before playing your first game of tic tac toe.

    While Patio Paint is weather and water resistant, let paint cure 72 hours before exposing to moisture.

    Paint your own ladybugs vs. tadpoles tic tac toe game. Tutorial at AttaGirlSays.com

    Those ladybugs are some tough competitors.

    Paint your own ladybugs vs. tadpoles tic tac toe game. Tutorial at AttaGirlSays.com

    It’s getting serious.

    Paint your own ladybugs vs. tadpoles tic tac toe game. Tutorial at AttaGirlSays.com

    But I’m telling you, those tadpoles are poised for a comeback!

    Paint your own ladybugs vs. tadpoles tic tac toe game. Tutorial at AttaGirlSays.com

    Ok, maybe not!

    If you want to make your own outdoor tic tac toe game, be sure to pin the image below.

    Paint your own ladybugs vs. tadpoles tic tac toe game. Tutorial at AttaGirlSays.com

    Be sure to check out my other painting crafts and projects at the DecoArt blog.

    Filed Under: Crafting, Kids' Crafts Tagged With: DecoArt

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Leslie A Styles

      April 07, 2022 at 1:12 am

      Really great idea with the tadpoles & lady bugs.Im doing this with my g’daughtets this weekend..Thanks for the idea.
      Leslie (MeMe)

      Reply
    2. Jen

      May 22, 2018 at 4:08 pm

      How quickly does the paint dry? I know you said 72 hours to cure.. I am doing this for a mom’s group play date and want to make sure we will have enough time to do it in (I plan to paint the wooden pieces first as well as the red and green on the rocks).

      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Atta Girl Amy

        May 24, 2018 at 11:38 am

        Jen, the craft paint should dry pretty quickly. Probably within 15-30 minutes, depending on the humidity. The 72-hour cure time just applies to leaving the paint outdoors in the elements. While you can leave the rocks outside, I wouldn’t let the wooden pieces outside indefinitely. The wood can warp and expand when it gets wet and then dries again.

        Hope you have a fun group play date.

        Reply
    3. Kristin

      June 14, 2016 at 1:13 pm

      My kids are going to make this for grandma’s birthday gift – each child painting 3 rocks. Thanks for the adorable idea!

      Reply
      • Atta Girl Amy

        June 20, 2016 at 9:06 pm

        So sweet. I bet grandma will love it!

        Reply
    4. Cindy Kaiser

      May 11, 2016 at 12:03 am

      Made this for my grandsons. I love the way it turned out and it was so easy.
      Wish I could show you a picture of mine.

      Reply
      • Atta Girl Amy

        September 07, 2016 at 11:47 am

        Feel free to email me a photo, Cindy, at amy@attagirlsays.com. I’d love to see it!

        Reply
    5. Mariel @ Or so she says...

      April 04, 2016 at 4:43 pm

      This is seriously adorable!! Fun to play but also fun to make!

      Reply
    6. The Little Tourist

      April 24, 2015 at 2:49 pm

      This is such a cute and creative idea! My kids will LOVE it!!!
      Thanks for sharing 😉

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. 30+ Fun Outdoor Games says:
      May 21, 2020 at 7:00 AM

      […] Tic Tac Toe by Atta Girl […]

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    2. 100 Cheap and Easy Summer Activities for Kids - Prudent Penny Pincher says:
      June 17, 2018 at 12:19 PM

      […] Ladybugs Vs. Tadpoles  Game from Atta Girl Says […]

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    3. 25 Outdoor Summer Crafts for Kids | Life Without Pink says:
      May 3, 2017 at 1:15 PM

      […] Ladybug Tic Tac Toe Game […]

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    4. 25 Outdoor Summer Crafts | Life Without Pink says:
      May 3, 2017 at 1:06 PM

      […] Ladybug Tic Tac Toe Game […]

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    5. 23 Outdoor Games to Make This Summer the Best Ever says:
      April 18, 2017 at 8:00 AM

      […] Ladybug vs. Tadpoles Tic Tac Toe […]

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    6. Summer Bucket List - says:
      June 22, 2016 at 4:01 PM

      […] a summer craft with your kids such as: Ladybugs vs Tadpoles Outdoor Boardgame craft, 4th of July Painted Fireworks, and Pool Noodle DIY […]

      Reply
    7. Father's Day Gift Ideas: 8 Great Gifts for Dad You Can't Get in Stores - Nourishing Joy says:
      June 15, 2016 at 1:45 AM

      […] great example, although in our case we would gather rocks and wood from around our property. Visit Attagirl for all the […]

      Reply
    8. 20 Rockin' Rock Crafts for Kids ⋆ Sugar, Spice and Glitter says:
      May 17, 2016 at 9:12 AM

      […] Ladybugs vs. Tadpoles Outdoor Tic Tac Toe Game | Atta Girl Says […]

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    9. Frog Projects You Can Do / Craft-e-Corner: Blog says:
      February 29, 2016 at 3:11 PM

      […] 2- These painted pebble tick-tack-toe frogs (and ladybugs!) from Attagirlsays: […]

      Reply

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