Make Your Own DIY Mancala Game

Make your own DIY mancala game for game night with friends and family!

DIY Mancala is a perfect family project for the summer!

It’s a simple tutorial and a great one to involve kids in; make the game together, and play it together. Awesome for family game night or for a craft idea for kids.

I had never actually played Mancala before I decided to make a DIY version, but now I have to say I’m hooked!

It’s simple enough to play but really makes you think ahead and get a strategy going, and it’s a great introductory game for kids to start working with counting and numbers.

This is also one of our easier and quicker DIY games, so let’s get on it!

Psst — before you dive in, be sure to sign up below for my VIP group. I send these folks my very best projects, DIYS, and lots more.

Playing Mancala

I’ve loved adding this game to our DIY game collection, because it’s a great one to teach kids and families.

It’s perfect for practicing counting with young ones, and teaching basic game play functions.

DIY Board Games

Our DIY game collection is one of my favorites!

The tutorials are crafted to last for years so that your family and friends can enjoy plenty of game play hours.

They’re also meant to bring color and joy to your life! Many of them (like our Chinese Checkers) look great on display on a coffee table.

And lots of them are just meant to make you smile, like this one and this one.

I hope you check them all out!

Supplies You’ll Need

Materials

• 12 small hexagon paper mache boxes
• 2 small rectangular paper mache boxes
• two shades of spray paint
• 48 assorted rhinestones
• E6000 (or other strong adhesive)
• clothespins

How to Make a DIY Mancala Game

Make Time: 1 Hour

1. Take the lids off of all your boxes to use for the game. Set the lower portion of the boxes aside for later, because we’ll have a DIY coming up soon that will use those!
2. Start glueing together the hexagonal box lids to form the Mancala board. I suggest glueing together 3 hexagons at a time; apply a thin strip of E6000 to one flat side of a box lid, and place the flat side of another lid against it. Secure with a clothespin while the glue is drying. Make four sets of three lids each.
3. Once the glue is slightly tacky, take two sets of three lids and glue them together at the points with a dot of glue. Then take a rectangular lid and glue one long side to the end of the two sets of hexagons.
4. Repeat Step 3 with your remaining materials.
5. Glue the two pieces together in the center, creating a full game board. Allow the glue to dry.
6. In a well-ventilated area, spray paint your board. We created an ombre effect by painting one half of the board a dark color, then painting the other half a lighter color. While you’re applying the lighter color, move your paint can away from the board as you near the center to help get the ombre look.

Playing Mancala

That’s all! Let the paint dry, gather up your rhinestones, and don’t forget the rules!

This one is so pretty it’s a shame to hide it away in a drawer, so be sure to leave it out on display on your coffee table.

It would even be pretty on a table at a party, and give your guests a little ice breaker while they’re playing. xoxo

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