How to make a DIY chess set for dad this Father's Day

Looking for a gift that is fun and ensures hours of quality time together? Look no further. 

Looking for a gift that is fun, functional and ensures hours of quality time together? 

Check, check, check(mate)!

Join me in making your Dad a beautiful chess set that he will treasure forever.

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Materials:

• Square Wooden Box (we found ours at Bunnings!)
• Approx 50 x 1cm wooden blocks 
• Various Size/Shape Beads (check to see if you can upcycle any old jewellery for this!)
• Super Glue or Craft Glue
• Paint and Prime Spray Paint in your choice of colours
• Paint Pens

Image: Supplied

Method:

1. A chess board has 8 squares on each side (64 on the board in total), so take your wooden box and divide the length/width by 8. Using a ruler, mark the lines on the lid of the box. 

2. Now that you have 64 evenly divided squares, use paint pens to colour the boxes in a checker pattern. We used black and gold, but you can use whichever colour combination you like!

3. Using some super glue or strong craft glue, take your wooden blocks and beads and start to construct your chess pieces. For 2 sets of chess pieces you will need; 

• 16 Pawns
• 4 Rooks
• 4 Knights
• 4 Bishops
• 2 Kings 
• 2 Queens

Image: Supplied

4. Once the glue is dry, use some spray paint to create a base coat on your chess pieces. We painted one set black and one set white. You may need to do a couple of coats to get a solid colour. Wait for each coat to dry before reapplying so you don't get any drip marks!

5. Now it is time to decorate! You might want to paint each piece individually in your colour scheme, or like what we did, use a little spray paint in the same colour to create a cohesive look. We sprayed some gold paint across all pieces and the board to add a little shine to the set. 

6. Now that your chess set is complete, it's time to put the pieces inside the box and wrap it up for Dad! 

I hope you love playing chess with Dad this Father's Day! Make sure you tag @stellarperformingarts and @kidspot so we can see all your beautiful creations!

Originally published as How to make a DIY chess set for dad this Father's Day