DIY Network

Cigar-Box Travel Checkerboard An old cigar box gets a checkerboard paint treatment. From "Creative Juice" episode DCRJ-210L

There's no getting bored on a road trip when you have a handy travel-sized checkerboard to keep everyone occupied.

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	Cigar-Box Travel Checkerboard
	PDF Checkerboard: Click to download template

Tools:

square cigar box
kitchen sponge
scissors
ruler
pencil
acrylic paints: base color, gold metallic and edge color
foam paintbrush
small paintbrush
lightweight sandpaper
checkerboard template

1. Paint the entire cigar box using the base color. You might need to lightly sand or remove any outer labels from the box prior to painting. Allow to dry.

2. Measure the width of the box (figure A). Divide the box width by 8 to determine the width of each checker square.

3. Cut the sponge into a square shape in the size determined in step 2.

4. Working on the painted cigar box, use a ruler and a pencil to mark 8 squares across and 8 squares down (figure B). The squares should be the measurement determined in step 2. Use the checkerboard template as a guide.

Figure A

Figure B

5. Dip the sponge in the gold paint (figure C), tap off any excess paint and press onto the marked checkerboard at every other square (figure D). Use the checkerboard template as a guide. Allow to dry.

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

6. Use a small paintbrush and the edge color paint to paint a small band of color around the edge of the checkerboard (figure E). Allow to dry.

7. Stock the cigar game box with pennies and dimes to use as game pieces.

8. Check out the travel cigar box backgammon board project for the flip side of the box.