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DIY Bean Bag Toss: the Best Outdoor Games!

Inspired by my childhood, I created a DIY bean bag toss game using clay saucers and a printable. This bean bag game is easy to assemble and you’ll have a blast!

Skills Required: Beginner. You’re going to paint, cut out a printable, and apply the printable to terra cotta pot saucers with adhesive. Very easy.

DIY bean bag toss

I grew up in a family of five children, and we used to get tossed outside in the summer. “Go play!” my mom would say . . . so we made up a lot of games, rode our bikes, and took hikes by the lake.

Which now that I think about, wasn’t actually a lake, but was a huge reservoir for runoff. It seemed big at the time 😮

I always loved being outside with my brothers, and we had a few games that were our favorites. One of them was tossing tennis balls into buckets, and giving ourselves “points” depending on the bucket we were able to reach with the balls.

Inspired by that childhood game, I created a DIY bean bag toss using clay pot saucers and a printable.

This bean bag game is SO easy to assemble and you’ll be having a blast in minutes! Children can help make this too, before they play.

You can play with as many people as you like, but I find this bean bag toss game is most fun playing with two people in rounds. You can do a tournament bracket if you like!

Make a bean bag toss

I purchased bean bags because my sewing machine was in the shop at the time I wanted to complete my bean bag toss game. Had my sewing machine been available, I would’ve made them myself out of cotton duck material (available at Jo-Ann or a similar fabric store).

The bean bags I purchased were 5″ x 5″ squares – though apparently “regulation” beanbags are 6″ x 6″ square.

One yard of cotton duck material makes about 20 bean bags at 6″ x 6″. You’ll cut out squares 1″ larger than you want your finished bags and use a double stitch or zigzag to reinforce them.

Each bag should contain approximately 1-3/4 cup of corn to weigh between 15-16 oz, which is regulation for cornhole. So yes, you can use these bean bags with cornhole as well!

Mod Podge Outdoor bottle

This game uses Mod Podge Outdoor. I mention in the instructions that it is the better bet over regular Mod Podge if you want your bean bag game to last year after year. Having said that, this is an indoor or outdoor game.


Gather These Supplies

  • Printer and paper
  • Bean bag toss printable – get it here
  • Clay pot saucers – 8”, get five or six (if you want to use the 100 point value!)
  • Spray paint – white
  • Scissors
  • Spray adhesive and/or Mod Podge Outdoor
  • Paintbrush
  • Beanbags in various colors (I purchased these)

Take your game outside and set the saucers as far apart as you like – you’ll find that it’s quite a fun challenge to play, and you’ll have a blast. I played with my neighbors and we got quite a little competition going! It was hilarious.

Get the printable how to below:

DIY bean bag toss game using clay pot saucers
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4.59 from 17 votes

Bean Bag Toss Game

I created a homemade bean bag toss using clay saucers and a printable. This is so easy to assemble!
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time2 hours
Dry Time1 hour
Total Time3 hours 5 minutes
Yield: 1 game
Cost: $20

Materials

Instructions

  • Protect the work surface and place your clay saucers down. Spray them evenly with paint and let dry for at least 20 minutes. Turn over and repeat. Continue doing this until your saucers are evenly covered on both sides and dry.
    Spray paint the clay pot saucers with white primer
  • Print out the included bean bag toss printable on presentation paper (which is more durable), then cut out the circles using your scissors. I have provided point values of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 100.
    Cutting out the printables with scissors
  • Working one number and saucer at a time, coat the back of the paper with a light layer of spray adhesive.
    Spraying a paper circle with Elmer's Craft Bond spray adhesive
  • Smooth your number down inside the saucer until it’s completely adhered. Repeat with the other numbers.
    Applying the paper circle to the inside of a terra cotta saucer with spray adhesive
  • Seal the numbers to the terra cotta pot saucers with Mod Podge Outdoor or another water-resistant sealer. Let dry for 24 hours before using.
    How to make a bean bag toss game

Video

Notes

Always remember to use spray paint in a well ventilated area! To play, let each person take a turn with all bean bags. Add up the total score. Player with the largest score wins.

If you enjoy making this outdoor game, I’d love for you to check out the following posts:

4.59 from 17 votes (17 ratings without comment)
Project Rating




Lyann Gyurich

Monday 11th of April 2022

Am I able to pay you to create the bing bag toss game for me? I’m not crafty and don’t have much time

Amy

Tuesday 12th of April 2022

Hi Lyann! I'm super busy myself and currently writing a book as well as the blog, plus I don't do commissions. But thank you for asking!

Kathy

Thursday 7th of October 2021

I used paper plates, number stickers for the points and used rocks to weigh the plates down. Created more of a challenge for older kids. Great fun.

Amy

Friday 8th of October 2021

Oh that's a cute way to do it Kathy!!

Diane

Sunday 31st of May 2020

Can I use regular 20# printer paper for printing the circular point papers? Would it be too flimsy for Outdoor Mod podge? I have never used any type of it & have no idea of what to expect!

Thanks, Diane

Laurie

Sunday 17th of July 2016

Love the bean bag toss game idea! Planning a multi week vacation with 4 other couples. Should be a lot of fun!!