Crazy for Cornhole: How to Make Your Own Set of Boards for Summer Parties
It has been a wet couple of weeks here in Minnesota, but we've seen glimpses of summer with some gorgeous days. And, even when it's raining, I keep in mind that it's making everything green and lush.
A couple of weekends ago, we were fortunate enough to have beautiful weather on the weekend we hosted a little graduation gathering for my husband who recently completed his MBA.
With the lovely weather, it was a perfect night to host a little backyard BBQ. We put in a deck last year and have a huge yard that's perfect for yard games and bonfires. You might remember our DIY firepit project from last summer. But before it's time for s'mores, let the competition begin! One of our favorite yard games is "Corn hole" (as many in the Midwest call it) or you may also know it as "Bags."
When I was in college, my uncle made me an awesome wooden set of of the boards and my Dad I painted them and added Minnesota decals. Sadly, when I was moving out of one college place to another someone stole them while they sat outside waiting to be loaded into the car. I had always wanted another set, but decided to wait until I had a better place to store them.
So, not surprisingly, when we bought our house, this project moved up to the top of my wish list again. I didn't want to bother my uncle for another set and he lives a few hours from us, so it wouldn't have been the most convenient either. Lucky for me, my husband is handy and was excited to jump on a woodworking project.
What You Need
TOOLS
Jig Saw
Measuring Tape
Compass
Drill with drill bit and Phillips-head screw bit
1/2" drill bit
Clamps
Circular saw
Sander
Paint + Paint Roller
MATERIALS
2- 24" x 48" pieces of 1/2" pressure-treated plywood for the surface
4- 2x4 x 48" for the frame
4- 2x4 x 21" for the frame
4- 2x4 x 11-1/2" for the legs
1-lb. box of 1-5/8" deck screws
4- 4" carriage bolts with (4) washers and (4) wing nuts
Wood Putty
High-gloss paint in colors of your choice
Source: DIY Network: How to Build a Regulation Cornhole Set
For this project, we found a great tutorial from the DIY Network. Not only does it have the thorough materials list shown above, but the tutorial has detailed step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and process photos.
Rather than try to out do the professionals, I'll refer you to the DIY Network post for the more detailed instructions. Here are a few up close photos of how our bolts came together.
As always, I like to give readers a sense of the cost of the project. If you don't have some of the heftier tools like the saw and drill, you are certainly better off buying a set of these from another vendor. Several Etsy shops will customize these to your liking and you can often find a local vendor on Craigslist. However, this will likely cost you between $150-$200 (or more) for a set. If you or someone in your family is handy, however, the general cost of materials will be well under $100, averaging somewhere around $50.
Once the set is assembled and sanded down, you have free reign to decorate it however you'd like. Pinterest is full of design ideas! You can stain it, paint it in a design, paint it in solid colors, add decals, stencil on lettering or decals -- pretty much anything goes! This is where some additional cost comes in as well.
Lucky for us, my sister-in-law has access to some awesome decal making equipment as a part of her job, so she was able to get large wraps made for us featuring our beloved University of Minnesota mascot, Goldy the Gopher. After painting them white, she applied these awesome decals. I realize not everyone is as lucky to have that connection, so the next best option is to order large (approx. 12 inch) decals from university bookstores, Amazon, or Etsy. Size and selection tends to vary. If you can't find what you'd like, you can always print out a template, trace it onto the board in pencil and use paint to create the desired look.
You can also find customized team beanbags from various Etsy sellers as well. I may be crafty, but I can't sew just yet (life goals), so making my own was out of question. These do get dirty over time, so you will likely have to replace them at some point over the years. These will cost somewhere between $20-$30 on Etsy. The total cost of the project will be around $60-$75 when you factor in paint, decals, and bean bags. Still, much less than buying them!
With graduation around the corner, these are a great edition to any graduation party! Check out the video below to see our cornhole set featured as a part of a recent news segment featuring fun grad party ideas with MAVEN events.
