How To Make Your Own Board Games With Personalised Rubber Stamps

Board games have been a popular pastime for generations, offering endless hours of fun and entertainment for people of all ages. Creating your own board game is a great way to exercise your creativity and imagination, and it's a fun project that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Rubber stamps are a versatile tool that can be used to add a personal touch to any project, and they're perfect for designing a custom board game. Children can add fun designs and patterns to the game board, game pieces, and even the rule book. Plus, working on a board game project can help kids develop their critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.

In this article, we'll show you how you and your kids can use customised rubber stamps to create their own unique board game.

So, gather your rubber stamps, get the creative juices flowing and let's get started on creating a fun and unique board game!

Choose a theme

Choosing a theme is the first step when creating a board game with rubber stamps. Encourage your child to think about their interests and passions, and let their imagination run wild. The theme can be as broad or specific as they like, but it should be something that excites and inspires them: animals, dinosaurs, space, family and friends.

Once they have settled on a theme, they can start designing the game board. They can draw a rough sketch on paper or even use a computer program to create a more polished version. The board should reflect the theme of the game and feature different spaces for players to move along.

Your child can use rubber stamps to add texture, patterns and images to the board, making it more visually appealing and engaging. Once you’ve chosen the theme, you’ll have a good idea of what rubber stamps you might want to develop. Encourage your kids to experiment with different stamp designs and colours until they find a combination they are happy with.

Click here when you’re ready to create your customised stamps for your board game.

Design the game board

Designing the game board is possibly the most important step in creating a unique and fun board game and it can be an exciting and creative process.

Some tips before you start:

- Consider the size and shape of the game board. It should be large enough for players to easily navigate the game, but not so large that it becomes unwieldy.

- Think about the visual design of the game board. It should be visually appealing and attractive, with clear and easy-to-understand graphics that help players understand the rules and objectives of the game.

- Consider the game pieces that will be used on the board, and make sure that they fit well and move easily across the surface.

- Let your child know that they should be open to change at this stage, willing to iterate their design as they test and refine their game.

Your child might use a large piece of paper or cardboard and draw the board's shape and path. They can then use colours and rubber stamps to add personality and style to their creation. Rubber stamps can come in many shapes and sizes and can be used to create borders, backgrounds and patterns for the board. And of course you can create your own stamps so you have a kit to create new board games!

Encourage your child to experiment with different stamp designs that fit their theme. For example, they could use a star stamp for a space-themed board or a paw print stamp for an animal-themed board.

They can also use rubber stamps to label different areas on the board, such as ‘Start’ and ‘Finish’, or to create unique spaces like a ‘Lose a Turn’ or ‘Bonus’ square. 

Additionally, using rubber stamps to decorate the game board adds a personal touch that will make the game unique and special to your child. Encourage your child to be creative and have fun with it. They can always modify the board design if they have new ideas as they go along.

Create game pieces

Your kids can use different stamps to decorate the game pieces based on the theme of the game. For example, if the game is about animals, they could use stamps of paw prints, animal faces or even different habitats. 

Start by cutting out pieces of coloured paper or cardboard for each player's game piece, then encourage them to use rubber stamps to decorate each game piece in their own unique way. They could use one stamp for each game piece or mix and match different stamps to create a more intricate design.

To make the game pieces more durable, you may want to consider laminating them or using a clear adhesive to protect the paper or cardboard. Alternatively, you could use small objects like beads, buttons or Lego bricks and then stamp on them for the game pieces. You might also use blank sticky labels to stick designs to small objects. This will make them more three-dimensional and easier to move around the board.

Design cards

Using rubber stamps to decorate game cards is a great way to add a personal touch to the game. Your child can think of ideas for stamps that fits the theme of the game to decorate the cards. For example, if the game is ocean-themed, they could use a fish stamp to decorate the cards. 

They can use index cards or cut pieces of paper to make the cards.

Once they have made the cards, they can start using the rubber stamps to decorate them. Encourage your child to be creative with their stamping and to experiment with different colours and designs. They could also use different stamping techniques, such as stamping in a pattern or overlapping stamps to create a unique effect.

If the game includes different types of cards, such as action cards or special cards, your child can use different stamps to differentiate them. For example, they could use a star stamp for action cards and a heart stamp for special cards. This will make the game more interesting and add an extra element of excitement for the players.

Once your child has decorated the game pieces and cards with rubber stamps, they will have a unique and personalised board game that they can be proud of. 

Create the rules

Working with your child to create the rules of the game is an essential part of designing a board game. Start by deciding what information needs to be included in the rule book and what sections you want to cover, such as gameplay, winning and penalties.

Starting with a simple board game is essential for children who are learning how to create their own games. When they begin with a simple game, they can focus on the basics of game design, such as creating a game board, making game pieces, and developing simple rules. As they gain experience, they can then begin to create more complex board games with more intricate rules, challenges, and objectives.

By starting with a simple game, children can learn the basics of game design and build their confidence. They will also have a greater chance of success, which will help them stay motivated and continue to learn and improve. As they become more comfortable with the basics, they can begin to experiment with more complex game mechanics, such as adding special powers to game pieces or creating alternate paths on the game board.

Over time, children can develop their game design skills and learn how to create more and more complex board games. They may learn about game theory and strategy, and they may begin to incorporate these concepts into their games. They may also learn how to balance gameplay, ensuring that the game is challenging but not too difficult, and that players have a fair chance of winning.

Creating more complex board games is a natural progression in the learning process, and children can learn to do this as they go. As they gain experience, they will learn from their mistakes and find ways to improve their games. With time and practice, they can develop their own unique style of game design and create board games that are fun, challenging, and engaging.

Tips for developing rules:

- The first step is to decide what the objective of the game is. This could be something like collecting the most points, getting to the end of the board, or being the last player standing.

- Create a basic outline of the game, including how many players are needed, how the game is won, and what the basic rules are.

- To make the game more exciting, the child can add interesting elements such as power-ups, bonuses, and obstacles.

- Test the game to make sure it is fun and easy to understand. They should also make sure the game is not too complex or hard to follow.

- Based on the test play, you can make adjustments to the game rules to make it more balanced or fun.

- Once the game is finalised, the child should write out the final rules in a rulebook in a clear and concise manner.

To make the rule book visually appealing, use rubber stamps to add headings and section titles. For example, you can use a star stamp to mark the title of the rule book or a thumbs-up stamp to highlight important rules. For each section, use a different stamp or colour to make it stand out.

Once the rule book is complete, make sure to read through it together to ensure it is clear and easy to understand. Ask your child if they have any questions or suggestions for how to make it better. This will help them feel more involved in the game-making process and increase their confidence in playing the game.

Simple rules for a board game:

- Players take turns rolling a die and moving their game piece along the board.

- If a player lands on a space with a special symbol, they draw a card and follow the instructions on the card.

- The first player to reach the end of the board wins.

More complex rules for a board game:

- Players have a limited number of moves each turn, and must strategize to make the most of them.

- Players can earn different types of points or resources, which they can use to purchase upgrades or special moves.

- The board has different zones or areas with unique effects, such as a zone where players move twice as fast, or a zone where players lose a turn.

- There are multiple paths to victory, and players must choose which one to pursue based on the cards they draw or the resources they collect.

- The game includes hidden objectives or secret information that players must discover or deduce in order to win.

- The game includes "boss battles" or other challenges that players must overcome in order to progress.

- Players can form alliances or make deals with each other, or even betray each other to gain an advantage.

These are just a few examples, and of course the possibilities are endless. By starting with simple rules and gradually adding complexity, children can learn how to create fun and engaging board games that challenge their friends and family while sparking their own creativity and imagination.

By using rubber stamps, your child can easily add creative and unique designs to their board game. It's a fun way to get their imagination going and create something that they can be proud of. Plus, it's a great way to spend quality time together while fostering their creativity and imagination. They can then invite friends and family to play the game and show off their stamping skills.

Click here to create your customised stamps for your board game.