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You are here: Home / Christmas / DIY Giant Jenga Christmas Gift

DIY Giant Jenga Christmas Gift

December 27, 2013 by SmartGirl 7 Comments

On the 3rd day of Christmas… I’m sharing the Giant Jenga sets I made for my 13-year-old nephew and my brother and sister-in-law.Smart Girl's 12 Days of ChristmasI was so frazzled trying to finish up all my DIY gifts that I didn’t take too many pictures of the Giant Jenga-like sets.  Of course neither are the real Jenga version, but I did make two very popular DIY versions.  The one for my nephew was made with 2×3 lumber and the one for my bro was made with 2×4 lumber.  I’m assuming both sets will be mostly used outdoors, probably in the backyard, but I hear they’re also popular at the beach or tailgating.  Giant Jenga

I’ve seen these games called Tumbling Towers, Toppling Timbers, Life-sized Jenga, etc.  Whatever you want to call it, there’s a few simple rules for making the game:

1) The blocks must be 3 times as long as they are wide

  • 2×3 version: the wood is really 1.5″ x 2.5″ wide,    2.5″ x 3 = 7.5″,   so cut your pieces 7.5″ long
  • 2×4 version: the lumber is really 1.5″ x 3.5″ wide,    3.5″ x 3 = 10.5″,    so cut your pieces 10.5″ long

2) Make at least 18 rows

  • 18 rows x 3 blocks = 54 blocks total
  • Some people make 57, 60, 63 blocks, etc.  I don’t really see the need.  And boy would it get heavy to carry around!  And dangerous when it falls.

3) Sand the crap out of the blocks

  • The blocks need to slide in and out easily + you don’t want anyone getting splinters
  • Please, sand off any markings/writing that came on your lumber!  It would be so tacky to leave it on there.

4) Provide a way to carry the blocks

  • A giant duffel bag works or a large crate

Optional:

  • Paint or stain the blocks, either just the ends or the entire piece
  • Use treated lumber {but I don’t really recommend it, as it’s not attractive or safe to handle}
  • Wood burn an image or words along the side or at the ends
  • Use for special events like a wedding or graduation, burn or write along the side Bride & Groom 12/27/13 and have your guests write on the Jenga pieces instead of signing a guest book
  • Add a twist by writing challenges on each block, ex: Do 10 jumping jacks, You can’t talk for the rest of the game, You’ve grown a mustache – Play the rest of the game with your left index finger over your lip.
  • Make a Drinking Jenga version (just write these rules like this each block): Drink 1 for every letter in your last name, Give all players  a new name.  All players must use the new names, or drink 1 every time they fail, Drink 1 drink for each person playing the game, Take 6 drinks.  “Jenga got you good!”

Painting Giant Jenga

Smart Girls DIY - GIant Jenga Christmas Present

2x3 Homemade Giang JengaDIY Tumbling Towers aka Giant JengaGiant Jenga Under the Christmas TreeOpening Giant Jenga

Smart Girls 12 Days of Christmas - Giant Jenga

See all my 12 Days of Christmas ideas here

 

 

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Filed Under: Christmas, Crafts, Woodworking Tagged With: gifts, kids, yard games

« Wood Burned Nativity Blocks
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brian says

    August 20, 2014 at 9:53 am

    We actually make and sell these at http://www.bigbloxgames.com. The secret is to sand them and then sand some more. We start with 60 grit, then 80, and finish with 120.

    Reply
    • SmartGirl says

      August 20, 2014 at 12:43 pm

      Thanks Brian. It’s always good to have an alternative for the non-DIYers out there!

      Reply
  2. Louise Clark says

    February 11, 2017 at 11:12 pm

    We just made one of these for one of the “yard games” at our rustic themed wedding. A few weeks ago. We stained the blocks three different colors and then garnished. It came out beautifully and people had a blast with it! I love the glow in the dark paint idea too!

    Reply
    • SmartGirl says

      February 13, 2017 at 8:52 pm

      Awesome!

      Reply
  3. Kristen says

    March 23, 2017 at 8:43 pm

    What size of plastic tote did you end up putting these in (shown in the picture)?

    Reply
    • SmartGirl says

      April 16, 2017 at 4:15 pm

      I’m sorry Kristen, I don’t remember

      Reply
  4. Nick says

    November 7, 2018 at 4:12 pm

    This is awesome!! I’ve been wanting to do life size jenga for a while now and this is definitely giving me some motivation…I even have some glow in the dark paints and never would of thought of those for it! Thanks , hope your baby girl and everyone else is well!

    Reply

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