INSIDE : Learn how to make a custom homemade DIY Twister mat and board game for your next birthday party. Plan to have loads of good ole’ fashioned family fun with your kids!

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This post has been updated since it’s original January 2015 publish date.

My big girl just celebrated her 4th birthday!

We went with a Sprinkle Party theme and today I am excited to kick off a ‘Monday mini series’ of Sprinkle Birthday Party DIYs. I am sharing how to make a homemade DIY Twister game, including a fun Twister mat and a DIY Twister Spinner!

I adore celebrating my babies on their birthdays and making them feel special. However, birthday parties can quickly get out of control and you can spend hundreds of dollars on decor, favors, cake, activities, etc. So, I went the DIY route this year and without spending much at all, I think this was one of my favorite kid’s parties to date!

This Twister Game was such an easy project and took only a quick afternoon to complete. Even though the “Sprinkle” party turned out to be more “polka dots” creating this DIY Twister game added a lot of fun to the party. And I loved that it was in the same colors as all the other decor. Looking for how to DIY your own games?

You might also be interested in my more elevated Modern Twister DIY game post that I made also!

What supplies do you need to make a DIY Twister Game?

4’x5′ Canvas Drop Cloth
Four Acrylic Paint colors
Textile Medium
Brad
Four Paint Brushes
Paper Plate
Pencil
Game Spinner
Hot Glue

And if you want to get extra fancy!!
Simple Laminator
Laminating Pouches

homemade DIY Twister mat and board game supplies — *4’x5′ Canvas Drop cloth*

How big is a Twister game mat?

A traditional Twister game mat is approximately 67 inches by 55 inches (roughly 5′ x 4′). This gives you plenty of room to twist and turn without bumping into anything or anyone else.

How to make a DIY Twister mat

To make a twister game board or mat, I went the easy route. I grabbed eight paper plates to create the outer grid. Then, I traced them onto the canvas with a pencil.

Then, I drew big “T”s or crosses on each plate to register the center lines for making the other lines and traced the remaining circles onto the canvas.

If you prefer, you could certainly use a ruler or tape measure and mark out the centerline for each of your Twister polka dot spaces.

custom DIY Twister mat paper plates — *4’x5′ Canvas Drop cloth*

Adding paint to your Twister mat

I then added some paint medium to a cup with my acrylic paint. It’s important to use four different colors to play the game correctly. The paint medium helps the paint not crack when the canvas is folded or bent.

NOTE: We have kept this painted canvas for 5+ years now and it looks just as great as the day I made it!! I think a huge reason is the paint medium.

DIY Twister mat and board game yellow paint

How to make a DIY Twister Game Board

I designed a Birthday Twister board in Illustrator per the colors of my daughter’s party (pinks, oranges and yellows). I also saved a black and white version that you can fill in with your own color preferences. Keep reading below on how to download my two versions.

It was so simple to make this fun homemade DIY twister game board. I simply printed out a color version of the game board and cut it down to fit on a piece of cardstock (spare cardboard would also work). Once cut down to size, I used a gluestick to secure the printed board to my cardstock.

PRO TIP –
I wish I would have known about this simple laminator and laminating pouches when I made mine because our painted canvas has lasted so long and it would have been nice to still have the original spinner I made to go with it. For such a reasonable price, this laminator would have really extended the lifespan of our spinner.

DIY Twister board — Download this board graphic below

How to make a DIY Twister Spinner

To make my Twister board spinner, I went easy and punched a hole through the center of the cardstock and inserted a brad.

Then, I hot glued a colorful straw to the top of the brad and you have yourself a DIY twister spinner.

PRO TIP –
I’ve since found these amazing game spinners that make it so much easier and give the game a more polished look!

Non slip Twister game

I was so happy with how this DIY Twister game turned out. And for my younger kids using a canvas mat is the perfect non-slip game because I remember playing when I was little, the plastic mat NEVER stayed where it was supposed to – ha!

This game is a fun pop of color and loads of fun!

Learn how to make a custom homemade DIY Twister mat and board game for your next birthday party. Plan to have loads of good ole' fashioned family fun with your kids! Delineate Your Dwelling #DIYTwister #DIYTwisterMat #DIYTwisterboard

Colorful Painted Polka Dots

Another bonus of making this game is that you can pick any colors for your painted polka dots. It really adds a lot to your party to have a color theme throughout and painting the polka dots really was such a simple project.

I think my son just liked doing downward dog, ha.

This was such a memorable party game and we’ve loved continuing to play with it for years afterward. A definite win in my mind!

How to play the game of Twister

Hopefully if you have gotten this far in the post, you know how to play Twister. However, if you are loving the idea of making the game, but need a quick refresh on the rules – read on below!

Twister is a classic game that requires flexibility, balance and a bit of luck. Here’s a basic breakdown of how to play –

Players:

The game can be played with any number of players, best to have at least two players however.

Setup:

Unfold and lay the Twister mat flat on a smooth surface.
Place the game spinner in the center of the mat.

Gameplay:

First player spins the spinner to tell them which body party to put on which color. For example, “right hand on blue” means the player must place their right hand on a blue circle.
Players continue to spin and follow the instructions until someone loses their balance and touches the floor with any part of their body other than their feet or hands on the circles.
The last player remaining on the mat without falling to the floor is the winner.

Additional rules:

If a player cannot follow the instructions without touching the floor, they are out.
Players cannot move their feet once they’re placed on a circle.

Enjoy playing Twister!

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Games similar to Twister

Twister is a classic party game that is known for its fun and physical challenges. Players take turns spinning a spinner and placing their hands or feet on the corresponding color and body part. The first player to fall off the mat loses the game.

If you are looking for games that have a similar look or style that Twister has, these might be games for you!

Hula Twist: This game is similar to Twister, but with a hula hoop. Players take turns spinning the hula hoop and passing it over their body.
Yoga Spinner This game is a mix of yoga and Twister. Players take turns spinning a spinner and following the yoga poses on the mat.
Duck Duck Dance This is a musical game where players dance until the music stops. When the music stops, the player who is standing on the designated spot is out.
Throw Throw Burrito This is a fast-paced game where players try to hit each other with foam burritos.
KerPlunk This game is all about hand-eye coordination. Players take turns removing sticks from a tube without letting the marbles fall out.