Wooden Baseball Dice Game

The first picture is what I found at the store.  I wasn't keen on some of the rules so I changed them up, plus I added an additional peg for when bases are loaded.  I didn't have 3 golf tees that matched so I found a chopstick that had seen better days and cut that down with a hand saw.  I measure the width of the chopstick to get the size I would need for my holes.

To save time I found an svg of a baseball field online that I could import into XCS.  Using the new beta 2.0 I was able to ungroup the SVG so that I could increase the size of the bases.  The ones that came with the graphic were smaller than the holes I needed for my pegs.

I added 3 circles to my canvas by clicking on the insert then the circle graphic and with the control key down.  This allows you to add a shape while keeping the w and h proportions locked.  Alternatively you can just add the shape with just the mouse, and then go and unlock the lock next to the W and H and enter your dimensions there.

I added holes for home base (the starting point) and 1st 2nd and 3rd base.

Next I needed to add the title, my son's name and the rules.

I used the Alegreya SC for the word baseball and my son's name.

To curve text like I did Baseball, you click on text and type your word.  Resize to the size you want, and then click on the arch to the right of the selection box.  This allows you to curve your text up or down.  I used the outfield as a guide to get my curve just right.  

Next came the rules.  I used a font I had on my computer called Ink Free.  

To determine how big the font should be, I added a square around the field the size I wanted the completed project to be.  I typed the left side and right side separately so I could put them on either side of the field.  I then resized them so that they fit inside the square.

I wanted to make this game as a travel version so I needed to make Pegs to put into the holes of the board.  If you want to make a table top version you can forget the pegs and just make the baseballs as pieces you place on the board.

I found a simple baseball graphic online and imported it into XCS. 

I then edited the image.  First I used the magic eraser to erase all the white areas around and inside the baseball.  The next step was to separate the stitches on the baseball from the circle.  To do this I used the spot eraser and carefully went around the outside of the baseball leaving just the stitches.

Next I used the trace image function to get a vector copy of the stitches. 

I then added a circle to my canvas and resized it so that it touched the outside of the laces.  I then deleted my original baseball image.

I did not have ¼" wood, so I decided to glue 2 3mm together.  To get the second layer, I hid everything but the square and the 4 circles and did a copy and paste.  Because I didn't want the holes to show through the back, I made one more layer copying just the square.

To save wood, I cut the baseballs out of the middle layer since it would be sandwiched between the top piece and the back piece and would not be seen.

I like to divide my projects into layers by process.

I put the title, my son's name, the baseball stitches and the rules on one layer and called it engrave

The field and bases were put on another layer and called score

The squares and circles in the bases as well as the outline of the baseballs were put on the final layer and called cut.

Once everything was cut out, I used a paint pens to paint the bases and baseballs white.  I used green acrylic paint to paint the infield green and brown paint to paint the rest of the field.  I then went back with a fine tip black paint pen and filled in the engraving of my son's name.  Another fine tip red maker was used to go over the stitches of the baseballs.

I used wood glue to glue the 3 layers together.  If you are making a table top version without holes, you will skip this step as it is only one layer.

I used E6000 to glue the chopstick pegs to the top of the baseballs.  If you are making the table top version you will skip this step as well.

Now all you need is 2 dice and a score card.  I included a quick file I created that helps you keep track of your outs and number of runs.  

Regular baseball rules apply.  I also included a picture of my inspiration at the store so you could see some other rules they used.

Enjoy.