Road Trip Summer Fun Box: Adventure Games for Little Travelers!

Thinking back to when my kids were younger, I wanted to create a fun box filled with activities for road trips, that will also help with young kids' motor skills.

In the box, you'll find games like Tic-Tac-Toe, 'I Spy with My Little Eye' Bingo: Summer Edition, and more.

Let's start the process!

For this project, you will need:

• 3mm Basswood Plywood
• Wood glue or strong adhesive
• Binder rings
• Cardboard 
• 2mm Acrylic sheets (Optional)
• Acrylic paint in different colors (Optional)

For each game, you'll have different sets of doodles. I cut mine from 3mm basswood, but you can paint them with acrylic paint or even cut them from acrylic to give them a more playful vibe.

1. Import doodles into xTool Creative Space.
    
2. Prepare the cutout:

• Once the doodles are in xTool Creative Space for engraving, go to the OUTLINE option.
• Create a 2mm OFFSET DISTANCE (without an inner outline).
• This will be the shape that you are going to cut.

Enjoy a summer twist on the classic Tic-Tac-Toe! Use the sun and floatie pieces to take turns and aim for three in a row. Perfect for adding a sunny touch to game time!

I thought it could be fun to play this Bingo game where the kids can be on the lookout for 'summer' elements. Every time they spot one, they can place a piece in the corresponding slot until they can call Bingo. This activity helps kids become more aware of their surroundings, whether they’re at a park, lake, or beach.

Enjoy your road trip planning with this fun activity! Use the cars to play make-believe and imagine where you’d go on your adventure. Where will your road trip take you?

• Download the Summer Fun On the Road Book.xcs file, and open it on Xtools Creative Space.
• Engrave and Cut: Process each page of the book by engraving and cutting the wood. Each page has its own canva.
• Assemble: Once all the pages are complete, use 2 small ring binders to put them together.
• Tic-Tac-Toe Special Step:
  Cut the Pieces: For the Tic-Tac-Toe page, you’ll need to cut both the base and the top part. Use basswood for the top part and thick cardboard for the bottom part to avoid excess thickness.
  Assemble: Glue the top and bottom pieces together and let them dry completely.

NOTE: For the titles I used the following owing fonts: Phosphate & Gobold Uplow.

Download and open the “Wooden Box” file in xTool Creative Space. Each CANVA in the file is labeled for the corresponding part of the box. This file is designed for 3mm basswood. If you plan to use a different material (or thickness), you will need to adjust the design accordingly.

Base (Bottom Part):

Cut the Pieces: Cut out all the pieces needed for the box: Base (base and 4 sides), and the Lid (top and 4 sides).

Assemble: Glue the pieces into their correct positions to create a sturdy box. I used a rubber hammer to help with the assembly. Allow the glue to dry completely.

Lid (Top Part):

Engrave and Cut: First, engrave the top piece, then cut it out.

Assemble: Attach the top piece to the rest of the box, following the same method used for the base. I used a rubber hammer to help assemble the box.

You’ll be able to place both the activity book and all the wooden pieces in the box, making it easy to carry on your road trip.

I hope you enjoy this summer project!
 

If you like my project, please leave me a thumbs up or a comment. Your feedback will make my day! :)

Please note that all settings mentioned are specific to XTool M1, so be sure to check the settings on your machine, as they may differ.