Your kids can enjoy a favorite summer sidewalk game no matter what the weather by turning carpet samples into indoor hopscotch squares.

Materials

• Masking tape
• Marker
• Craft knife
• Carpet samples

• White acrylic paint
• Foam stamps
• Clean rag
• Warm iron

Instructions

1. To make your hopscotch court, first use masking tape and a marker to create numbers, like the one shown, on 4 small and 3 large carpet samples (ours were 13-1/2 by 17 inches and 17 by 27 inches), available at most carpet stores for a low price.

2. Using the craft knife, cut numbers out of masking tape. Put the numbers 1, 4, 7, and 10 on the smaller carpet pieces and pairs of numbers (2 and 3, 5 and 6, 8 and 9) on the larger pieces.

3. Paint over the stencils with white acrylic paint to create each number. If you like, you can use foam stamps to decorate each square with colorful shapes, as we did. Let the paints dry overnight, then remove the masking tape. Set the paint by placing a clean rag over each square and pressing with a warm iron (a parent's job).

4. When it's time to play, arrange the squares on a carpeted floor, securing them in place with duct tape if necessary.

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• December/January 2004