Handmade Memory Games Crafted from Sustainable Supplies

matching game

felt and fabric matching game (2 of 2)

Kids love to play Memory! Memory is also a game with infinite possibilities–it can be made from a variety of materials, both recycled and natural, and with any theme, whether it’s colors, zoo animals, hand-drawn images, or photos of family members.

Here are a ton of handmade memory games that you can craft using sustainable supplies:

felt and scrap fabric memory game
felt and scrap fabric memory game

wool felt and cotton fabric: I really love this memory game that I made using the wool felt and cotton fabric memory game tutorial from Purl Bee. Because I raided my own scrap bin to make the game, mine has not just cotton fabric prints, but silks, some vintage polyesters, and upholstery fabric remnants. Matching a fabric pattern rather than a main graphic is do-able even for kids, but lends an interesting mental challenge to the game and makes it fresh. And, of course, spying a scrap from their pajamas, their favorite bean bags, the curtain, or their latest dress makes playing even more fun for my kiddos.

wood and wool felt matching game image from Dandee
wood and wool felt matching game image from Dandee

wood scraps: Using stamps, colored pencils, and decoupage materials, Creating Really Awesome Free Things crafted a memory game upon scraps of leftover balsa wood. You could apply this method to any sort of identical scrap materials that you have lying around after a project–ceramic tiles, scrapbooking chipboard, etc. Wood is also sturdy enough to hold a material that has some structure, as in this wood and wool felt matching game from Dandee. No interfacing needed!

cereal boxes: Cardboard food packaging is always so vivid and distinctive that this cereal box matching game from Blissfully Domestic takes just seconds to make. For a more challenging game, spray paint the backs of all of the pieces so that different types of cardboard don’t tip off the players of the game.

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Written by Julie Finn

I'm a writer, crafter, Zombie Preparedness Planner, and homeschooling momma of two kids who will hopefully someday transition into using their genius for good, not the evil machinations and mess-making in which they currently indulge. I'm interested in recycling and nature crafts, food security, STEM education, and the DIY lifestyle, however it's manifested--making myself some underwear out of T-shirts? Done it. Teaching myself guitar? Doing it right now.

Visit my blog Craft Knife for a peek at our very weird handmade homeschool life, and my etsy shop Pumpkin+Bear for a truly odd number of rainbow-themed beeswax pretties.

2 Comments

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  1. I love the idea of making matching games out of Emma’s art to give to family! I don’t remember where I saw it, but someone took pictures/scanned all their kids art and printed them out to use as memory cards. As we are currently de-cluttering and scanning all of Emma’s old art (some of it about 5-6 years old) this would probably work best for us.

    Oh, or I could use her water color letters to make memory games for her to sell!

    Thanks for the awesome ideas Julie!

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