DIY Workshops - Father's Day Football Toss & THD Virtual Party

This post is sponsored by The Home Depot

Last Monday, we shared the exciting news that we were going to share our DIY Workshop project with you today. The Home Depot offers FREE DIY Workshops at all their locations, and they are for do-it-yourselfers of all experience and age levels. We have participated in them in the past and enjoyed them.

The three types of Free Workshops they offer are:

• Do-It-Yourself (DIY)
• Do-It-Herself (DIY)
• Kids

Customers can learn how to build decor projects, how to make easy home repairs, and how to operate tools through demonstrations and step-by-step instructions. 

If you want to learn how to do this project at the demonstration you can sign up at all The Home Depot locations. You will learn the essential components needed to recreate this project at home.

Saturday, June 18th

10:00-11:00 am

Remember, we are just one of many blogs sharing our version of the DIY Workshop project.  Check out the inspiring ideas from all of the other bloggers in the virtual party at the bottom of this post.  I am sure you will find something that will help you create your own toss game.  

The original project that was the inspiration from The Home Depot was made to look like a football field.  We are a football loving family indeed, but we decided to take another spin on the project. My husband, Rob, loves golf and Father's Day is the weekend in which the U.S. Open is played by The PGA Tour. We decided it would be a perfect opportunity to turn this into not just a game where you could toss a ball, but chip golf balls into as well. Please see the very bottom for the rules we created for this game, and printable score cards. 

Here are the materials that you will need in order to complete the project. 

• 1 - 1/2" x 2" x 4'  sanded plywood board
• 1 - 1" x 4" x 12" common board
• 2 packs - Everbilt #10 x 1 1/4" Phillips Zinc-Plated Flat- Head Wood Screw 
• 1 pack  Everbilt #10 x 3/4" Phillips Zinc-Plated Flat-Head Wood Screw
• 1 Pack - Everbilt 2 1/2" Zinc-Plated Narrow Utility Hinges (2 pack)
• Paint or Stain
• One Foot Length of String or Twine
• One Small Nail of Any Type

Tools Needed:

• Circular Saw
• Reciprocator Saw
• Drill
• Drill Bits - 1/2" and 1/8"
• Heavy Duty Stapler and Staples
• Pair of Snips or Wire Cutter
• Measuring Tape or Carpenters Square
• Pencil
• Safety Googles
• Sanding Block

Step 1 is to measure and mark the boards. The common board will be used to make the legs and the braces. Measure four legs at 1" by 4" x 2', and the brace will be 2' by 3'.  

Using a circular saw, cut the legs and braces from the (2) 1" x 4" by 12" boards, and the front panel from the  2' x 4' plywood board. Assemble the frame next by laying two of the legs flat, 2 feet apart.  Then lay two of the braces on the top of the legs, and one 3 feet below the top.  We then secured each of them with a clamp.  Pre-drill each hole with a 1/8" drill bit before using the screws to avoid splitting the wood.  Next, using a drill and 1 1/4"screws, secure each brace.  Then do the same thing with the second set of legs and braces.

The next step is to create the front a panel. Looking at the 2' by 3' plywood board vertically, mark 9" from the top and 9" from the bottom.  Nail a nail into the center of the bottom mark.   Tie one end of a string around the nail head, and the one end around the pencil ensuring the string is 6" from nail to pencil. Next draw a circle keeping the string tight as you go around.  You should now have a 12" diameter circle.  

Create a circle again using the other nail, but tie the string to the pencil and make the length 4". Then draw the circle around holding the string tight.  Now, you have a 8" diameter circle on the top.

Using a 1/2" drill bit, pre-drill one hold inside the edge of both circles.  Using a reciprocator saw, cut both of the circles out.

Attach the front panel by placing it between the two braces, and making sure it lines up flush with the top of the legs. Pre-drill the holes for the two screws by using a 1/8" drill bit. Using two 1/4" wood screws, attach the front panel to the frame.  

Attach the hinges to the boards by laying both frames back to back with the plywood and braces facing outward.  Using the drill, secure the hinges to the top side of each frame.

Here it is assembled prior to being painted. There are so many ways you can customize this project to your own interests.

We first painted the entire game with Behr Ultra Pure White paint.  We used a quart of that, and then bought the other colors in sample sizes. First we made the golf ball design using Behr Ultra Iron Mountain mixed with Pure White on the front of the board.  

We cut out 2 1/4" cardstock circles and used the circles as a stencil for the dimples of the ball. Using a vinyl cutting machine we cut out the lettering for our last name to mimic the product name on an a golf ball. You can also purchase adhesive lettering for address purposes at The Home Depot. We also assigned it a number as all golf balls have on them as well. 

The bottom of the front section was painted in Behr Ultra Green Energy Flat Matte to resemble the ball sitting on the grass. 

As you can see below, the boys in our house are already finding time to enjoy the new game in the yard. The twins were using the plastic golf balls from their toy sets and wiffle ball golf balls. Rob is using the standard golf balls. To sign up to participate in The Home Depot FREE DIY Workshop where you can build this yourself please follow this link.

Backyard Golf Rules

                Growing up I would play a game of Wiffle golf. The object of the game was to hit a basketball with a Wiffle golf ball.  It was fun, and we would roll the ball out and use flower beds and driveways as pretend water.  Now that I am older,  and The Home Depot gave us this opportunity I have revamped the game a little.  Short game work is important and can be done at home.  I know we do not have a putting green in our front yard, so chipping practice is all we can do.

Playing Set up

The playing board is propped up in a location where you are not going to endanger anyone with a wayward shot.  From the front of the board you designate three lines.  The distance for each line is dependent on the skill level of you and your opponent.  The line closest to the board represents par 3’s, the middle line is for par 4’s, and the furthest line is for the par 5 attempts.   It helps to give each player three Wiffle balls so you are not walking back and forth too often. 

Scoring

                The scoring rules are simple: any ball that strikes the board is marked down as par for that shot and any ball that misses the board is a bogey.   Each shot that goes through the eight inch top hole is an eagle, while the bottom twelve inch hole is a birdie.   You can use the scorecard by clicking this link.

Virtual Party! Here are the links to the other amazing bloggers who have also created their own versions of the Father's Day Football Toss Project!

Fix This Build That

Field Treasure Designs

John Malecki

The Handmade Home

Rogue Engineer

Mom 4 Real

House by Hoff

Her Toolbelt

Life On Virginia Street

Infarrantly Creative

Cherished Bliss

Pneumatic Addict

Here Comes Sun

Remodelando La Casa

Build Basic

House of Wood

Confessions of a Serial Do It Yourself Blog

Our Pinteresting Family that's us! :)

Salvage Sister and Mister

H2O Bungalow

That’s My Letter

Finding Home Farms

I am a Homemaker

Reality Daydream

The Rugged Rooster

We hope you have fun going to The Home Depot Free DIY workshop, and building this yourself.  Do not forget to share you projects on social media using the hashtag #DIYworkshop. We cannot wait to see what you do with your version.

*I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in this Workshops Program. As a part of the Program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commision guidelines.*