Beach Blanket Checkers...

I would use paper plates and something weighty like dry beans to hold the pieces down... have the girls paint the backs for the plates black or red, then throw on a handful of beans and staple another plat on top (face to face, so they are open in the middle painted backs out).

Hope this helps.

T.

All great suggestions. Maybe aluminum cans (Coke Zero/Coke) or glass bottles (clear for red, brown for black (e.g. IBC rootbeer bottles))? Or just keep your old jars (pickles, salsa, etc) and spray paint them.

What about aluminum pie plates or lids to ice cream containers, like half gallon or gallon sizes. You could easily paint either of those red/black. They may not last more than this year though! Is there one of the dads that is handy with woodworking that you could ask to donate some time and materials to do some round checkers?

I would use construction paper and "weave" it in and out for the checker board pattern and place that on a blanket. If anyone has laminate I would do that as well to help it last longer.

If it HAS to be on a blanket or towel? Then I would pull out my sewing machine and get to work on scraps to put it together.

I would use felt (because it's fairly thick) and magnets.

For school projects I sometimes buy the magnet sheets from the craft store (that can be cut to size). I would personally make "pockets", put the magnet inside, and sew closed (ahem... or have the girls sew them closed!) A big sheet under the board... and voila.

You can buy black and red plastic plates. I like the idea of the beans and staples. Easy peasy!

My first thought would be lids to coffee cans. You wouldn't have to do anything with the black ones, and I guess you could paint the others red. I don't know if that would work.

how did i miss your question??

chiming in late, but i immediately thought of frisbee's the give away advertisting ones. but if you need smaller beach blanket size you could use river rocks and let the girls paint and shellack them.
colored paper plates sound super easy though!

Depending on when the event is, if you have other mom's collect milk/OJ jug tops for you, you could paint them. You could also use the tops of tin cans...the ones opened with the non-sharp can openers. Those you can cut colored paper and glue on top. You could also use toilet/paper towel rolls and cut them in uniform height and cover them with tissue paper or wrap them in colored paper and then cut them. Hope this helps some. Good luck and God Bless.

what about the bottoms from liter bottles of soda, some are black, green, and other colors... or you could even use the smaller sized ones. if needed paint them or cut a felt or cardboard piece and adhere it to the open part of the bottle bottom. This would be red or black.

Me? Lids. Spaghetti sauce jar lids---some that size. Then pain them red or black.