If you enjoy spending autumn evenings by the fire playing board games with family and friends, then you'll appreciate this unique and fun DIY jumbo scrabble tile banner for fall.

Scrabble is one of my favorite board games. I still have the score sheets from games played back in the 70s with family members who have long since passed.

As I scrabble (pun intended) to decorate for fall, a jumbo game tile banner popped into my head to hang from our fireplace mantel and I'll show you how easy it is to make.

DIY Oversized Scrabble Tile Fall Banner

The inspiration for the oversized game tile banner came from my vintage Scrabble game. I used the vintage tiles as a guide for making the jumbo tiles. Most of the supplies to make the banner are salvaged and others are purchased inexpensively at the dollar store.

You don't have to embellish the front of the tiles like Scrabble game tiles, replicate ideas from your favorite board game.

The motivation for making the wood tile banner is the Fall Theme for our Power Tool Challenge this month. We are a team of tool-savvy female DIY bloggers who come together each month to encourage and empower our female readers to step out of their comfort zone and try simple projects they can make themselves with a power tool.

Here's What You'll Need To Make It

This post contains affiliate links so you can see what products I used or recommend for this project. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Supply List

Hardboard Sheet
Hot Glue Gun
Sharp Scissors
Fabric Stiffener
Burlap Ribbon
Fall Fabric Leaves
Faux Fall Berries
Small Foam Pumpkin
Orange and Brown Acrylic Craft Paint
Green Twine
Mod Podge
Brown Wax or Glaze
Utility Knife

Tool List

Sliding Compound Mitre Saw
Power Drill with 1/4-Inch Drill Bit
Speed Square
Vice

Let's talk a bit about safety before we get into the nitty-gritty of making the wood fall banner. Follow your tool manufacturer's operating instructions when operating power tools and practice safety precautions like using proper eyewear and ear protection.

Jumbo Game Tile Banner Instructions

Step 1 - Making Jumbo Scrabble Tiles

With a metal framing square and a pencil, draw out six square game tiles measuring 7 x 7-inches square.

Set the square on the top right side of the tiles, using the hole on the square as your guide for marking one circle for the rope to be strung through.

Flip the square over and repeat the previous step on the top left side of each tile.

Cut the tiles with either a jigsaw, sliding miter saw, or the no power tool option of using a straight edge and a sharp utility knife.

Unfortunately, my miter saw doesn't have the sliding feature so I couldn't make one clean cut through the seven-inch tiles. I had to flip the boards over to finish the cuts. No biggie, just an extra step.

Instead of drilling the holes on each game tile one by one, clamp all six tiles together and place them in a vice grip. Use a power drill and a 1/4-inch drill bit to drill through all the holes at once to save time.

Step 2 - Game Tile Letters and Numbers

• First, stain or paint each tile to look similar to real Scrabble tiles.
• In PicMonkey I created Scrabble tile graphics to spell out each letter of the word FALL.
• Alternatively, you could use 4-inch stencils or vinyl stickers for the letters and 1 1/2-inch number stencils or stickers.
• To get the correct number assignment for each letter, use real Scrabble game tiles as your guide.
• Use this image transfer technique to add the graphics onto each game tile.
• Go over them with a fine point black Sharpie pen.

Next, we'll embellish the first and last game tile on the banner.

Step 3 - Embellishing First Game Tile For Fall

• Brush fabric stiffener or Mod Podge onto the back of the burlap ribbon.
• Once dry, use a large faux maple leaf as a template and trace three leaves on the burlap.
• Cut them out with sharp scissors.
• Lay the burlap leaves over one another at an angle and attach them with dabs of hot glue.
• Attach the burlap leaves on the first game tile with dabs of hot glue.
• Glue a few faux berry clusters from a dollar store fall pick in the center (pictured below).

Step 4: Embellishing Last Game Tile For Fall

• Pull out the stem of a small foam pumpkin and paint it with brown craft paint.
• Carefully cut the pumpkin in half with a utility knife.
• Paint the pumpkin orange, if it isn't already, or whatever color matches your decor.
• To add depth to the pumpkin apply brown wax or glaze with a small craft brush along the ribs and blend with a lint-free rag.
• Trace two small maple leaves on burlap ribbon and cut them out with sharp scissors.
• Attach the small burlap leaves on the top of the pumpkin with dabs of hot glue.
• Cut a long piece of green twine and rub a generous amount of Mod Podge or white school glue along the entire strand with your fingers.
• Wrap each piece of twine around a pen or pencil.
• Carefully remove from the pencil before the twine is completely dry.
• Glue the twine tendrils on the top of the pumpkin.
• Attach the stem back onto the pumpkin and secure it with a dab of hot glue.
• Loosen the twine tendrils to your liking.
• Attach the pumpkin to the last game tile with hot glue like pictured below).

Assembling Scrabble Tile Banner

• Cut a long piece of green twine the length of your fireplace mantel plus at least twelve inches on either end to trail on each side.
• String the jumbo tiles onto the twine hanger.
• To prevent the tiles from sliding, add a dab of hot glue onto the back of each tile.

That's it, we're done!

Alternatively, you could make this jumbo scrabble tile banner with heavy cardstock paper instead of the hardboard. But it definitely has more impact when made from wood.

I also made a miniature version of the scrabble game tile banner to hang on a DIY traditional fall wreath. For more autumn decor inspiration visit my DIY Fall Ideas page.

Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today! I hope you were inspired by this jumbo game tile fall banner idea.

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If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section below or the Contact Me tab at the top to drop me an email. I love hearing from you!

If you enjoyed this jumbo scrabble tile fall banner, I'd be so thankful if you shared it with a friend and pinned it to your favorite board on Pinterest.

Now let's see what the other members of the Power Tool Challenge Team made for their Fall projects.

I share my projects at these inspiring link parties.