Sunday, January 23, 2011

Memory Game

Today I made a memory game using images from some of my paintings. My kids were watching over my shoulder as I was working with the images on my computer, and they kept saying, "there's a match!" every few seconds. Once it was all printed and cut out, they had a great time playing it, and collecting their own matches. There's a printout below if you want to make some too. Simply print two sheets (so there are matches), and cut them out.

To play, just put the cards face down. During each turn, a player gets to turn over two cards. If the cards match, they keep the match and get to take another turn. If they don't match, the cards are placed face down again and it's the next player's turn. If your kids are too young for that version, then just place the cards face up and let them try to find the matches. They become very proud of themselves every time they spot a match. Everyone can play! They can also fit inside a mint tin, for on the go. Perfect for restaurants and cafés. Happy matching!







Click on the image below, then print. (Make sure and print two!)

at

38 comments:

  1. Lori HenriquesJanuary 23, 2011 at 9:38 PM

    nice! :) and i love seeing their T.O.s in the photo.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tricia OrchardJanuary 24, 2011 at 4:18 AM

    That is an awesome version of memory! My girls love playing memory. Thank you so much for leaving a version for us to print.

    Tricia

    ReplyDelete
  3. I Live in an AntbedJanuary 24, 2011 at 4:19 AM

    These are really beautiful in their "graphic coolness"!!! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 24, 2011 at 5:24 AM

    Totally awesome! My son and I have been having SOOOO much fun since discovering your website. You're brilliant. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
    I've made a pledge this year not to buy any toys for my 2 and a half year old. Thanks for helping me keep this resolution.
    xxxooo

    ReplyDelete
  5. learningtableJanuary 24, 2011 at 8:10 AM

    Thank you for sharing this. They are beautiful, and my youngest son will love playing with them. He loves memory games, and he's really good (better than Mommy!)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Joel HenriquesJanuary 24, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    Thanks everyone!

    Lori - Yes, the transitional objects made it in this photo set. ha. Also, you can see part of the green Vintage Fabric Doll, which Tess has been carrying around for 10 months now! Nice.

    ReplyDelete
  7. JenniferJanuary 24, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    Love the images! On the six hour train rides to and from Berlin this week, my kids and I played many a handmade memory game...such fun and so portable.

    ReplyDelete
  8. MamanlullabyJanuary 24, 2011 at 11:35 AM

    wahou, thank you for sharing ! love them, I'm sure my kid will love them too ! :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. elissa, ebb & flowJanuary 24, 2011 at 11:54 AM

    great idea! my aunt made a matching game with pictures of family members so my nephew could learn everyone's names even though we don't see each other all the time.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Zom G.January 24, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    Brilliant and beautiful! Such a lovely way to reuse work. I've been wanting something like this for my wee man for awhile now. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  11. MariaJanuary 24, 2011 at 1:13 PM

    Love it! thanks again for all of the awesome ideas

    ReplyDelete
  12. SePiLuJanuary 24, 2011 at 1:18 PM

    merci!

    ReplyDelete
  13. JulieJanuary 24, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    Beautiful! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Foxy LadyJanuary 24, 2011 at 3:19 PM

    ITS GREAT!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Fern and FeatherJanuary 24, 2011 at 7:00 PM

    love your blog. all of your ideas are wonderful! you were mentioned at Alt as a new blog to watch! so I have been excited to find you. warmly, Alexis

    ReplyDelete
  16. KellyJanuary 24, 2011 at 7:11 PM

    amazing!!! I love this. Your work is beautiful and the fact that you are willing to share your work and ideas for FREE?! Oh man, I am your biggest fan. Seriously. What a treat to have found your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sherman UnkeferJanuary 25, 2011 at 2:37 AM

    My son loves to play memory game in my cellphone. I'm sure he'll love your idea. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  18. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    Back in November I took some photos of household objects with the idea that I would make a memory game for my kids... but along the way I became obsessed with getting it perfect and never finished it. Maybe I should dust off those images and finish what I started! Thanks for the additional inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Joel HenriquesJanuary 25, 2011 at 2:59 PM

    Thanks everyone!

    elissa, ebb & flow - Great idea! Yeah, So many cool options!

    r8chel - Yes, you should do it!

    ReplyDelete
  20. CatherineJanuary 25, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    Wow!

    Beautiful!

    I also made a memory game for my son's second birthday with pictures of his toys and clothes (striped paper on the other side) and he loved it.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Rebecca and AndrewJanuary 25, 2011 at 10:30 PM

    Joel, my two year olds are just getting the concept of "memory". Thank you for sharing...and the pictures are vivid and wonderful!
    You have such a gift!

    ReplyDelete
  22. UnknownJanuary 26, 2011 at 5:52 AM

    What a wonderful handmade version of this game! I used to love this when I was little. Thank you for the inspiration! I think I will make this for my niece!

    ReplyDelete
  23. AnonymousJanuary 26, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    Oh, can't wait to show these to my nephew!
    Say, i have a few of his Joel toys to share but
    am not sure how to send them to you through
    fb. help!
    by the way, science fair judging is tomorrow!
    his display looks great.
    cheers to movie wheel and animation!
    He included 2 of your bird thaumatropes and two
    of his own hand made flip books
    as bonus "hands on" activities.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Joel HenriquesJanuary 26, 2011 at 11:25 AM

    Thanks everyone!

    cristina - That's awesome! I love to see the photos!

    Just upload the photos on the "Wall". (Select the Wall tab and click on the "Photo" button.) Once your photo is uploaded it will automatically appear in the "Photos by Others" section in the "Photos" tab.

    Here's a link to the wall
    http://www.facebook.com/madebyjoel?v=wall

    ReplyDelete
  25. EmilyJanuary 26, 2011 at 9:48 PM

    That is so generous! Really! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  26. i'm zandriJanuary 27, 2011 at 12:42 PM

    Thank you so much! You put the rest of us to shame with your wonderful ideas & creative games. I'm amazed as always!

    ReplyDelete
  27. BeckJanuary 27, 2011 at 7:48 PM

    This is a great idea!!! Love it :)
    I am studying to be a teacher and I love all the creative things you write about, I hope that one day I'll be able to do them with my students! Thanks for sharing!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. AnonymousJanuary 28, 2011 at 2:43 AM

    Thanks for sharing! It's great!
    My child it's gonna play with this in Barcelona, as you can see, your memory cards have traveled thanks to the net, and to you, of course!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Jenn GirlJanuary 28, 2011 at 6:43 AM

    Great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Sarah RachelleJanuary 28, 2011 at 8:55 AM

    Thanks, we love this game! I printed it onto the smooth back of some cream linen-textured cardstock and it looks really nice. I think it would make a great gift to.

    ReplyDelete
  31. MaikenJanuary 28, 2011 at 5:37 PM

    I have wanted to make a memory game with pictures of the family on them. I love that you designed the images. The personal touch of your projects are wonderful.

    When we play a memory with my six-year-old and her five-year-old cousin we have them pick two tiles and turn them over, but then leave them over. There are simply too many tiles for them to remember locations. :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Joel HenriquesJanuary 30, 2011 at 7:53 AM

    Thanks everyone!

    Sarah Rachelle - ooh good idea with the textured cardstock. I'll have to find some of that and try it out!

    Maiken - Thanks for this tip! I'm going to start playing it this way with my 4 year old twins. Perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  33. AmyJanuary 30, 2011 at 1:19 PM

    My 2 1/2 year old son is having so much fun with his first game of memory. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  34. AliceFebruary 6, 2011 at 5:49 AM

    Great idea! WE have a cool name for Memory game in our language PEXESO. It is a abbreviation of "Memorise as hell" :-))) Do you know that the origin of Memory game comes from Japan. Their version of matching game is called Kai awase and it is played with shells.
    Alice

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anne-MarieFebruary 17, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    So beautiful,
    I'will talk about it on my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  36. JodyFebruary 18, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    Love it!! When I taught preschool I always did 2 weeks of "famous artists" - Van Gogh, Mondrian, Kandinsky, O'Keefe, ect. I'm going to file this away for if I ever teach again. But I think I'm going to be printing two off for Easter baskets. Wouldn't that be cute?

    ReplyDelete
  37. Joel HenriquesFebruary 18, 2011 at 4:17 PM

    Thanks everybody!

    Jody - If you make an Easter basket, I'd love to see a photo. Sounds like an interesting idea!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Carter ClanMarch 24, 2011 at 5:51 PM

    Very nice paintings! Great idea for the kids!

    ReplyDelete