Repair and replacement

Storysack games are the items most likely to be lost or damaged. Games are far less fun when they have pieces missing and the children do complain about this! Most of the time game pieces can be re-made but a couple of times a year I find I have to replace an entire game. Here are sections on replacing games and how to make replacement game pieces

REPAIRING GAMES

1. THE GAME BOX: When the box starts to fall apart sticky tape will do the job for a few months but sooner or later it will need to be discarded:

  • If the GAME INSTRUCTIONS and other useful information is on the game box cut them out with scissors or a blade. (Copy them for the GAME FILE if they are not there already). If the resulting card is in good condition mark the back with the STORYSACKS STAMP and continue to use it in the game.
  • Find a suitable box, bag or zip folder to put the game in. I have made a few zipped bags myself, it was quite easy – use piece/s scrap fabric, zip (cheap from Rolls & Rems in Lewisham), use appropriate method to mark the bag with ‘Game’ and/or ‘Storysacks’ e.g.appliqué, fabric pens, fine tip permanent marker or tie on laminated card (which you could also put contents list on).

2. GAME PIECES. These are often lost or chewed beyond use.

  • Use GAME FILE to identify which pieces are missing.
  • CHECK FOR SPARES in the cupboard.
  • MAKE NEW PIECES. You will need: Card, a copy of the picture on the missing game piece (see info below), good quality PVA glue/wood glue, stiff paintbrush. – find appropriate thickness of card e.g. mounting board or cereal packet (it’s worth keeping a selection) – Trace round another game piece. Place the card on a suitable cutting board. Carefully cut out the new game piece shape with a craft blade. Use GAME FILE. Scan or colour photocopy the MASTER COPIES of the missing game pieces. Stick the new game piece picture on to the game piece with PVA glue, you only need a thin layer don’t load it with glue.Leave to dry, try putting it on top of a bottle or cotton reel to stop it sticking to the table! When dry trim off excess paper with craft blade. If the back of the game piece has a picture/pattern etc repeat the process to apply this picture to the back. Remember to mark all the pieces “STORYSACKS”.

NEW GAMES

1.CHOOSING NEW/REPLACEMENT GAMES. Select a game which:

  • is suitable for the age group
  • won’t break easily
  • doesn’t need batteries
  • hasn’t got too many small pieces (easily lost, takes ages to count)
  • isn’t heavy or bulky.

2. WHEN YOU GET A NEW GAME –

  • COPY PIECES to make master copies to make replacement pieces when they are lost or chewed beyond recognition.
  • Scan or colour photocopy all the pieces not forgetting the game instructions
  • Write name of storysack on each piece of paper and in red write MASTER COPY – DO NOT CUT OUT !!!! PHOTOCOPY OR SCAN.
  • Put the printouts in the GAME PIECES LEVER ARCH FILE.
  • game instructions – stamp with STORYSACKS STAMP, then laminate.
  • write “STORYSACKS” on each piece – often the surface is too shiny to do with a pen so use small white stickers. Some large game/jigsaw pieces can be marked on the back with the STORYSACKS STAMP.
  • write CONTENTS LIST on the inside flap/lid of the game with a large tip permanent marker e.g. 24 x playing pieces, 1 x instruction leaflet, 2 x dice, 1 x game board
  • mark inside of box with STORYSACKS STAMP and write the title name of the Storysack it’s going in.