This post is sponsored by TruGreen, written by me and owned by HGTV.

Ah, spring. The days are getting longer, the sunshine is getting warmer and it's officially time to party outside. But once your friends make the rounds on the food and drinks, how will you keep the soiree going? Enter this outdoor game. 

This trendy copper outdoor drawing board stands on its own, making it the perfect place to gather around to play a few rounds of guess-what-I'm drawing-now. Best of all, you can create this handy drawing board with materials from your local home improvement store. Here's how. 

Materials

• ¾-inch x 10-foot-long copper pipes (3)
• ¾-inch x ¾-inch 90-degree copper slip elbow (2) 
• ¾-inch x ¾-inch x ¾-inch copper slip tee fitting (4)
• ¾-inch copper slip cap fittings (6)
• ¾-inch x ¾-inch diameter copper 2-hole pipe straps (8)
• single garment hooks (2)
• #8 x ¾-inch machine screws with nuts (10)
• #8 x ½-inch Wood Screws (4)
• ½-inch thick plywood, cut to 36” x 48” 
• yardstick
• roll of 30-inch kraft paper
• copper spray paint
• fast-drying epoxy (1 minute)

Paint Yard Stick

The yard stick will hold down the roll of paper at the bottom of your drawing board. Spray paint yardstick with copper paint (optional.) Let dry completely. 

Cut Copper Pipe to Size 

Aside from its trendy hue, copper pipe has another advantage: It's a soft metal that's easy to cut using a pipe cutter or hacksaw. Cut the copper pipe to the following lengths:

• 2 pieces:  4 feet long
• 3 pieces: - 3 feet long
• 2 pieces: 2 feet long
• 4 pieces:  18 inches long

Assemble the Frame

Tip: Make sure to use epoxy inside all fittings before connecting the pipes. Hold until secure.

Connect elbow fittings on both ends of a 3-foot pipe.

Connect 4-foot pipes to the other side of both elbow fittings. Connect a 3-foot pipe to the center of the tee fittings, connect it to the bottom of the 4-foot pipes. Add the 2-foot pipes to the bottom of the tee fittings.

Add the last tee fittings to the bottom of the 2-foot pipes, securing the pipes to the middle of the tee fitting. Set frame upright. Add 18-inch pipes to the front and back of both tee fittings. Add caps to the open ends of the 18-inch pipes and the remaining 3-foot pipe.

Attach the Hanging Hardware 

Now, it's time to create the framework where the kraft paper roll will hang! Drill 2 holes on each side of the plywood ½-inch from the edge and inset 4 inches from the corners.

Connect the straps to each hole using the machine screws and nuts. The straps will extend outside the plywood.

Attach the garment hooks with screws to the plywood 6 inches from the top and 2 inches from the edges.

Drill holes 1 inch from each end of the yardsticks and on the plywood 7 inches from the bottom and 1 inch inset from the sides.

Attach yardstick using machine screws and nuts.

Finish the Assembly 

Fit the plywood inside the frame, hooking the straps to the pipes. Bend the strap around the pipes to secure it.

Slide the remaining 3-foot pipe inside the paper roll and hang it from the hooks.

Pull paper under the yardstick to hold it in place.

Enjoy! 

Set it up on the lawn of your next outdoor bash for an interactive game your friends will love. Write some words and phrases on slips of paper, then pass around the basket and let your friends take turns drawing what they choose — no words allowed!  

Use it as an indoor memo board or kids' artwork center until it's party time again. 

Sponsored by TruGreen. Life is better lived outside and TruGreen's tailored services can help you and your family rediscover the outdoors with a lush, healthy lawn.