When you have Jonny's Tree & Landscaping Co., LLC or a similar company cut down a dead tree in your yard, it can be hard to know what to do with the stump that is left behind. A stump doesn't have to be an eyesore in your yard. You can turn it into a great tic-tac-toe board, if you are willing to think outside of the box a bit. Use the following easy-to-follow guide to turn your old stump into a game everyone is sure to love to play.

Supplies You'll Need

• A Hatchet
• Two Colors of Acrylic Paint
• A Coffee Can
• A Paintbrush
• Polyurethane Spray
• 12 Rocks
• A Ruler
• A Marker

Outline Your Board

You will need to create two vertical lines that are interested by two horizontal lines in order to make the board for the tic-tac-toe board. The end result will look like a number (#) symbol. Eyeball the location where each line needs to be to make the board as close to even as you can. Trace the edge of the ruler with the marker to create a guide for you to follow to make the outline for the board.

Make Your Board

Follow the lines that you drew with the hatchet to remove small portions of the stump. Be careful when creating the board because you do not actually have to cut large chunks out of the stump. Slight indentations will be sufficient.

Paint Your Rocks

Lay your rocks on a flat surface and paint six of the rocks with the paintbrush and one of the colors of acrylic paint. Use the second color of paint to paint the rest of the rocks. Allow the paint to dry for a few hours and then paint the other sides of the rocks.

Paint the Coffee Can

Use the paint and paintbrush to paint the coffee can. Add detailing to the can to make it look unique and exciting.

Protect the Paint

Lay the rocks flat and spray them with the polyurethane spray. Allow the spray to dry for an hour, flip the rocks, and spray the other sides with the spray. The spray will put a protective layer over the paint to keep it from chipping or fading too quickly. Spray the coffee can as well to ensure that the paint is protected and it stays looking great for as long as possible.

Store the rocks in the coffee can when they are not being used. Keep the lid on the can and you will not have to worry about it filling up with water when it rains. You can then enjoy a game of tic-tac-toe with your loved ones while enjoying the sounds of Mother Nature whenever you want.