Saran Wrap Christmas Game: How to Make and Play
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This Saran Wrap Ball Game came home with my teenage daughter after she played it at a birthday party. When she showed her siblings how to play, she unwrapped so quickly that her little brother could barely stand watching the prizes disappear while he waited for his turn!
I learned that prize spacing and a clear lap rule make a big difference. Wrapping prizes too close together makes them easy to collect in one quick turn. And lifting the ball lets gravity do the unwrapping—that’s cheating in our game!
After that first round, I rewrapped the ball and we tried again. Below are the making instructions, our rules, prize ideas, and optional challenge cards for adding a little extra fun.
What Is a Saran Wrap Ball Game?
A Saran Wrap ball game is a party game with candy and small prizes hidden between layers of plastic wrap. One player unwraps the ball while the player to their left repeatedly rolls two dice.
When doubles are rolled, the turn ends and the ball moves to the dice roller. Players keep the prizes they unwrap during their turns.
If you hate the idea of using so much plastic in a game, then check out my Toilet Paper Version of this Saran Wrap Ball Game.
Supplies for the Saran Wrap Ball Game
- Plastic wrap: I purchased a 300-foot roll and used approximately one-third for our ball.
- Candy and small prizes: Choose prizes for your players’ ages and interests.
- A roundish base: I used a roll of toilet paper.
- Two dice
- Cake pan or shallow tray: Optional, to keep the dice contained.
- Packing tape: Optional, for making some layers more challenging.
- Challenge cards: Optional; print the cards below or write your own.
- Challenge props: Oven mitts or socks, if you choose cards that use them.
How to Make a Saran Wrap Ball Game Step-by-Step
Step 1: Choose a base.
Start with a roundish object. I used a roll of toilet paper as the center of our ball.
*You can place bells or something noisy in the tube for added fun
Step 2: Wrap the base.
Begin wrapping the base in plastic wrap. Change directions as you wrap to build a ball shape.
Step 3: Add prizes.
Add candy and small prizes, wrapping each into the next layers. Leave some wrap between prizes rather than placing them right next to one another.
If you are using challenge cards, tuck them between the layers as you go.
Step 4: Add optional tape.
For a harder game, secure the wrap with packing tape every few layers. Adjust the difficulty for the ages of your players.
Step 5: Finish the ball.
Keep adding prizes and wrapping until everything is tucked inside.
How to Play the Saran Wrap Ball Game: Rules
Step 1: Sit in a circle.
Have everyone sit side by side so they can easily pass the ball and dice to the left.
Step 2: Choose who starts.
Give the first player the ball. You can roll the dice to decide who goes first.
Step 3: Give the next player two dice.
The person to the left of the ball holder gets the dice. Place them in a cake pan or shallow tray if desired.
Step 4: Start together.
The first player unwraps while the next player rolls both dice continuously.
Step 5: Stop at doubles.
Doubles means both dice show the same number. The dice roller calls “Stop!” and unwrapping stops immediately.
Step 6: Pass to the left.
The ball goes to the person who rolled doubles. The dice move to the next player on their left.
Step 7: Continue until the ball is unwrapped.
Play continues around the circle until the ball is completely unwrapped and the final prize is released.
Our Saran Wrap Game House Rules
- Keep the ball snugly in your lap. Unwrap it by hand. No lifting it and letting gravity unravel the layers!
- Keep the prizes you unwrap. Any prize fully released during your turn is yours.
- Stop immediately at doubles. No finishing another layer after your turn ends.
- Follow challenge cards as they appear. The dice keep rolling while cards are read and followed.
What to Put in a Saran Wrap Ball
For my four kids, I used about 100 pieces of candy, change, and two $5 bills. I wished I had dollar bills instead so I could spread the cash prizes throughout the ball.
You can keep your candy ball game inexpensive or include a few bigger surprises. These are suggestions to choose from—not a list of everything I personally used.
| 🎁 Prize type | 🍬 Ideas |
|---|---|
| Candy | Candy canes, candy bars, novelty candy, and Christmas candy |
| Small toys and activities | Slap bracelets, crayons, silly glasses, stickers, pencil toppers, themed erasers, and small coloring or puzzle books |
| Funny prizes | Chattering teeth, wind-up toys, fake poop, or mystery-flavor jelly beans |
| Teen and adult gifts | Cash, gift cards, fuzzy socks, lotion, soap, nail polish, and small ornaments |
| Budget fillers | Candy, change, and small party favors |
Choose wrapped candy and age-appropriate prizes. Supervise young children around small pieces.
Melissa’s Saran Wrap Ball Game Tips for Fairer Play
- Space prizes apart. Leave layers between them so one quick section doesn’t release most of the prizes.
- Keep the ball in the lap. This was an important rule for us after seeing how quickly the ball could unravel.
- Choose the difficulty before starting. Tape and optional challenges can slow players down.
- Keep extra prizes available. A player may have a short turn and unwrap nothing before doubles are rolled.
- Explain the rules first. Everyone should know when to stop and how to pass the ball and dice.
Saran Wrap Game Challenge Cards
- Challenge cards add optional surprises to your Christmas Saran Wrap ball game. Some change how a player unwraps the ball; others ask them to exchange a prize or pass their turn.
- You can write challenges on halved index cards or use the printable below. Tuck the cards between the plastic-wrap layers as you make the ball.
How to Use the Challenge Cards
When a card falls out, stop unwrapping and read it aloud. The dice roller keeps rolling.
- Unwrapping challenges last for the rest of the current turn.
- Prize actions happen once. Then continue unwrapping if doubles have not been rolled.
- Lose your turn means immediately pass the ball to the dice roller, who passes the dice to the next player.
- Doubles end the turn, including while a card is being read or followed.
The ball stays snugly in the player’s lap for every challenge. Have oven mitts and socks ready before starting.
Printable Saran Wrap Game Challenge Cards
Download the one-page Saran Wrap Game Challenge Cards printable, featuring 10 challenges and 2 blank cards for your own ideas.
- Unwrap with one hand.
- Unwrap using only your left hand.
- Wear oven mitts.
- Wear socks on your hands.
- Unwrap with your eyes closed.
- Sing a Christmas song while unwrapping.
- Give one prize to the player on your right.
- Swap one prize with another player.
- Lose your turn—pass the ball!
- Unwrap using only your right hand.
If a player has no prize to give or swap, skip that action.
Plastic Wrap Ball Game: Other Names for the Same Game
You may hear this called a plastic wrap ball game, cling wrap ball game, or Saran Wrap game. These names describe the same basic idea: unwrap a prize-filled ball while the next player rolls for doubles.
House rules can differ, so explain your version before playing
FAQs about the Saran Wrap Game
More Christmas Party Games
For more family party fun, try:
- Toilet Paper Snowman Game
- Christmas Minute to Win It Games
- Paper Plate Pictionary
- Guess Who Christmas Game
- Guess the Christmas Smell
- Santa Limbo
- Stick It to Santa’s Beard
If you play this game or activity, I’d love to hear how it went! Please leave a star rating and comment below to let me know how it turned out. I love hearing from you, and your ratings help other readers find and enjoy the game, too!.
If you play this game, I’d love to hear how it went! Leave a rating and comment below, and tell me which prizes or challenges your group enjoyed most.
Christmas Saran Wrap Ball Game
Equipment
- Two dice
- Cake pan or shallow tray, optional
- Scissors, for cutting printable challenge cards
Materials
- Plastic wrap — approximately 100 feet used for my family ball; adjust as needed
- Candy and small prizes — about 100 candies plus cash and change used for my four kids
- One toilet paper roll for the base
- Packing tape optional
- Challenge cards optional
- Oven mitts or socks if using those challenges
Instructions
Making the Ball
- Wrap the toilet paper roll in plastic wrap, changing directions to form a ball.
- Add candy and small prizes between the layers, leaving wrap between prizes.
- Add optional challenge cards between the layers.
- Secure the wrap with packing tape every few layers if you want a harder game.
- Continue until all prizes and cards are inside.
Playing the Game
- Sit in a circle. Give the first player the ball and the player to their left two dice.
- Keep the ball snugly in the player’s lap. Unwrap while the next player continuously rolls both dice.
- Keep any prizes fully released during your turn.
- When both dice show the same number, stop immediately. Pass the ball to the dice roller and the dice to the next player on the left.
- When a challenge card appears, stop unwrapping to read and follow it. The dice keep rolling. Unwrapping challenges last for the rest of the turn; prize actions happen once. A lose-your-turn card means pass immediately.
- Continue until the ball is completely unwrapped and the final prize is released.
Notes
- No lifting the ball and letting gravity unravel it.
- Choose optional challenges appropriate for your players.
- Have challenge props ready before playing.
- Skip a give-or-swap action if the player has no prize.
- Keep extra prizes available for players who unwrap nothing.
