Are you bored of the same old kites year after year? Do you want to be able to fly in style as well as show off your pretty, colorful kite and make everyone else jealous of it?
Are you up for some arts-and-crafts fun with a cool reward at the end? If so, then read on!
Take two large pieces of paper
- Take two large pieces of paper and fold them in half to make a square.
- Fold the paper diagonally, then cut along the fold line to have four triangles with one side missing.
- Unfold one triangle so it looks like an open diamond shape and tape it closed at each corner with masking tape so it can’t open up again.
Cut half of one paper into a long triangle
You need to cut half of one paper into a long triangle.
- First, fold the paper in half and open it up more. This will give you the basis for your kite shape.
- Next, fold down the top left corner towards the bottom right corner by about 10 cm (4 inches). You can measure this distance if you like! Again, make sure that it’s even on both sides and that there are no creases or other imperfections in your folds, as these could affect how well your kite flies when finished!
- Now fold down again at each end until all four corners meet together, as shown below!
Cut a long rectangle from the other piece
- Cut a long rectangle from the other piece. The rectangle should be longer than the width of the triangle.
- Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise.
- With right sides together, lay one side of this folded strip over the top of one side of your triangle shape so that they overlap by at least 1 inch (2.54 centimeters). Press along these edges to secure them together and ensure they’re as straight as possible before you sew them up!
Put glue
Finally, you need to stick the triangle on top of the rectangle by gluing one side.
To do this, put a small amount of glue on one side of the triangle and press that side onto the widest edge of your cardboard rectangle. Make sure you press down hard so there are no gaps between your pieces!
Now you can turn over your kite (or attach a tail) and give it a whirl!
Fold-down both corners
Folding down both corners to meet in the middle, over the triangle tip. Tape them to each other.
You may notice that your kite looks lopsided at this point; don’t worry! This is because you’ve folded down both corners, but only one will be taped. Tapping down on both corners on opposite sides of your kite will become perfectly symmetrical and balanced.
Cut Slots
Use scissors to cut slots along all three edges of your kite frame, about 1 inch apart and 1/2 inch deep.
Slot cutting is a little tricky: you’ll need to start at the top left corner with your scissors’ point facing you, then move them down along one edge and back up along the next until you reach the bottom right corner. It’s best to make an initial cut in each slot with a sharp pair of diagonal-bladed scissors before switching to straight ones to file out their widths (this will prevent breaking off any fingers).
Make a hole
- Make a hole in two opposite corners on the top side with a hole puncher. String ribbon through these holes and tie them tightly in knots, leaving enough length at each end for handles and a tail tie-on point.
- Cut lengths of clear plastic tubing about 10 inches long and 1/4 inch in diameter, then push them into all but one of the holes you made in step 1 (the one without tubing). The tubes should fit snugly inside so that they make little bubbles when you blow through them; if they don’t fit easily, try using smaller tubes or cutting off some of their lengths before pushing them into place again.
Decorate your kite frame
Now that you’ve got your kite frame, it’s time to decorate it with markers, sequins, or anything else you want. Use your creativity and imagination to make your kite stand out from the crowd!
Get creative: Draw a picture on it, write some kite quotes on it, or let your imagination run wild by gluing on any other fun objects!
Let’s take a look at some examples of cool kites that people have made before:
Now that you know how to make a kite, you can decorate your creation. First, lay down two equal lengths of string. Tie one end around one hole puncher hole and braid or weave the rest together until you reach another hole puncher hole. Tie around this second hole and trim, so they are equally long on either side, with a long tail hanging off one side (tail tie-on point). Repeat this process on the other side with another length of the string. You can now fly your kite or decorate it further!
If you want to add some more flair to your kite, try using markers or paint pens to draw designs that reflect what type of animal it is (like stripes for tigers) or its habitat (such as beach waves).
Making something pretty
Making something pretty is hard work, but it is so worth it! For example, if you want to make a kite that looks like an abstract painting, you will have to be patient and put in quite a lot of effort. But if your goal is to make one that looks like a dragon, then all of your efforts will be rewarded with an awesome-looking kite. You can fly these kites on your vacation to make it special.
Conclusion
Decorating your kite is just as much fun as flying it. Try gluing on tissue gems or feathers or painting if you want to do something more permanent. Make sure you’ve got some strong string so that your creation is light enough to fly far and wide!
