Homemade Kite

Smart Solutions : Episode SSL-937 -- More Projects »
Artist Ying Chang Compestine shows how to recycle newspaper or wrapping paper into beautiful kites.

Materials:

12" dowel
18" dowel
string
scissors
2" wide ruler
paper
white glue or transparent tape
bits of ribbon
colored crepe paper

* Note: if you want to make your kite larger, keep the proportion of the dowels the same as for the demonstration. The shorter dowel should be about 2/3 the length of the larger dowel.

Steps:

PHOTO

Figure A
  • Cross the dowels and tie them at the intersection (figure A).

  • Take a longer piece of string and, starting at the bottom dowel, tie a knot close to the end of each dowel, so you create the kite shape around the crossed sticks. Use the same string to go all the way around and make the four knots.

  • Cut the paper to be about two inches wider than the width of the kite.
    • PHOTO

    Figure B
    PHOTO

    Figure C
  • Place the kite frame on the wrong side of the paper. Use the ruler to draw a line around the kite on all four sides (figure B).

  • Cut along the lines, then center the kite in the cut shape on the wrong side and fold over the edges. Glue or tape them down (figure C).

  • For the tail, attach bits of ribbon or colored crepe paper to a string tied to the bottom of the kite.
    • Resources
    Secrets of a Healthy Asian Kitchen
    by Ying Chang Compestine
    Avery Penguin Putnam, 2002
    Order this title from Amazon.com.
    Guests
    Ying Chang Compestine
    Author
    E-mail: yingc@csd.net.
    Website: www.yingc.com
    Also in this Episode
    Smart Solutions : Episode SSL-937
    •Homemade Kite
    •Soy Desserts
    •Year-Round Wardrobe for Men
    •Smart Solution of the Day