How to Make a Kite

Crafting your own kite is a great boredom busting activity on windy days. But you want to be sure your kite has a chance at taking flight, so here are some easy instructions for how to make a kite in the classic diamond shape.

What you need:

• A piece of paper or newspaper at least 26" X 26" or a heavy duty garbage bag
• 2 lightweight wooden dowels ¼" thick, 24" and 20" long
• Masking tape
• Fishing line or twine
• Craft knife
• Scissors

Ribbon or small strips of cloth

How to make it:

1. Using the craft knife, create notches in the ends of both wooden sticks.
2. Measure and mark the longer stick 6 inches from one end and measure and mark the shorter stick 10 inches from one end. Match up the marks to form a cross with the sticks.
3. Wrap the twine in an "x" shape around the cross of the sticks to hold them together. Then thread the string around the outside edges, through the notches to create the diamond shape. Bring it back to the center. Keeping the twine taught, wrap it around the center "x" again before tying it in a knot. Secure the sting in place over each notch with a piece of tape.
4. Lay the diamond on your paper or garbage bag and cut out a shape that's an inch or so larger than your frame. Fold the paper over the frame and secure it with long pieces of tape.
5. Cut a 2-foot long piece of twine. Tie one end to the dowel at the top of your kite and the other to the dowel at the bottom of your kite to form the bridle. Now, attach the rest of your twine about 1/3 of the way down the bridle. This is the twine you'll use to fly your kite.
6. Make a colorful tail by attaching another piece of twine (about 6 feet long) to the bottom dowel of your kite. Tie on ribbons or small strips of cloth every 6 inches.
7. Go outside and fly your kite!