Friday, May 30, 2008

let's go fly a kite!

I feel like blasting a trumpet "TOOT TO TOOOOOOT!!" We just made the best darn kite EVER! I've made all different kinds of kites with children over the years, and this is, hands down, the easiest and most successful...the best darn kite EVER! It's the perfect first kite for a small child...but you don't need to have a kid around...I had so much fun with it myself and I'm...well a grown-up, kind of! So go run and get the supplies; they should be right here in your house already. All you need is 10-minutes and a little open space to run...have fun, and bring it along wherever you roam this weekend!

Supplies for one kite:
- sheet of 8 1/2"x11" paper (I used bright colored printing paper)
- markers for optional decorating
- 8"bamboo BBQ shishkabob stick (skewer)
- a plastic grocery bag
- scotch tape
- 6-10 feet of string
- scissors and a hole punch
- 1"x 3" piece of cardboard for winding string
Instructions:
1. Decorate paper and then fold in half to get 8 1/2"x 5 1/2".


2. Fold along a diagonal: 1/2 inch from fold at the top and 3 inches from the fold at the bottom.


3. Fold back one side to form the kite shape and place a piece of tape along the fold line.


4. Place skewer from one end to another and tape well.



5. Cut a inch wide spiral out of your grocery bag...6-10 feet long. Tape it to the bottom of the kite.


6.Flip kite onto it's back (flat side with skewer) and fold front flap back and forth until it stand up straight.
7. Punch hole in the front flap about a 1/3 of the way down from the top.



8.Tie one end of string to the hole and wind the other end onto the cardboard string winder.

For additional info on these kites or instructions for making them for a class/group, click here.

You're all set... hold the kite up for launching and run several yards with your child to get it going. We didn't even need a breezy day to get our kite up in the air...yippee!

Stop back over for a great weekend brunch idea! Pin It

16 comments:

  1. The best kites are the ones you make yourself.
    I will be trying your kite recipe soon. Thanks for sharing:) Love the blue kite paper and target red tail combo!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I never thought of making a kite. I love this idea and my little guy has been obsessed with them lately. He will be thrilled with this idea. Thanks

    http://www.organizingconnection.com/Read/TheOrganizingBlog/tabid/71/Default.aspx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shannah, I'm so pleased you noticed the blue paper with the target tail...it was my personal favorite.

    Nicole, this a great first kite to try.

    Have fun both of you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a super kite tutorial (and what a beautiful place to fly it). I always thought making a kite would be really difficult but it doesn't seems so at all....

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm definitely going to try this- my little girl is always trying to make kites and has a great time decorating them and is then so sad when they don't work. We WILL do this one!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Mayamade... I was thrilled to find you on the Crafty Crow - guess what we did this past weekend... we made a heap of kites just like yours!!!
    lots of love
    se7en - of course!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. We made these kites yesterday and they worked really well! Fun and pretty easy to make with all common household supplies and tools.

    We ran around the park with a few standard size, and one that we made by taping 4 papers together - 17 x 22", and using 2 skewers and overlapping them.

    We especially loved the swirly plastic bag tails!

    Thanks! from Marcy in VT

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a great kite tutorial! I've included it on my website today along with some other DIY kites. I'm sure it will be a hit! Thanks so much for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  9. hello, I've just found this and its fab, going to take it camping... just a quick question how do you cut the bag to make the tail ? thanks

    ReplyDelete
  10. This is perfect! My son was just asking about buying a kite and I said we'd make one this weekend. Thanks Maya. I've bookmarked your blog and will definitely return. :D It makes me happy!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Easy and fun. My boys (2 and 4) loved them.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Okay, I think you got me kind of excited to do this! :) It reminded me of WHAT I FORGOT to stick in my preschooler's Easter Basket (oops!)

    Anyhow - I'm going to feature this post in a round up of ways to get kids moving on Friday - please come by to check out the rest of the features!

    Jamie @ hands on : as we grow

    ReplyDelete
  13. Fun post! I just ran across it last week and decided to make kites with my daughter and her friend after our lunch date.

    The best part was watching these two three-year olds drag-slash-fly them through the park afterward. :) Thanks again...

    ReplyDelete
  14. Made these today with neighbor kids. Excellent fun!

    ReplyDelete