How to Make a Paper Mache Chinese Kite

Many Chinese kites have bird themes.

China has a long history of kites dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Many of the kites are crafted with meticulous detail and intricately painted with a bright color palette. Chinese kites are made with paper or silk bound to bamboo spar frames. Common imagery that is used are animals or themes from Chinese mythology. Due to the diversity of Chinese kites and the simplicity of the materials, a kite can be made at home from accessible materials like paper mache.

Things You'll Need

• Bamboo spars
• Ribbon
• Flour
• White glue
• Newspaper
• Tempera paint
• Sponge brush

Instructions

1. Lay the bamboo spars out in a triangular pattern. When the two points meet overlap them so they cross and make an X shape. Do this for all three sides.

2. Wrap the ribbon around the crossed points in an X-shaped pattern five times to secure the ends together and tie a knot. Repeat for the other points.

3. Grab a large bowl and mix the flour and white glue. It should remain runny and not turn into a thick paste.

4. Glue seven strips of 3-foot ribbon to the base of the triangle.

5. Cut the newspaper into two inch strips. Coat each strip in the glue mix and cover the bamboo frame until the kite is a flat, solid triangle. Allow it to dry.

6. Paint the triangle base using traditional common Chinese kite themes, birds, dragons, dragonflies, and goldfish.

Tips & Warnings

• Glitter, beads, feathers, and many other light weight art materials can be used to decorate the kite.

References

• The Kiteflyer Issue 92: Introduction
• Chinakites: History of Chinese Kites