How to Create Flip-Flops out of Newspaper

Make flip-flops out of newspaper for your next rainy day activity. Everyone loves flip-flops, and no child can resist wearing something he has created with his own two hands. Do this project with your child because of the complicated measurements and weaving technique. Wear these fancy flip-flops indoors or save them for a sunny day outside.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Newspaper or newsprint
• Yard stick
• Pen or pencil
• Scissors
• Duct tape

1. Cut several 1-inch-wide strips of the length of the paper from plain newsprint or from old newspapers. Use the comic section for bright and colorful flip flops. Use a straight-edge as a cutting guide so the strips are uniform.
2. Trace a pair of your shoes on blank pieces of paper. Use scissors to cut out the outline of your shoe.
3. Lay six strips of paper side by side on a flat surface. Take a new strip of paper and weave it through the six strips. Continue to weave strips of paper until you have a mat large enough for the base of your flip-flop.
4. Place one shoe tracing on top of the woven newspaper. Draw around the shoe shape with a pen or pencil. Outline the edges of the shoe tracing with tape. Cut out the shoe shape, leaving tape on the edges to hold the paper in place.
5. Trace the shoe shape 35 times onto more newspaper. Stack as many of the shoes as you can cut through on top of each other. Cut out all of the shoe tracings.
6. Cut five 3-inch strips of paper that are long enough to strap over your feet. Tape the strap to the bottom of the weaved paper. Lay the flip-flop on your work surface right-side down.
7. Tape 1-by-2-inch rectangles around the entire perimeter of the shoe bottom. Place the stack of 35 shoe tracings on top of the rectangles. Fold the rectangles over the shoe tracings, and tape them down to form the sole of the shoe. Repeat for the opposite shoe.