How to Make a Kite by Folding Paper

The windy days of spring are perfect for flying kites. This is a great craft for using recycled items such as used computer paper and newspapers. Gather all your supplies and enjoy an afternoon of kite making with your kids. A few simple folds are all that are needed to make this high-flying kite and enjoy hours of fun.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 8½ -by-11-inch piece of computer paper Clear nylon thread Spool of string Hole punch Hole reinforcement stickers Newspaper or crepe paper streamers

1. Fold an 8½ -by-11-inch piece of paper in half lengthwise, bringing the short sides together; crease. Open the paper out.

2. Fold the left edge of the paper so it meets the middle crease; crease. Fold the right side of the paper to the middle crease; crease.

3. Fold the left flap edge back so it meets the left outside crease; crease. Fold the right flap edge back so it is even with the right outside crease; crease.

4. Measure down the middle of the left flap 2 inches from the top edge paper; place a pencil mark. Measure down the middle of the right flap 2 inches from the top edge of the paper; place a pencil mark. Hole punch over each mark through the top flap only. Place a hole reinforcement sticker on the front and back side of each hole.

5. Cut an 18-inch piece of clear nylon thread. Tie one end of the thread through each hole; the string will form a "V" shape. Make a loop in the end of the thread by holding about 2 inches of the bottom thread, wrapping once around your two middle fingers and pulling the loop through the thread on your fingers. Knot to secure.

6. Tie the loose end of your string onto the loop you made in Step 5. Cut a 2-foot-by-2-inch strip of newspaper or crepe paper streamer; tape to the end of the kite. Decorate your kite if you wish with markers, glitter or stickers.

Resources

• More kite plans