How to Make a Simple Diamond Kite

Make a simple diamond kite with sticks and paper, then add paint for your own look.

Making a kite is project you can do with children that doesn't require a lot of money or supplies. A simple diamond kite is the iconic image most people have of a kite. The shape is not hard to form and with a few household supplies, your kite will be in the air in no time. Once you have formed two sticks and some paper for the base of the kite, customize the look with paint or markers.

Things You'll Need

• 24-inch straight wooden stick
• 20-inch straight wooden stick
• 26-inch by 26-inch piece of sturdy paper
• Knife
• Tape measure
• String (at least 75 feet long)
• Tape (duct tape, masking tape, or any other strong tape)

Instructions

1. Make a notch at the end of each stick, using a knife.

2. Mark the 24-inch stick with a pencil at 12 inches from the top. Mark the 20-inch stick at 10 inches from the top.

3. Place the 24-inch stick in a vertical line on the ground or table. Take the 20-inch stick and place it over the marks you have created, keeping the smaller stick is horizontal.

4. Wrap the string around the sticks where the two are joined in the center. Wrap the string in an "X" formation until you have a sturdy bond between both sticks. Tie the string, but don't cut it.

5. Pull the string up from the center of the stick and wrap it several times around the notches in the wood sticks. Continue around the rest of the sticks to complete the frame for your kite, then bring the string back to the top of the stick and run it to down to the bottom. Tie the string to the bottom, using tape, to reinforce the knot.

6. Lay down the piece of paper making sure that the corners face north, south, east, and west. The paper should be larger than the frame of the kite.

7. Fold the excess paper over the strings and tape down the paper so that a firm seal is formed.

8. Tie a knot in the center of your string so that the string runs from the top to the bottom of the kite. Don't cut the string because you will use this to hang on to your kite.

9. 

   Join several ribbons and make a knot at the top of them. Attach the ribbons to the bottom of the kite with tape.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also use a large plastic bag or a sheer piece of material to use in lieu of the paper. Glue can be substituted for the tape, but allow time for the glue to dry before you fly the kite.

• Cut away from your body when using the knife.

References

• Encyclopedia: Kite