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How to Make a Kite Using Recycled Things

A kite can be made using a purchased kit or from things that you have around the house. Making a kite with recycled things helps the environment and saves you money. The kite should be sturdy and light enough to fly. Take your creation to a park or the beach and impress others with your craftmaking ability.

Things You'll Need

Sail
Tail
String
Spars
Sail stencil
Newspaper
Duct tape

Instructions

- 1
  Use the newspaper to make the kite sail stencil. This will be the stencil that you will use to cut out the sail shape from the material that you choose to use. Use the example from Whimsical Walls website to determine how symmetrical the shape must be. The kite stencil should be 7 inches high from the bottom tip to the top tip and 8.5 inches wide from the left tip to the right tip.
- 2
  Use a plastic rain poncho or a trash bag for the sail. Shape the bag or poncho in the shape of a kite using the pre-made stencil from Step 1. Make sure that there are no rips or holes in the material. If you see any material tears, use duct tape to patch them.
- 3
  Make the spars from wooden dowels, wood sticks from tree branches or bamboo blinds. Cut the material to fit the top and sides of the kite sail. The spars are attached to the edge of the sail with duct tape. Attach one spar at the right tip to the left tip for the middle spar running horizontal across the kite and one from the top tip to the bottom tip for the spar running vertical on the kite.
- 4
  Make the string from yarn or fishing line. The string is tied to the center point where the horizontal and vertical spars meet in the middle of the kite. Tie the knot tight to prevent it from coming loose. Make sure that you use enough string so that you can let the kite fly high in the sky. About 100 to 200 yards of string is ideal. Wrap the remaining string around a wood branch or dowel with room on each side of the rolled up string to place your hands.
- 5
  Use a strip of an old bedsheet as the tail. The tail must be at least seven times the length of the sail. Attach the tail to the sail with duct tape.

Nature