How to Make a Paratrooper Toy Soldier

Making a Parachute

• 1

  Draw a 2-foot diameter circle on a piece of paper. Find and mark the center point of the circle.

• 2

  Draw three evenly-spaced lines from one side of the circle to another to create six same-sized slices. Draw a line between the points where one line meets the circle and its neighboring line, so you form an evenly-spaced hexagon. Cut out this shape to make your template.

• 3

  Trace the template onto the plastic trash bag and cut it out.

• 4

  Mark 1-inch in from a corner of the plastic bag and cut a small hole in it. Place a paper reinforcer around the hole on the front and back. Repeat this process on the remaining five corners to make six reinforced holes.

• 5

  Cut an 18-inch piece of string, and tie it into place around the punched hole. Repeat this process with the remaining five holes.

• 6

  Tie the five strings onto the end of the snap swivel, at the non-clip end.

• 7

  Wrap the elastic band around the waist of your toy soldier.

• 8

  Clip the swivel onto the back of the elastic.

Packing the Chute

• 9

  Grip the parachute by the center point and lift the toy off the ground. Pull the parachute between a loop formed in your fingers to pack it.

• 10

  Fold the top 1-1/2-inch of the parachute down, then fold the next 1-1/2-inch section of the parachute. Repeat until you run out of parachute.

• 11

  Loosely wrap the parachute bundle in the string until it returns to the back of the paratrooper.

• 12

  Toss the paratrooper into the air and watch as the parachute unfurls and he lands safely on the ground.