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How to Make Compact Paper Projectiles

Paper dart blowguns are a fun toy for active children to play with outside. These darts are simple to roll, and each require only a scrap of paper. Use 2 to 3 feet of rigid plastic electrical conduit with a 1/4 to 1/2-inch diameter as a blowpipe to launch them at trees, targets or empty cans set up on a fence. Do not aim the blowgun at another person's head because the darts can be sharp enough to damage eyes or sensitive skin.

Things You'll Need

Paper

Instructions

- 1
  Tear or cut a strip of paper 1 to 2 inches wide and 6 to 8 inches long.
- 2
  Hold the strip vertically with the narrow ends at the top and bottom. Pinch the upper right corner with the thumb and finger of your left hand, with the thumb against the back of the paper, and curl the upper right corner down around your index finger until the corner reaches the left edge of the paper about an inch below the top.
- 3
  Maintain your left hand's grip. Take the bottom of the paper strip with your right hand, and fold it up and over the angled right edge to form a loose cone. With your right hand, keep winding the strip around the cone.
- 4
  Gently pull your left hand and right hand apart to tighten the point of the cone. Your left thumb and finger should still be pinching the round hollow base of the cone, and your right hand should be pinching the excess paper near the point of the dart.
- 5
  Keep wrapping until the tip of the dart reaches the desired thickness and sharpness. Tear off any excess paper, leaving at least 1/2 inch attached. Lick the edge of the paper, and tightly wrap it to seal the tip.
- 6
  Trim the round base of the dart to the desired diameter by tearing off excess paper. The result should be a hollow paper cone a few inches long and about 1/4 to 1/2-inch in diameter at the base.

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