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Tools for a Smiling-Face Kite

During lazy summer afternoons, children and adults alike can have fun flying kites along a beach, a park or anywhere where there are few power lines. The simplicity of flying a kite catches the innocence of childhood and the joy of days gone by. With the proper tools, instead of purchasing a kite, making one at home with your family can help make the experience more enjoyable.

Balsa Wood
- Balsa wood is easy to cut, and it is light enough to help your kite float in the breeze. You will need two pieces of 24-inch long balsa wood measuring 1/3 of an inch in circumference. With these two pieces of wood, form a cross with one piece lying on top of another.
Twine and Fabric Glue
- Twine, like the type used to tie-up meat and poultry for cooking, will help to stablize your kite.
  
  Use the twine to secure the two pieces of balsa wood together where they intersect. You will need to cut about 10 inches of twine to wrap around the intersecting pieces in an overlapping, diagonal fashion, switching directions with each pass. By tying the wood in this fashion, you are making sure they are tight against each other and that the wood will not slip. Use the fabric glue to secure any loose ends.
Utility Knife
- When using a utility knife, cut away from your body so you do not accidentally cut yourself.
  
  Use the utility knife to create notches on both ends of each piece of balsa wood. You want these notches to be as wide as your twine so the twine will easily fit into them for security. Once the notches are complete, string the twine through the notches and create a perimeter for your kite material. Tie off the twine and cut the loose ends once you create a border.
  
  Cut a piece of twine measuring 12 to 20 inches in length and tie this piece to one of the bottom sections. This piece will serve as a tail.
Yellow Windbreaker Fabric and Scissors
- Windbreaker fabric is light, durable and stays afloat on a windy day. Using half a yard of windbreaker fabric, lay the kite frame on top, and cut out the shape of your kite using scissors, leaving a border of an inch of fabric around the frame. Fold this border over the string. With a thin bead of fabric glue, glue the border to the main portion of the fabric.
  
  With the remaining half-yard of fabric, cut four to five 1-inch wide by 2-inch long pieces. Tie each piece of fabric to the tail twine about an inch apart from each other.
Black Permanent Marker or Black Acrylic Paint
- With the marker or paint, draw a giant smiley face in the center of the front part of the kite. Give your face some personality by having it wink, sticking its tongue out or looking surprised. The black marker or paint pops on the sunny-yellow fabric.
More Twine
- Use the remaining roll of twine. Cut an 8-inch piece of twine and tie an end to the top of the vertical piece of balsa wood. With the remaining twine, tie an end to the bottom of the vertical piece of balsa wood, but do no cut the string. While still on the roll, create a 7-inch piece of twine so you can tie this piece to the top piece of twine. This will create the necessary security and create the bridle. Use the remaining twine to hold on to the kite as it goes higher into the sky.

Childrens Toys