How to Make Old-Fashioned Slingshot

Find a Y-shaped branch. Look for a branch that is no longer green inside--one that has fallen to the ground and has dried out. A stick that is still green will bend when you pull back on the rubber band. The branch should measure 8 to 10 inches from its bottom to the top of the Y. Cut a larger branch down to 10 inches.

Make one cut through each rubber band with your scissors, leaving you with two flat pieces of rubber.

Make two holes in the leather. Use the pocket knife to make a hole in the middle of the short side of the leather. Do the same thing on the other short side. The holes should be large enough for the rubber bands to fit into.

Attach the leather to the rubber bands. Take an opened rubber band and place one end into a hole in the leather. Push the rubber through far enough to let you tie a knot. Use a double knot to tie the rubber around the leather. Repeat with the other rubber band in the other hole in the leather.

Attach the rubber to the stick. Hold either side of the forked part of the stick in your hand. Place one end of the rubber on top of it. The other end of the rubber should be hanging down near the handle. Begin to wrap the string around the rubber and the branch. Leave a 2-inch tail of string hanging down outside the wrapping. Wrap the string around the rubber and stick at least 15 times. Pull tightly so that the rubber cannot slip out from under the string. Cut the string and tie the end to the 2-inch tail. Do the same thing for the opposite end of the rubber.

Test the slingshot. Pull back on the leather piece on the slingshot. Check to see if the rubber is slipping under the string. If it does not slip, the slingshot is finished.