Make a Kite

Kites are a cheap and easy way to while away an afternoon. You wouldn't believe how much enjoyment my children (and the grown ups!) get from watching a little square of plastic soar above the rooftops! There's a real sense of achievement from actually making the thing fly, but it's actually not that hard. The smaller and lighter the kite is, the easier it will fly, which is why I always buy really cheap kites. It also has the added advantage of not being the end of the world if they get lost or end up stuck in a tree. If you don't have access to a cheap purveyor of kites (such as Poundland) or need one in a hurry, it's pretty easy to make one. This is my husband's 'recipe', just in case you think I am the owner of those hairy hands!

 To make a kite all you need is a carrier bag, sellotape, scissors and drinking straws. Firstly, trim the handles from the carrier bag, and open the bag  out flat.

Next, trim two drinking straws and arrange in a crucifix shape on the opened carrier bag. Secure with a lot of sellotape! The string will need to be tied where the straws meet, but do that at the end, so you don't get tangled up.

 Draw a line from the end of the long straw to the end of the short one and do this all the way around, until you've formed a traditional diamond shape, then cut it out. This forms the basis of the kite. Next, cut out a 'fin' shape from the left over plastic and fix with more tape to the underside of the kite. This helps it stay the right way up when it's in the sky. You can add your own embellishments, such as patterns, or a tail, but this basic design does actually fly and it's fun to make too!