Springtime Kite

Materials

• Tempera paint in four or more colors
• Shallow bowl for each color of paint
• Thick string
• Scissors
• 9" x 12" white or pastel-colored construction paper
• Brown wood-grain craft foam or brown construction paper
• Yarn in pastel colors
• White glue
• Scraps of craft foam sheets of various colors

Instructions

1. Mix paint to a thin consistency and pour into separate bowls or flat cup containers.

2. Cut string into 16" lengths. Put one string into each color of paint. Allow about 3" of string to extend beyond the bowl to hold onto.

3. Choose one color of string and place it on a sheet of paper in a wiggly fashion. Fold the paper in half over the string.

4. Press down lightly on the paper as a child pulls the string out, wiggling it side to side as he pulls. Press the paper together firmly.

5. Open the paper and repeat the process with another color of wet string. This will form an interesting duplicate design.

6. Cut narrow strips of wood-design craft foam or brown construction paper. (This step can be done ahead of time.)

7. Let the painted paper dry. Trace the kite shape (see illustration) on the painted paper and cut out.

8. Glue the brown strips on the kite. Cut a strip of yarn and glue it to the back of the kite.

9. Cut bow shapes out of craft foam scraps. Cut at least three bows per kite. Glue the bows to the yarn on the back of the kite.

10. If desired, glue a loop of yarn for hanging the kite on a hook or door handle.

11. This makes a colorful spring bulletin board.