It’s been a long wait here in Halifax but now that spring is finally here, everyone is heading to the park to fly shiny new kites.

I spent the past several months in search of the perfect kite for my daughter, without any luck. Though I am not the craftiest person, I decided to take matters into my own hands and create a homemade kite out of materials we have around the house. Luckily, I was not the first person with this idea and I came upon many useful tips and tricks about kite making online.

I found my inspiration from MyBestKite.com but I simplified the process as shown below.

The whole kite making experience from start to finish (including decorating) took less than an hour.

Supplies

• Recycled bag (we chose a clear one so we could decorate it)
• Bamboo skewers with the tips cut off x 2
• Markers for colouring
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Clear tape
• Wood glue
• Large bag for kite tail
• Floss for kite string

Instructions

Step one

Use the template to trace and cut out the kite sail from the recycled plastic bag. Make sure to measure accurately before cutting. This pattern works perfectly for the 30 cm bamboo skewers.

Step two

Decorate! Let your kids decorate with markers.

Step three

With your scissors, carve a notch out of the bamboo skewers where they will connect. Secure the skewers at each corner of the sail with a small piece of clear plastic tape to hold them in place. Use wood glue to secure the skewers where they connect. Leave the kite to dry overnight.

Step four

Cut strips of recycled plastic bags to create a long tail for the kite (150 cms). Tie the tail to the bottom of the skewer.

Step five

Cut a small hole in the kite just below the cross point of the skewers and attach your line. We used floss wrapped around a toilet paper roll.

Step six

Go fly a kite!

I should note that this kite is designed for light wind. If you are looking for a more serious kite flying experience, check your local Used.ca site where you can find anything from this kiteboarding kite with a wingspan of eight metres to a small Winnie the Poo children’s kite.

We love to hear of your adventures in kite flying and kite making. May you have many windy (but not too windy) days ahead!