How to make a newspaper kite
(Photos by Thomas Wells)
Want to make your own kite for Saturday’s event? Here’s what you need to do:

STEP 1: To make a kite out of a newspaper, you’ll need scissors, a tape measure, string, glue, two wooden sticks – and a copy of the Daily Journal.

STEP 2: First, place the sticks on two open pages of newspaper. The vertical stick should end about 1 inch short of the edge of the paper, and the cross support can be whatever length you want it to be.

STEP 3: Cut the wooden sticks to the desired lengths using scissors. 

STEP 4: Use the string to secure the two wooden sticks into a cross so they will become the backbone of the kite.    

STEP 5: Tie and wrap string around the tips of the wooden stick so that when completed it will look like a diamond. The string will give the cross added strength and allow you to secure the paper to the frame.

STEP 6: When you’ve finished tying the string, lay your completed frame back on the newspaper so you can cut out the newspaper to fit the frame.  

STEP 7: Begin cutting the newspaper around the frame. Be sure to leave yourself at least 2 to 3 inches of newspaper outside the frame; you’ll need that to fold over the string frame.

STEP 8: The cut paper should be an oversized version of the frame you built.

STEP 9: Cut notches around the tips of the wooden sticks so you can fold the paper around and behind them.

STEP 10: Apply a bead of glue along the outside flap of newspaper.

STEP 11: Fold the flaps where you’ve applied the glue and secure it over the string.

STEP 12: Continue the process around the kite.    

STEP 13: Once all the flaps have been glued down, turn the kite over and tie more strings to the ends of the wooden sticks to form another cross.

STEP 14: Finally, tie your flying string – often a ball of string – to the string cross and you’re ready to fly.