TIPsy Tuesday - Tetrahedral Kite

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It’s that time of the year again! Time to break out the sunblock, bubbles, and kites!!! You can make a fun kite at home with your kids with supplies you probably already have! Leslie and I had a blast at a kite festival in my neighborhood this past weekend and I made a fun kite for us to fly!

What you’ll need: scissor, 2 sheets of tissue paper, light string (I used baker’s twin, you could always use kite string), straws (that don’t bend), scotch tape, pencil, ruler, scratch paper

Put a long piece of string through three straws and knot together making a triangle, leaving excess string for later use. It is easy to get the string through the straws by sucking it through (I wouldn’t let the kids do this part) I left part of the string still attached to the roll of string before I cut it, this way I didn’t have to knot another piece of string onto one of the corners.

With the long piece of string left over, put two more straws on it forming two triangles attached to each other with one straw as the base in the middle.

Place a long piece of string through one straw and then attach to the tops of each triangle forming a pyramid shape.

Now you’re going to want to make a template on your scratch piece of paper that measures like this:

Next, fold a piece of tissue paper in half long ways (like a hot dog bun) and then fold 2 more times - right side in and then left side on top of that, like so:

The folded ends should be closest to you. Place your template on top of the tissue paper and trace it. Cut the template out.

When you open the tissue paper you will have three shapes. You’ll want to cut them apart from each other.

When you open one of your patterns you’ll want to lay one of your pyramids on one half and then fold the excess pieces over the straws and tape down.

You’ll want to tape down on four sides of your pyramid to make each piece look like this:

*You’re going to want to make 4 of these for a smaller kite and 10 for a larger kite.*

Now you will want to connect three pieces of your kite for the base of the kite (6 if you are making the larger one). Use the excess pieces of string on each corner to attach them together.

After you’ve attached the three on the bottom you will add the fourth piece on top. (For the larger kite you will put 3 on top of your base and then the last one on top).

The last thing you’ll have to do is take a piece of string and knot it at the point of your kite and attach it to bottom of that same piece (easier said with the picture that follows). This piece is important because it is where you will attach your kite string to fly your kite.

Now go and enjoy the beautiful Spring outdoors with family and friends while flying your kite!

Flying the small kite!

Flying the larger version

Have fun!
xoxo

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TIPsy Tuesday: Pinwheels!

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Pinwheels!  Leslie and I love them!  Being that Spring is right around the corner and because they hold a special piece of my Neverland Nook heart, I'm sharing a double dose pinwheel tutorial today!  This will be fun for you and your kids!  Let's begin with the basic pinwheel:

What you'll need:
~ 2 sheets of pretty paper (or a double sided piece of paper - which would save you time)
~ dowel rod
~ scissor
~ pencil
~ ruler
~ hot glue gun
~ glue stick
~ thumbtack
~ bead
~ some water
~ button

I soaked the end of the dowel rod in water while I made the pinwheel, this helps the wood from splitting when pinning the thumbtack into the dowel rod.

First you'll want to measure out 5" x 5" squares on the back of decorative paper and then cut the squares out.

Once the squares are cut out, use your glue stick to glue them together.

Fold the square forming triangles to make an "X" on the square.

Cut along the folded lines, but stop when you are about a half an inch from the center on each line.

Now is a good time to make the hole in your dowel rod that has been soaking in water.  I used a push pin because it was easier to make the hole then the thumbtack was for me.

Use your thumbtack and push it into the right corner of each triangle.  You can do the left if you'd like, just be sure to always use the same corner of each triangle as you go around.

Place a bead on the thumbtack behind the pinwheel before pushing it into the hole you made in the dowel rod.  I find that the bead allows a little more space and for a better spin.

Lastly, I hot glue a cute button on the face of the thumbtack to make the pinwheel even more whimsical!

Ta Da!!!  Fun Pinwheels!

Now for the second dose!  Make an adorable Spring time wreath for your house!

What you'll need: 12 pinwheels you already know how to make, 12 buttons, pins, 12" Styrofoam wreath, strip of ribbon, and a glue gun

Simply push all 12 of your pinwheels into the Styrofoam ring using pushpins as the center of each pinwheel.

Hot glue buttons in the center of each pinwheel.

Lastly (which I probably should have done first), make a loop with the ribbon and attach it to the back of the wreath using a pushpin.

Now you have a beautiful, airy Spring time wreath!

Hope you have as much fun as I have making these!

xoxo