Nur’s Nook: Uplift with Crafts—Make and Fly Cool Kites
“May this boundless love so fill your hearts and minds that sadness may find no room to enter and may you with joyful hearts soar like birds into the Divine Radiance.” —‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Arts and crafts are the BEST—especially when I create them with my family! From making great games to drawing cool comics, our projects give us lots of laughs and super memories.
My family finds it easier to create and have fun together when we turn off our TV and other tech devices. We love to combine our talents and learn from each other’s brilliant skills. If a project takes a nosedive, we use consultation to get it back off the ground.
One project that my whole family enjoys is making kites that really soar. On windy days, we have contests in the park to see who can fly their kite the highest or keep it in flight the longest. Ask your family to do this playful craft, too. Explore how to uplift your kites and your spirits!
You’ll Need:
Six firm drinking straws, clear tape, 11" (28 cm) square sheet of wrapping paper, scissors, ball of string, ruler, crepe paper streamers, markers, optional: paint pens
Step 1: Cut off any bendable portions of straws. Link two straws by pinching end of one straw and fitting it inside end of another. Reinforce with tape. Repeat and trim, if needed, to make a 15" (38.1 cm) straight stick.
Step 2: Repeat Step 1 to make second stick.
Step 3: Center two sticks in a plus-sign shape on wrapping paper, so each stick end touches one of kite’s corners. Secure sticks with tape, about ½" (1.3 cm) from straws’ ends.
Step 4: For bridle, knot end of a piece of 20" (51 cm) string around the center of both sticks.
Step 5: Knot other end of bridle’s string around stick’s end at top of kite, so about 12" (30.5 cm) of string hangs loose between knots. With tape, center and secure only top knot portion of bridle to stick.
Step 6: For flying line, knot end of ball of string to center of bridle string.
Step 7: Pinch and tape end of a 2" x 20" (5.1 x 51 cm) strip of crepe paper to each side tip of kite, and a 2" x 30" (5.1 x 76.2 cm) strip to bottom tip of kite.
Step 8: With markers or paint pens, add virtues that most help you and your family soar.
Kite-flying tips:
- Fly kite in medium wind on dry days in an open area.
- Hold string near bridle so kite hangs upright.
- Make sure flying line is centered on bridle.
For a printable version, download a PDF.
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