Bust boredom with these adorable mini paper kites!

Are your kids dying of boredom this summer like mine? I'm not ready to send my girls back to school yet, but I am in desperate need of some more things for them to do! Today, we made these adorable mini paper kites. They're quick and easy enough for your youngest crafters. Depending on age, the kids can make these kites as simple or as fancy as they'd like. Get ready for a fun and easy boredom buster!

RELATED: Tin-Can Stilts, Pet Rock Tic-Tac-Toe, 40+ Projects to Make with Your Kids

Mini Paper Kites Tutorial

That smile says it all. When I took Lu out to take pictures tonight, she said, "Mom! These are really fun!" (Just what I hoped to hear.) And, if you're wondering how hard it is to take pictures of a kite that's held by a fast runner, I'll tell you. It's nearly impossible!

I love this project because I had most of the stuff on hand already. I hope you do, too!

Materials:

• Coordinating craft paper (any 8.5 x 11" paper will work)
• Paper straws (2 per kite)
• String or twine for the kite string (at least 25-30" long)
• Light-weight string, twine or decorative ribbon for the tail of kite (at least 20" long)
• Decorative ribbon scraps
• Elmer's X-treme School Glue Stick (I love this because it's much stronger than the regular glue stick)
• All purpose glue (I used Elmer's X-treme School Glue)
• Glittler glue for decorating (optional)
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Ruler

Directions:

1. Choose two coordinating papers, and cut them both in half along the longest edge. (The size is now 5.5 x 8.5".)
2. Using a very strong glue stick, cover the back of one sheet with glue and place the other color on top. Smooth the page down, and make sure there are no bubbles.
3. Using a ruler, measure and mark a spot at the top and bottom of your paper at 2.75". Measure and mark the long edges at 3". Use a ruler to connect the four marks and draw lines to make the kite shape.
4. Cut out the kite.
5. Cut a length of twine or string, and tie one end to a paper straw about ⅔ of the way down. Cut the second straw into thirds to get three pieces. (They don't have to be exactly even. Just eyeball it.) Tie the other end of the twine to the middle of one of the paper straw pieces. This will be the kite handle.
6. Add a drop of glue onto the knot you tied on the handle so that the string won't slide off of the handle.
7. Place the side of the kite that you want to be the bottom (the side that will hold the paper straw frame) face up on the table. Using a ruler and a pencil, connect the corners to draw a cross. Squeeze a bead of craft glue along the cross.
8. Place the straws into the glue to form your kite frame, and allow the glue to dry for a few minutes. (Try to get the knot of the twine about even with the center of the cross before you press down the straw.)
9. Cut a 20" (or longer) piece of light-weight ribbon or string to make the kite tail. Thread it through the long straw, and add a bead of glue at the top of the straw to keep the string from falling out.
10. Tie a few decorative ribbons to the tail, and allow all glue to dry completely.
11. Optional--Decorate with glitter glue. (My kids loved that part! They gave their kites faces.)

Now, send the kids out to test the kites! Sure, the kites will fly higher on a windy day, but don't let no wind deter you. No wind just means that the kids get a lot more exercise running around! My daughters loved spinning and running around with their paper kites. Have fun!

Thank you to Elmer's for sponsoring this post. Elmer's provided the glue, but the idea and opinions are mine.

Thanks for stopping by today. Looking for more boredom busters? Check out some of these ideas by clicking on the images below.