Kai-lan's Ladybug Kite

What begins as a paper grocery bag becomes a ladybug kite. All it takes is paint, string, and of course, pretty ribbon.

Watch Kai-lan every day on Nick Jr.

Materials

• Large brown paper grocery bag
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Craft glue
• Masking tape or clear packing tape
• Red and black tempera paints
• 10-12 ft. of string
• Red and black ribbon for the tail
• Illustrated instructions page

Directions

1. Print out the illustrated instructions page

   For easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions with illustrations, print out the instructions page.

2. Steps 1-4: Cut and shape the bag

   1. Cut the bottom off the bag.<br><br> 2. Lay the bag flat. Draw a dot about one-third down the center of the bag. Mark an X through the dot. Cut along the X. You'll be left with two "wings." Keep discarded triangles for step #4.<br><br> 3. Turn the bag over. Fold the wings to the front and out.<br><br> 4. Using one of the discarded triangles from step #2, cut a large half circle for the ladybug head.

3. Step 5: Time to paint!

   Draw large circles on the main part of the bag. Paint the area around them and the wings red. Paint the circles and the ladybug head (from step #4) black. Let paint dry completely. Glue the head to the top of the bag.

4. Step 6-9: Attach flying string tail and tape wings together

   6. Cut a 2-foot piece of string for the tail and tie short ribbon pieces down the string. <br><br> 7. Put a piece of tape at the corner of each wing to strengthen it, then punch a hole through each. Cut two 1-foot pieces of string and attach to the punched holes. Cut a 6- to 8-foot piece of string and tie to the shorter strings to make a "v" shape. Knot the end of the long string to a stick or cardboard tube and wrap the string around it.<br><br> 8. Cut a vent at the bottom of the kite (in the center) and attach the tail.<br><br> 9. Tape the wings to the side of the bag <u>at the bottom only</u>.

5. Step 10 (Optional)

   Trim the corners to make rounded edges.