The Mousetraps Get Domestic!

Trap had been bugging Mouse for weeks about going to the park and flying kites. Reno has the most-perfectly-windy-kite-flying-weather in springtime, and Trap had been itching to make a kite and try it out. As destiny would have it, Mouse called Trap up just the other day to tell her that her new issue of ReadyMade contained none other than – that’s right! – the best kite recipe ever. Not only is it simple, but utilizes recycled materials (old tablecloths!) and looks cool, too! The Mousetraps were so impressed with the final product that they want to invite everyone to make their own, then next Sunday (April 15) at Punk Rock Soccer (Plumas Park, 5pm), bring them to the park, and go fly a kite!

*For kite-making, we recommend The Go! Team’s Thunder Lightning Strike. If this cinematic album doesn’t get you revved for flying a kite, the Mousetraps think there is something wrong with you.

KITES!!

Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour

Supplies needed: Vinyl tablecloth with fabric backing (at least 50″ x 50″), 2 24″ thin, light wood dowels, packing tape, toothpick, kite string, pencil, measuring tape, scissors, pin

1. Prepare the table cloth by tearing off the fabric lining.
2. Place the vinyl on a level surface and cut out a 30″ x 24″ rectangle. Fold it in half, short end to short end, and cut out the kite shape, following Figure 1.
3. Unfold the kite, and with the patterned side down, place dowels so that they run straight between the top and bottom corners of the body. Secure the dowels by folding packing tape over the ends. For added reinforcement, stick two more pieces of tape approximately 1/4 and 3/4 of the way down the lengths of each dowel (see Figure 2).
4. Fold a piece of tape over each of the wing tips. For added protection against rips and tears, cut a toothpick or small stick and secure it to the outside edge of the wing under the tape.
5. Using the pin, poke a hole through the taped wing tips. This is where the bridle will attach.
6. Measure and cut two yards of kite string for the bridle. Thread one end of the string through a wing hole, make a small loop, and tie it off. Repeat with the other end on the other hole. Find the center of the string by holding the taut string directly over the body of the kite, and tie a small overhand loop at that spot.
7. For the tails, cut two long strips (approximately 50″ x 1″) of the tablecloth and tape them to the bottom corners of the kite.
8.Tie one end of your kite string to the loop in the bridle.
9. Go fly your kite!