www.craftsforkids.com

Hands on Crafts For Kids is the resource for kids craft projects and instructions for kids 6-12 and parents, teachers and other group leaders. It includes school and curriculum based projects,  multi cultural projects, and every day, holiday and seasonal ideas.

It is  the online home of the public television program Hands On Crafts for Kids.

Age Range: 7 to 12

Grade Range: 2 to 6

Skill Level: Moderate

Appropriate for These Special Events:
Every Day and Rainy Days

Supports Subject Area(s) of:
Social Studies
Language Arts – e.g. step by step instructions
Mathematics - measuring
Visual Arts

Time needed for project:
2 hours plus drying time

Japanese Koi Kites
By Candie Cooper

Materials needed:
Sakura® of America Cray-Pas® oil pastels
Sakura® of America Pentouch® pen - gold
Elmer’s® Craft Bond® Tacky Glue
Canson® watercolor paper (Blank koi fish kite)
2 Spray bottles
Rit® liquid dye
Crepe paper
String

*TIP:  No worries if you don’t have a blank koi fish kite.  Simply cut watercolor paper into a carp silhouette.

Directions:

1. Decorate your fish with scales with the Cray-Pas oil pastels.  Add rings around the eyes in multiple colors.  Make sure the colors are nice and solid.

2. Protect your work surface with plastic.

3. Mist the blank fish with water.

4. Mix a tablespoon of dye to 1 cup of water in the spray bottle.  Test the effect on a blank paper.  Adjust to your liking by adding more dye or water.

5. Mist the fish with the dye and leave to dry.  If you get too much dye, blot with a paper towel.

6. Add extra detail around the eye and scales with the large gold Pentouch pen.

7. Cut five pieces of crepe paper 18 inches long.  Fold each piece in half.

8. Glue the pieces of crepe paper inside the tail.

9. Punch two holes at the top of the fish and thread a piece of string through.  Tie the ends in an overhead knot.  This fish is ready to fly!

Koi fish kite available from school catalog company, eNASCO.com.
For more information visit www.candiecooper.com