Creating an Exotic Bird from a Simple Diamond Kite

• 1). Purchase a simple diamond-shaped kite at a craft or hobby store.
  
  
• 2). Find an image of a bird in flight to use as inspiration while you add detail to your kite.
  
  
• 3). Paint the surface of the kite with acrylic craft paint (available at craft and art supply stores) to look like the back of a bird. Paint eyes and patterns for feathers. Your design can be very realistic or abstract, graphic and geometric. You are limited only by your imagination! Allow the paint to dry thoroughly before continuing.
  
  
• 4). Use a clear acrylic spray coating (also available at craft stores) and coat the kite several times lightly to give it a scratch- and water-resistant surface.
  
  
• 5). Cut strips of surveyor's ribbon tape into three- and four-foot lengths. Surveyor's tape is found at building supply and hardware stores and comes in a variety of colors.
  
  
• 6
  A kite with a flowing tail catches the eye.Aquilone image by Eagle from Fotolia.com
  
  Attach a cluster of the four-foot surveyor's ribbon strips to the bottom point of the kite by wrapping it with pieces of duct tape. This is the long, flowing tail of your bird.
  
  
• 7). Attach clusters of several of the three-foot surveyor's tape ribbons to the points on each side of the kite to create exotic wings. It is important to keep the sides symmetrical (the same amount of ribbons for each) to keep the kite balanced as it flies.
  
  
• 8). Tape more pieces of ribbon along the length of kite string leading from the center of the kite to add variation to your bird design.
  
  
• 9
  Don't be afraid to experiment with lengths of tails and wings.kite image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
  
  Add strips of lightweight nylon fabric to the tail and wings for more variety. Give the strips a wavy edge as you cut for a different texture. Experiment with tying strips of different colors together to create a truly exotic tail and wings.