How to Make a Mini Bow and Arrows

by craftknowitall

123K13325

Intro: How to Make a Mini Bow and Arrows

Saw this on Pintrest: http://almostunschoolers.blogspot.com/search/label/craft%20projects?updated-max=2010-11-27T14%3A36%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=20 (scroll down toward the bottom). To me it was a great idea for Cub Scouts, especially for Pack Meeting. My son, a new Cub Master, was looking for something “Indian” themed for his Pack Meeting, so we made these. They were a big success. Hope you have fun with them too.

STEP 1:

Supplies:
Craft sticks (popsicle sticks, one per bow, $2 for 24 or more)
Dental floss ($2 for a roll)
Cotton swabs (the kind with sticks make out of paper, $2 per 300)
Craft knife
Scissors
Cutting board

STEP 2:

Lay a craft stick on the cutting board. And with the craft knife, cut 2 1/16 to 1/8 inch slits side by side on one side near the end.

STEP 3:

Take the craft knife and clean out the little piece of wood between the slits. Repeat this until you have 2 slits across from each other and two clean slits on each end of the stick.

STEP 4:

Place the stick in a bowl of water. Let it soak for almost 1 hour. Soaking it in water will turn a ridged craft stick into a more flexible one.

STEP 5:

Cut off more than 12 inches of dental floss.

STEP 6:

Tie a slip knot in one end.

STEP 7:

Slide the slip knot over the end of the wet stick and slip into the two slits, wrap the floss around the end 3 times and tie a square knot.

STEP 8:

Gently bend the stick into a bow shape, tie the other end of the floss, around the other end of the stick, sitting in the slits. Again wrap it around 3 times and tie it tight into a square knot. Cut off the hanging off ends, and let dry. The bow is now done.

STEP 9:

Take a few cotton swabs out of the box.

STEP 10:

Using the scissors, cut one end off of the swab. You now have an arrow. Make as many as you would like.

STEP 11:

You know what the most amazing thing is about this bow and its arrows. They work. They fly straight and pretty far for how small they are.

STEP 12:

If you are doing this with kids, let the kids use crayons or markers to decorate the bow and the arrows, even if it is only writing their names on it. Enjoy!

21 Comments

Potatoface 5 years ago

For the arrows, I would put tape on the ends. They go a bit straighter and they are a bit heavier.

lisa.j.manske 6 years ago

Use a dremel tool rather than a craft knife.

lisa.j.manske 6 years ago

We used a dremel tool to make the slits in the craft sticks. When we tried using a utility knife, the craft sticks often split. The dremel tool was very fast and effective.

King_of_Creepers101 7 years ago

cool

solinmorales 8 years ago

good

JCR_10 9 years ago

Can i use my rubber bands?

craftknowitall 9 years ago

Sounds like an experiment to me. Try it and let me know the results. Thanks for asking.

Howto246 9 years ago

Cool

BLASTFEMI 9 years ago

These would make cute party favors! I love it!

paper kotik 10 years ago

Like))

NicMoffett 10 years ago

I'm going to put toothpicks in the arrows and take my dog hunting

craftknowitall 10 years ago

Try it, see if it works. It's called an experiment. Good luck.

Atlas Portal 2 10 years ago

I made the slits a lot bigger than they are supposed to be, will it still work?

sickdevotee63 10 years ago

and shoot it at my brother

sickdevotee63 10 years ago

I'm going to make it today after I make it I will lite the fuzzy part with fire

Master97865 11 years ago

Nice ible

bramblebee100 11 years ago

or maybe if you'r mad at someone, you can stick a toothpick or a needle then shoot at the people you're mad at.

craftknowitall 11 years ago

You comment told me you were a kid. In Cub Scouts when we make these we have a rule that you can't shoot at living creatures. That's with the Q-tips, let alone anything that would cause real damage. So, you will not use a toothpick or a needle to shoot someone. If you did, the consequences would be such that you would regret it for a very long time. Learn to think, "if I did (insert action), what would be the result?" Then think of all possible results. If if even one of the possible consequences is something you wouldn't want to live with, then "Don't do it!" I'm glad you like it.