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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Cut off more than 12 inches of dental floss.

Tie a slip knot in one end.

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.

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.

Take a few cotton swabs out of the box.

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

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.

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!