A Tissue Paper Hot Air Balloon

By Fred Ohlerking
Published on March 1, 1981
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Children launching the tissue paper hot air balloon.
Children launching the tissue paper hot air balloon.
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[1] Lay two sheets of tissue on top of each other, fold them in half, and cut along the fold.
[1] Lay two sheets of tissue on top of each other, fold them in half, and cut along the fold.
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[2] Put the four halves in a stack and fold them in half twice.
[2] Put the four halves in a stack and fold them in half twice.
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[3] Open the second fold and make a crease at an angle.
[3] Open the second fold and make a crease at an angle.
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[4] Cut along the line you've created. When you unfold them, the four pieces should look like the trapezoid picture here.
[4] Cut along the line you've created. When you unfold them, the four pieces should look like the trapezoid picture here.
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[5] Glue each trapezoid to a whole sheet of tissue paper. Use the glue sparingly.
[5] Glue each trapezoid to a whole sheet of tissue paper. Use the glue sparingly.
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[6] The assembled panels will form the four sides of the balloon. Join them with glue at the edges.
[6] The assembled panels will form the four sides of the balloon. Join them with glue at the edges.
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[8] Create a square top piece. Fold a full sheet of tissue paper diagonally as shown and cut off the bottom rectangle.
[8] Create a square top piece. Fold a full sheet of tissue paper diagonally as shown and cut off the bottom rectangle.
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[7] Properly assembled, at this stage the balloon looks like a pointed sack.
[7] Properly assembled, at this stage the balloon looks like a pointed sack.
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[9] Glue the top piece to the large end of the
[9] Glue the top piece to the large end of the "pointed sack." You might need a "third hand" to help with this step.
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The completed heater column looks like this.
The completed heater column looks like this.
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[11] Tape it to the pointed end of the balloon.
[11] Tape it to the pointed end of the balloon.
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[10] Bend your wire into a circle.
[10] Bend your wire into a circle.

Just about everybody feels the urge to “take off” once the
weather warms up … and, even if springtime chores are
keeping you tied to the homestead or back yard, you can
still make an escape (although only for a
little vicarious adventure). Using just a few household

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