What better way to escape a summer heat wave than to sail away with your very own crew of nieces and nephews. Milk carton sailboats are the perfect craft to keep them cool and calcium-rich!

What you'll need:

- An empty milk carton
- Scissors & a utility knife
- Waterproof tape & masking tap
- Construction or craft paper
- Bamboo skewers or straws
- String & a ruler
- Markers & glue
- Hole puncher
- Card stock or vellum paper


What to do:

1. Using a ruler, draw a line horizontally through the middle of your milk carton, while it lies sideways on a table.

2. Cut the carton along this line, effectively cutting your carton in half and creating an even boat hull.

3. Wrap the exterior of the carton in masking tape, while leaving the carton cut-side up on the table. Make sure to tape all the way around the carton several times, covering the entire carton in tape.

4. Use the card stock or vellum paper to create your sails. Cut out two right triangles (1 small &1 large), and color/decorate the sails with your nieces and nephews as desired. Then cut small slits at the top and bottom of each sail.

5. Create a small hole in the bottom, mid-section of the boat to stand your bamboo skewer or straw in an upright position, perpendicular to the boat. Once positioned, tape the skewer or straw in place.

6. Thread the skewer or straw through the large sail.

7. Punch a small hole at the front of the boat. Tie one end of a string of yarn to the top of the skewer or straw, then thread it through the slits in the small sail. Pull the string through the front hole, and tie a knot to keep it tight.

8. Enjoy sailing through the seven seas with your nieces and nephews from the safety of your kitchen sink or bath tub!

Published: June 1, 2011