A Star-spangled Ride

Total Time Needed:: Afternoon Or Evening

Want a bike that'll stop traffic? First, splatter-paint some stars and add them to your bars -- handlebars, that is -- and to a safety-flag pole. Spiff up your wheels with straws and garlands, then hit the road! (Our decked-out bike should be ridden at a parade pace, not at high speeds.)

Materials

STREAMER CASCADES:
Scissors
Metallic curling ribbon
Craft glue
Splatter Stars
Tape
Safety-flag pole

BELL JINGLERS:
Bells
Pipe cleaners
SPOKE DECORATIONS:
Star garlands
Scissors
Straws

Instructions

STREAMER CASCADES: Cut and curl ten 2- to 3-foot lengths of metallic curling ribbon. Stack the ribbons and knot them at one end. Using craft glue, sandwich the free ends of several ribbons between splatter-painted stars. Tape the cascade to the top of a safety-flag pole (remove the flag first), then secure the pole to the bike. Tape more curled ribbon to the handlebar ends.
BELL JINGLERS: Slide three to five bells onto a pipe cleaner and fit it to your child's handlebars, wrist, or ankle.
SPOKE DECORATIONS: Weave star garlands into one wheel's spokes and secure the ends, being sure to stay clear of brakes and gears. With scissors, snip along the length of some straws, then snap them into place on the other wheel. To make noise as you ride, cut some straws to half the spokes' length. They'll clack as they slide on the turning wheel.