How to Make a Balloon-Powered Car With Decorations
- 1). Cut a 4 by 6 inch rectangle out of a sheet of heavy cardboard. Use a utility knife if the cardboard is too thick for scissors.
- 2). Paint the cardboard in the desired color for the finished car. Pick a color that complements the color of the balloon you are using. Alternately, glue a piece of colored paper to the cardboard. Apply stickers, glitter or draw further designs on the cardboard sheet as desired. The cardboard is the body of the car.
- 3). Paint four wooden spools black, as these are the wheels. Paint a design around the center hole of each spool to emulate hubcaps, if desired.
- 4). Tape two straws to the bottom of your cardboard rectangle to make the axles for the wheels. Place the straw 1 inch in from either end of the cardboard. Slide a spool onto each end of the straws then wrap the protruding ends of the straws with masking tape to hold the wheels on.
- 5). Blow up the balloon you are using to power the car. Hold it closed with one hand so the air doesn't escape and draw a picture on the balloon. When the balloon is inflated just prior to racing, your picture is visible. Let the air out of the balloon when you are done drawing.
- 6). Slide a straw into the opening of the balloon. Tape the balloon to the straw to seal it completely so air doesn't escape from the joint between balloon and straw.
- 7). Tape the straw to the top of your car, with the balloon near the front of the car. Blow the balloon up via the straw and set it on the ground. As the air is expelled from the balloon and through the straw, the car will race forward.
