Tools and Supplies

• Before starting construction of balloon-powered cars, make sure you have basic materials available. Masking tape, glue and duct tape are needed to attach pieces together. Use a box cutter, ice pick or small drill for creating holes for the axles. Cut shapes with scissors or a small saw. Paint, adhesive stickers and decals give the cars personalities.
  
  

The Body

• Your imagination dictates materials for the body of the cars. For cylindrical bodies, use empty sport drink bottles, one-liter soda bottles, potato-chip containers, hard plastic tubes, kazoos and water bottles. Restaurant take-out boxes, tissue boxes, shoe boxes, cracker boxes and cereal boxes work well to create carriages and tank bodies. For small and lightweight bodies use craft-sticks or several straws attached together.
  
  

The Wheels

• Round recyclable items make wheels. For small diameter wheels, use soda bottle caps and corks. Votive candles, thread spools and sport drink lids make medium wheels. For large wheels try coffee can lids, margarine tub lids, compact discs and jar lids. Cut wheels to any diameter from compressed foam and sand to smooth out the rough edges.
  
  

The Axles and Passengers

• Use straws, bamboo skewers, small-diameter wooden dowels, pencils and chenille sticks to make axles. Toothpicks make axles for mini-cars. Hold the wheels in place on the axles with clay, rubber bands and pencil grips. Add personality to your car by including passengers. Dolls, action figures and stuffed toys are choices for larger cars. Small plastic figures, animal shaped crackers and figures crafted from pipe cleaners grace the smaller cars.