Making Mobiles

My husband and I were looking around for a mobile to hang for our infant son and was blown away at the prices on some of those things.  We were kind of kidding at first when we said, "I could make that" but the reality was we actually could. 

I'd been a Parent Educator for the past four years and one of the activities that I did with my parents was teaching them how to make a mobile.  Unfortunately, most of my clients didn't really put a lot of effort into the project and the mobiles came out looking like second grade art class projects.  I guess that's why the idea of making a homemade mobile didn't really appeal to me at first.

After considering the prices of the mobiles that I liked for about, oohhhh...10 minutes...I decided that it would be well worth the effort to make my own.  The mobile I really liked was this BEAUTIFUL butterfly mobile on one of my favorite Montessori sites Michael Olaf.com, you can go here to see it.  I was feeling optimistic so I decided to give it a try.  Of course it wouldn't look anything like that one, but it would have floating butterflies...that was the goal anyway:)

Here's how to make one!

You will need:

~4 sheets of heavy cardstock (color doesn't matter)
~4 Butterfly coloring sheets (check out thebutterflysite.com http://www.thebutterflysite.com/butterfly-coloring-pages.shtml)
~2 6" dowels or tongue depressors
~String or yarn
~Scissors
~Glue stick
~Colored pencils
~Rubberband

Here's what to do:

I enjoy using colored pencils because it's easier when coloring in small, intricate places, such as the little circles on a butterfly.  I choose 2 big butterflies and 2 small butterflies to give the mobile balance.  Print out your butterflies on the cardstock.  Color in your butterflies, bright, vivid colors are best.  Cut them out, be really careful around the antennas.  After you have all four of your butterflies colored in you can take them to have the laminated for long-term use (this step is optional).  Cut a thin strip of cardstock about 1cm wide and then cut that strip into (4) 1 1/2" long pieces (these will be the handles on the back of the butterflies).  Buckle the cardstock strips in the middle and rub the ends across your gluestick, then place it onto the back of the butterfly...make sure only the ends are glued and the middle of the strip stand up off the butterfly itself.  While that dries, go ahead and take your 2 dowels or tongue depressors and put them together creating a cross or an X.  Take the rubberband and tie it around the middle of the two sticks to hold them together.  Next take your string or yarn and cut four pieces at two different lenghts, for example 2 4" strings and 2 6" strings.  Next, either tie it around or glue it to the four ends of the sticks (I prefer gluing).  Now you will need to tie the other end of each string to a butterfly...please be careful not to pull of the little handles that you've made.  All you need now is a long piece of string to hang the mobile from wherever you want in the house.  You're Done!

Mobile can be used for all different ages of children, hang them as decoration in there rooms or in our case, or homeschool classroom.  Children love looking at mobiles!  For the infant, it's a great source of visual stimulation and tracking activity.  Have Fun!

PS. I'll be putting up some pics of ours soon...my computer is acting up:)