This fun DIY paper mobile can be done with the help of your kids. If they’re old enough to use scissors or know how to glue things together, there’s a lot they can do to help. My Summer is still too young to do those things properly but I let her paint the paper I used to make the trinkets for the mobile. Here’s how it’s done:
1 Paint sheets of white paper or manila paper using classic red and green Christmas colors. One to two pieces of letter size paper will do for one mobile. But you can make as many as you like. There are no rules. Just have fun painting!
2 After the paint dries, you can start making what Kayo calls ”paper onions.” I got the idea from Pinterest and just made it a little different. Check out the tutorial here. You can also mix in other types of paper. I used some construction paper and old book pages for mine.
3 Cut other shapes, like circles and squares, in small sizes. I used some black paper for this and just doodled on them using silver and gold paint pens (my fav combo! ).
4 String them up! Punch little holes on the ends of your paper trinkets and string them up with a ribbon. I used a very thin gold cord, which worked nicely. Make three or more sets, depending in the size you want your mobile to be. The more hangings, the bigger the mobile. In what order the paper trinkets should be strung together is totally up to you.
5 This is completely optional, but I wanted our mobile to say something fun, so using a silver paint pen, I wrote “Oh What Fun” on black colored paper. When you do this, make two sets so that you can stick them back to back and whichever way the mobile turns, you read the words.
6 Cut a round piece of cardboard, preferably something hard and sturdy. Make it approximately the size of a plate. This will be where you’ll hang your trinkets from. Punch small holes through it, making sure they’re in equal distances from each other.
7 Insert the ends of your stringed trinkets into the holes and tie knots to secure.
8 Insert and secure another piece of string or ribbon, about a foot and a half long, through the round cardboard, but this time from the other side. This will be the string you’ll use to hang your mobile from the ceiling.
I hung our paper mobile in the middle of our living area and it really makes our house look festive! Summer and Emma love it, specially when it gets blown and turns. You can even make this mobile as decor for your next Christmas party. Perfect to hang just above the food table!
Hope you enjoyed this simple tutorial. Feel free to improvise and make yours unique. Have a very merry crafty Christmas!
Check out the other projects in our 12 Crafts for Christmas:
No 12: Paper Crafts on Wreath
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