We're jumping on board with the trend for all things geometric with this project -a clean and contemporary paper mobile. You can choose your favourite colours and shapes, making it a perfect piece to hang in any room, whether it's a nursery, a living room or an office needing a pop of colour.
YOU WILL NEED
- Templates (Template 1, Template 2, Star Template 1, Star Template 2)
- Tracing paper
- Pencil
- Masking tape
- Colored paper or thin card stock (card)
- Scissors
- Knife or similar, for scoring
- Ruler
- Florist’s wire cut into (7 in.) 18 cm lengths
- Small bullnose pliers
- Needle
- Craft glue
- Length of 1⁄4 in. (6 mm) doweling measuring 12 in. (30 cm)
- String or thread, for hanging
1. Trace out a shape from the templates. Lay the template on the back of a piece of colored paper or card stock (card) and secure with masking tape. Go over the lines using a sharp pencil, making sure to mark the folds with dotted lines, as shown on the template.
2. Cut out the shape. Using the template as a guide, score along the dotted lines using a ruler and the blunt edge of a knife.
3. Fold all the lines and glue flaps and you will be able to see the shape coming together. Place some glue along the outside edge of the glue flaps and stick them down to the inside of each corresponding edge to form the shape. Repeat this with the other template and make up several shapes in different colors.
4. Use a needle to pierce holes at the top and bottom of one of the shapes. Thread one end of a length of wire though the two holes. Use pliers to bend and twist the wire to secure.
5. Make similar holes in the next shape and thread with the opposite end of the wire used in Step 4. Secure in the same way. You want to leave about 1¼ in. (3 cm) between each shape. Trim off any spare bits of wire.
6. To secure a length of wire to a shape with a flat base, fold one end of the wire a couple times to make a T-shape. Make a hole in the center of the flat base. It will need to be slightly bigger than the ones you made in Step 4. Gently push the T-shape into the hole—you will need to bend it in line with the wire you are pushing in. Once in, gently jiggle the wire about a bit. It shouldn’t come back through the hole.
7. Follow Steps 4 to 6 to make three strands of different shapes. When you come to the last shape on each strand, leave the final length of wire long.
8. Wind the top wire of each strand around the piece of doweling, placing one strand at the center and one at each end.
9. Tie a length of thread or string to either end of the doweling, for hanging.
This project was taken From Mobile Art by Clare Youngs.