DIY Mobile Kit

My daughter's bird mobile got all tangled up in the wind after a day of open windows recently and I had to throw it away! Boo! I've been on the lookout for another mobile to make but just don't have a ton of motivation to do the kind of work it took to fold 40 paper cranes like I did last time.


I just came across The Little Tiny Etsy shop and they sell kits to make your own. I love this idea!

This cupcake one is quite adorable. But I need a bird type one...

Still looking ...

*Martha

Hot Air Balloon Mobile

For my future son (due in two months!) I decided to make a hot air balloon mobile for his side of the nursery from the idea here.

I followed her tutorial for the most part but made a few variations of my own. I started with a template for the balloon. I did mine from card stock. Fold it in half and draw half the hot air balloon (like you'd do for Valentine hearts). No template here, just winging it. I drew it big and fat and basically cut it down 10 times using some Google images of real hot air balloons to get the shape right.

There are 6 sides to one balloon and I had enough paper to cut out 66 flat balloon shapes and piece them into 11 balloons.

I mixed and matched with patterned paper so each balloon looks different depending on which angle you are viewing it from. It'd be just as cute to do each balloon in the same pattern/color, I think. I even fancied the idea of making each balloon with only 4 sides because I was getting tired of cutting. I think that'd work, too. But the more dimensions the balloon has, the more visually interesting it is, and I'm glad I went the extra mile to make them all 6-sided. I glued them together with Elmer's glue.

I used an awl to stab a hole near the top.

STAB!

I was going to use blue yarn but the hole wasn't big enough. So I bought some basic twine-like string. Can't remember what it's called. I still had to force the hole bigger to get that through, but it all worked out. I tied a knot at the top of the balloon and tied it at the top of the embroidery hoop. Still working on what to do about all those fringy knot tops. But here's the mostly done mobile:

And future baby boy's view from the crib: 

I'll post it again when it's in place in the finished nursery. Stay tuned for some wall art inspired by hot air balloons, too. 


*Martha

Mobiles for Boy Nursery

I've been thinking a lot about baby boy nursery stuff. He'll be sharing a room with his older sister for a couple years so decorating is going to be tricky. I don't really plan to go completely unisex with the design. I'll keep up several of her pink things and add several blue things for him. The rest may evolve around yellows and greens. Or not. 

Here are a few boy mobiles I'm digging lately. I plan to make one, whatever it may be, and I'm using these for inspiration:

Black and white monsters.

My daughter has a pink paper crane mobile. I love this white one!

Globes are always cool.

I actually like this white mobile, too, even though it's snowflakes (via  Kootut murut). Love the branches.

Wooden fish. Yes and yes.

Not sure what these are but I'm going to say boats. Felt boats. Easy to replicate.

This nursery was by a former Design Star contestant. You can't really see the mobile too well but it's a top favorite. Very minimalistic which I can't get enough of.

Another minimal modern one via OhDeeDoh. 

This beautiful boat mobile from Cup of Jo is an all time favorite. Not DIY, but would be worth buying, I think.

*Martha