How to Make a Mobile at Home (with Video Tutorial)

Learn how to make a mobile that looks heavenly & satisfying when air flows. I assure you this simple DIY hanging mobile will be a great addition to your home, and everyone (from kids to seniors) at your home will enjoy watching its slow rhythmic movement.

how to make a mobile

Hi, there crafty people! This week we’ll share a craft tutorial that is a little different, how to make a mobile. When we first started this craft, we had no idea it would turn out so beautifully!

Besides, I was really excited because my son loved hanging mobiles when he was a newborn, though the ones he had were store-bought. So I thought of crafting a simple but colorful papercraft mobile for my workstation to add some fun vibe to the space.

You can come up with so many different designs once you get handy with the basic steps of how to make a mobile. This papercraft mobile can be a great project for school as well as a cute gift for a newborn (the mobile can be hung above the crib to keep the newborn busy and curious!); you can craft one for a friend or loved one as a gift or you can simply craft one for yourself and spend a crafty weekend. 

The cost is super reasonable. You will need a ring-like object if you want to recreate the mobile we created. We used the inner hoop of an embroidery hoop. Besides the hoop, you’ll need some colored craft paper, cotton thread, and craft glue. It shouldn’t cost more than $3 or $4. You’ll have plenty of supplies left even if you purchase all the supplies to craft one mobile.

how to make a mobile

How to make a Mobile at Home

List of Supplies

Tools

  • Scissors
  • Pencil

Materials

  • Hoop
  • Colored craft paper
  • Craft glue
  • Cotton thread

Supplies needed to make hanging mobiles

Step by Step Instructions (How to Make a Mobile)

Step 1: Preparing the Patterns

Select colored craft papers for this craft. Decide on a shape for the hanging decors and the number of shapes you would like to attach to each string. We’re using teardrop shapes and adding 4 shapes to each string. You will need to prepare 2 cutouts for each shape, which means we had to prepare a total of 8 cutouts to make 4 shapes for a string.

Hanging Mobile step 1 - Preparing the Patterns

Step 2: Attaching Patterns with the String

Prepare a long piece of cotton thread; the longer the strand the better as you can cut it as per requirement later. Take any 2 shape cutouts and apply glue on both vertically. Attach the string on the glued part of any one of the cutouts and press it against the glued part gently.

Hanging Mobile step 2

Step 3: Attaching Patterns with the String

Now, place the other glued cutout on top of the first one and cover the thread. Press gently to make sure that the 2 cutouts are attached nicely along with the string.

making mobile - Step 3: Attaching Patterns with the String

Step 4: Attaching Patterns with the String

Leave a small gap and then attach a different colored shape ( 2 cutouts).; or you can also keep the shape of the same color, as you wish.

How to make a mobile - Step 4: Attaching Patterns with the String

Step 5: Filling a String with Patterns

One by one attach a few more shapes ( as many as you want) to the string. We’ve attached 4 shapes. The more shapes you add to the string, the longer the mobile will be. Make sure to leave a good length of the string intact so that we can attach it to the hoop base and the hanging knot.

DIY Hanging Mobile - Step 5: Filling a String with Patterns

Step 6: Preparing more Strings with Patterns

Similarly, prepare more strings with the paper-cut shapes attached to them. We’ve prepared a total of 8 strings for the mobile.

how to make a mobile - Step 6: Preparing more Strings with Patterns

Step 7: Attaching String with the Hoop

Select a ring or hoop-like object for the base of the mobile.; we’re using the inner hoop of an embroidery hoop. Use a ruler and pencil to mark the points (to attach the strings) on the hoop Take any one of the shape strings and wrap the string part around the hoop once.

making a mobile - Step 7: Attaching String with the Hoop

Step 8: Attaching String with the Hoop

Tie 2 or 3 tight knots with the string around the hoop. Make sure that it is secured nicely.

making mobile - Step 8: Attaching String with the Hoop

Step 9: Attaching the Next String

Take another shape string and attach it to the hoop similarly. Make sure to attach each string to a marked pint on the hoop.

DIY mobile - Step 9: Attaching the Next String

Step 10: Attaching All of the Strings to Fill the Hoop

One by one, attach all 8 shape strings to the hoop base. The intact parts of the strings might seem messy at this point. Don’t worry, you can untangle them easily.

DIY Hanging mobile - Step 10: Attaching All of the Strings to Fill the Hoop

Step 11: Adjust the Open Ends of the Strings Together

Carefully untangle the intact parts of the string and hold the open ends of the strings together nicely. use a pair of scissors to trim the open ends of the strings and make them even.

DIY Mobile - Step 11: Adjust the Open Ends of the Strings Together

Step 12: Secure the Open Ends of the Strings

Holding the strings to the center of the hoop as firmly as possible, tie a tight knot with all of them. the knot should be in the center of the hoop to keep a nice and even balance of the mobile.

Makinng hanging mobile - Step 12: Secure the Open Ends of the Strings

Step 13: Hang the Papercraft Mobile

You can adjust the open ends of the string to create a loop and hang them from the ceiling in any place in the house. I hope this tutorial was helpful in showing you how to make a mobile at home. 

how to make a mobile  - Step 13: Hang the Papercraft Mobile

Video Tutorial: How to Make a Hanging Mobile 

Here’s a video tutorial of our papercraft hanging mobile just in case you’re having trouble following the picture tutorial. Don’t forget to hit the subscribe button and notification bell while you’re there. Thanks!

How to Make a Mobile: Tips for Beginners

Here are some tips if you’re having difficulty crafting the paper mobile.

  • Use a round object (ring or hoop) for the base; a round base works better for this project.
  • We’re using colored craft papers, but you can use any light material such as fabric or felt.
  • Use light string if you’re using a light material; for example, we used cotton thread and light weighted craft papers.
  • Try to keep the average weight of each pattern attached string as even as possible.
  • Keep the strings longer so you can work freely with the open ends.
  • Make sure to tie the open ends of the strings in the center of the hoop to keep a nice balance.

Here are some of our decor projects that you may also like, do spare a few minutes to check them out.

Papercraft never gets old and papercraft mobiles are quite popular throughout the year. We believe that this papercraft mobile is a great investment of time, effort, and the amount of $ you spend on it. You can craft a hanging mobile decor for newborns, kids, and adults!

We absolutely loved crafting this mobile, and we really hope that you would enjoy crafting one too. We would love to see your version of the paper mobile if you do re-create it. Do share a picture with us or tag us on Facebook or Instagram (use #thecraftaholicwitch).

Happy Crafting!

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