DIY an Origami Mobile

I feel bad that I dropped the blog ball and didn't see the comments from the previous crafty posts. Since I didn't see any instructions on the web for a circular origami mobile, I thought I should make up for my slackerness by doing a tutorial/how-to so that you can make one of these nifty mobiles for your home too. This is my first how-to/tutorial so I'd love any feedback or suggestions!



Materials:
Origami Paper in a variety of prints and patterns
Beads
Heavy Thread (such as embroidery floss)
Large Needle (such as an embroidery needle)
12" embroidery hoop with the outer hoop removed
Hook
Elmers Glue
Scissors

1.  Fold eighteen (18) origami cranes. There's lot of information on this on the web so I'll skip repeating those instructions here.

2.  Cut the following lengths of thread:  12", 13", 14", 15", 16", 17", 18", 19", 20", 21", 22", 23", 24", 25", 26", 27", 28", and 29".  You should have 18 pieces of thread when you're done.

3.  Tie a knot at the end of the 12" piece of thread.  The knot should be large enough to hold your bead on the thread.  

4.  With the other end of the thread, thread your needle.  Add a bead to your thread and run the needle and thread through the bottom of one crane.  This will be the first crane and shortest crane on the mobile.

5.  Add another bead to the needle and thread.  You should now have a bead under the crane and on top of the crane.  The bead is important because the cranes are made of paper and the hole that the thread runs through can grow slightly in size during the construction process.  We don't want the crane to fall off the thread!

6.  Remove the needle and tie the free end of the thread to the hoop.  Trim any excess thread on either end.   

7.  Repeat steps 3 through 6 for all the pieces of thread - continuing in order from shortest to longest.  Evenly space the cranes around the hoop so that they gradually descend.

8.  Once you've tied all the cranes to the hoop, add a dot of glue where the thread is tied to hoop.  This will keep the thread positions in place.  Let the glue dry before proceeding.

9. Cut 3 more  pieces of thread - each 24" long.   Tie the 3 pieces of thread equally spaced around the hoop.

10.  Gather the three hanging ends of the thread and tie them together in a knot about half way along the length of the thread.  

11.  Tie another knot at the end of the remaining length of the 3 gathered pieces.

12.  Install the hook from the ceiling and hang your mobile!

Because origami is so light, the crane mobile with gentle twirl - an added bonus!

I hope these instructions are easy to follow.  If you have any questions, post them in the comments and I'll answer them or update the post to clarify.  Also, let me know if you think video instructions would be easier to follow.  I've made a few of these, so it seems easy to me - I'd like a newbie perspective.  Thanks!

I ♥ Etsy

Ever since we purchased our first print from Etsy in 2009, we've been fans of the site.  We love the off beat funky nature of the work.  Our first purchase was a funky print from yellowlion called Folk Sea that I actually saw in Ready Made magazine.  At $35 ($30 + $5 shipping) it was a cool and inexpensive way to decorate.

Our home has been sorely needing some wall decor so we naturally turned to etsy for some more cool affordable art.  We scored these prints for the kids' bedrooms and bathroom from GreenNest.

And we got these from beethings who has so many amazing pieces - I had a hard time choosing just four.

The barn owl is my favorite of the lot - I'm saving it for my office once the basement is done.

This post may seem like we're advertising for Etsy or it's sellers - but we're not!  As the designated online shopper of the house, I just really love the site and am happy to get the word out to anyone who will listen :-)  Etsy (or the sellers) didn't pay or perk us for this post!