handmade nursery ideas : a diy mobile

Hello, lovelies! We’re back today, with another fun handmade project for the nursery. If you missed part one of this lil series, feel free to click here. We wanted to share some simple handmade ideas {read: sneak peeks of the nursery we completed for my brother and his fam two weeks ago} that not only save big on the moolah, but add one of a kind character to your spaces.

We decided to put a spin on our DIY baby mobile that we’ve shared before, by combining it with the simple idea of pom poms. I’ll outline this today, but for a detailed step by step on handmade flowers and shapes, be sure to click on over and read that version as well.

You’ll basically need a sewing hoop from your local craft store, along with a variety of colors in fabrics, felt, embroidery floss, buttons and thread. You’ll also need a hook for hanging, and a hot glue gun for joining your flowers together on your hanging thread.

As far as flowers go: I cheat with a sizzix, {totally worth a small investment if you have a little girl, and want to make her some super cute hairbows…mine practically paid for itself in a month} but these are totally doable in a few afternoons of your time, if you want to establish a template with paper, and follow the pattern to repeat your cuts from there. This is quite a detailed project, depending on how large you wish to make it, but was kind of perfect for me, when I was expecting. Simply layer until you have your flowers established, and top them off with a button. Again, for more details on that, click here.

In this version, we included alternating versions of super fluffy fun pom poms, and while I found quite a variety of tutorials online/youtube, I thought I’d share my version, here.

Begin by using a template {the top of a coffee mug, a small bowl, etc.} to create your circle on a piece of cardboard. This is how large your pom pom will be. Create an inner circle, and cut both out. Repeat this step on another piece of cardboard. Enlarge your slit on one side, to the shape of a small ‘V’ for easier yarn management. Your two cardboard pieces will look like a C. Place them together.

Wrap your yarn all the way around the letter “C” you’ve now created. Sometimes I do it twice for extra fluffiness. Side note: the thicker your yarn, the fluffier your pom pom will be…I noticed a huge relationship in the texture of my yarn vs. the fluffiness of the pom pom they created.

Once you have it wrapped, go back with scissors, or an exacto, and cut the yarn loose that wraps around the edges. {Watch your fingers if you work with an exacto…that’s my sis in law holding that yarn, and there’s a reason her pointy was covered in mickey mouse. ;}}

Once it’s free, Pull it through the “v” of the “c” and secure it by either tying it, or with a small rubber hair tie. {You can totally score containers of these in the baby section of Walmart} I prefer the hair ties because they’re easier to control, and come in handy when I string the twine through the pom pom to put it on the mobile.

Again, re-read our previous post on handmade mobiles for detailed instructions, but establish a pattern once you decide on how many strands you want, and go from there securing each piece. Back the flowers in more flowers, and join them with hot glue, and tie the pom poms on with the twine. Secure each piece to the hoop {it works best if you have an even number to counter balance so it hangs straight.}

Take twine on the other end to hang your hoop, and adjusting each side to level it, join them all in the center to hang from a hook over the area of your choice. Tada! Your own one of a kind super affordable mobile…Emerson still uses hers over her bed. It’s perfect when they’re older, too.

* Obligatory disclaimer: As always, please use common sense and caution with handmade items and your children in your home. Never hang this mobile low enough for the baby to grasp, and be cautious of smaller pieces that can be choking items. Adjust in height as baby grows. I’ve now officially made four of these for my own home, and numerous for others. I’ve never had any trouble…but I have to say… just be careful. 

As usual, let us know if you try this! I love seeing the mobiles you awesome people make!

Have an inspired day, everyone!