Mobiles!
They are swell to make. And even more so to look at! I have just decided that mobiles should become a seasonal decoration in my home. Does anyone else think it is just absolutely depressing to take down Christmas decorations? The house always looks so bare. This year, I decided to keep up some wintery decorations, and even make a few just for fun! This mobile I made was for the latest prompt at The Art is Found. Patty asked me to do a craft tutorial for her blog, so, I’ll share with you an easy little tutorial on how to make your own snowflake mobile in a frame.
All you need to complete this project is an empty frame, some colorful magazine clippings (which I always have on hand, stored in a manilla envelope), twine (or ribbon, string, or fishing wire), tape (any kind will do!), and scissors.
I picked out some of the most graphic and colorful pieces from my magazine clippings stash, and cut them into circular shapes. If I didn’t like the back of a page, I glued it together with a page I did like. Then, I simply folded the circular cut-out a few times so that I could cut designs into it, just like when I was a kid and made paper snowflakes at school.
I cut each snowflake into different sizes and patterns, to add some variety. I gotta admit, it’s kind of thrilling unfolding the paper to see what shape you will find! :)
After making several paper snowflakes (the number depending on the size of the snowflakes and your frame) I tied them onto strings of twine, sometimes two snowflakes to a string.
Next, I flipped over my frame and began to decide where to put each string of snowflakes, and how long each one should hang. There’s definitely no science to this, just pick something and go with it! Then I taped the strings to the top of the back of the frame, so that when winter is over, I can use the frame for something else.
I love the simplicity of this project, how easy it is to use scraps that you can find around the house, and the limitless possibilities. I placed my frame by a window, because I like the way the light filters through the snowflakes. To bad the breeze is so cold this time of year, or it might be nice to see them flutter around! :)
Oh! I love it!
two things.
one : i totally agree about the sadness of de-holiday-ing. i kept my ball garland hanging from a random plant hook in the bedroom cause i couldn’t let it get packed away (and it continues to terrify me in the middle of the night)
two : circles!!! doh. i wanted to decorate the restaurant with tons of hand cut white snowflakes, except they all kept coming out like the robots you used to shoot in old atari games….i couldn’t understand why they weren’t coming out even in all 4 quadrants. circles. hmmm. i guess this is one of the many reasons i dropped out of interior design school….
Very cool!
I love your idea!! I know must get my hands on a pretty frame =)!
wow! that is so cute!!! i will have to try that! it even looks a little vintage–y! i love it.
It’s lovely! what a good idea to keep a winter decor after christmas xxx
fun!
and i LOVE your photos of the steps!
This is too cute! I used to love making snowflakes as a kid. Maybe it’s time I started up again.
And I totally hear ya on how sad it is to take down holiday decorations. I actually get a post-Christmas depression when it’s all over. Who said we can’t celebrate the holidays well into February?
I just love this! so many possibilities. thanks!
freakin’ fantastic
Super cool, love it!
adorable idea!! and yes, taking down Christmas decorations is quite depressing, but I did keep up my homemade garland this year. It wasn’t too Christmas gaudy and I really didn’t want to take e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g down, so I just said to hell with it. I may attempt this easy DIY mobile for fun, thanks for sharing!
jess
I love it! The frame and the twine really make this wonderful. I like your scissors…what kind are they?
really really really cool and fabulous.
how freakin’ cool is that??!!
Your mobile is very pretty!
Also – I left a blog award at my blog for you!!
this is the best ever. along with everything else you do.
this is such a lovely idea! I have been trying to keep the snow and cold outside, but this is a fun way to bring the winter inside.
:)
love this!!!
:)
what a really cool idea! love this!
I love your frame!!!
oooh love this idea!!
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