If you thought mobiles were just for kids' rooms, think again. This mobile of polyhedron paper shapes is a beautiful sculptural addition for any room of your home. Choose colours to suit your space and hang it from the ceiling - or even on a wall.
Supplies
- 15 pieces of heavy weight coloured paper, A4 or Letter size.
- Template - download here.
- White sewing thread.
- Self-healing cutting mat.
- Metal ruler.
- Craft knife.
- Glue stick or double-sided tape.
- 50cm (20 inch) length of 12mm (half inch) diameter wooden dowel.
- Tape.
Step 1: Print the Template and Cut Shapes
Download and print out the template onto the 15 sheets of coloured paper.
Cut around the outside of the printed shape.
Step 2: Fold
With the printed side facing up, fold the paper along all the printed lines.
Step 3: Cut the Thread
Cut 15 pieces of thread measuring about 60cm (20 inches) each. Set aside.
Step 4: Assemble the Shapes
Run glue along one of the flaps, fold the shape and hold the flap and the side together until they are adhered. Repeat with the other flaps until all sides of the shape are glued except one.
Step 5: Add the Thread for Hanging
Cut small pieces of tape. Lay the end of the thread onto the open corner of the paper shape so it overlaps by a couple of centimetres (a bit less than an inch). Create a loop with the thread and secure it with the tape. Looping the thread will make it less likely to pull out. Press the tape down firmly. Glue the remaining two flaps in place to close the geometric shape. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for all shapes.
Step 6: Work Out Colour Placement
The mobile has five rows: row one has one geometric shape, row two has two shapes, row three has three, etc. Lay the geometric shapes out roughly in rows to work out colour placement. Make sure the threads are straight and don't get tangled.
Step 7: Assemble the Mobile
Measure and mark the dowel. Draw small pencil markings at the following intervals:
Metric: 7cm in from the left end, then eight intervals of 4.5cm.
Imperial: 9 marks, 2 inches apart.
Take the first paper shape in row five (the highest row) and secure it to the dowel at the first marking. The shape should hang about 15 cm (6 inches) below the dowel. Wrap the thread around the dowel a few times then tie a knot under the dowel. Cut the loose thread off close to the dowel.
The shapes in this row will hang from every second mark - so marks one, three, five, seven and nine. I wanted an unstructured look, so I suspended the shapes at slightly random heights. if you'd prefer a more uniform look, measure the length of the threads as you tie them so the shapes in each row align.
It will be easier to assemble the mobile if you can suspend it somewhere while you work. I put mine between a shelf and a table, you could try suspending it between the backs of two chairs.
The four shapes in row four will hang between the shapes above, so secure them to marks two, four, six and eight on the dowel.
Row three shapes will be secured at marks three, five and seven on the dowel.
Hang row two shapes at marks four and six, and row one at mark five.
Cut two more lengths of thread about 60cm (24 inches) long to hang the mobile up. Attach one to mark one on the dowel and one to mark nine. Bring the loose ends together to tie around the hook or hanging device you're using.
Hang It
Hang your mobile from the ceiling, or against a wall like a wall hanging.
Have you tried making a polyhedron paper shape before? If you have any queries or top tips, let us know in the comments below!
