Fallen Nature Mobile

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• Scissors
• One roll of 26-gauge floral wire
• Wire cutters
• One 1/8" hole punch
• Branches
• Nature elements: acorns, pinecones, etc.
• Yarn in a variety of colors
• Pom pom variety pack
• Origami or construction paper
• Cording to hang branches
• 100 yds of nylon monofilament (clear line) to hang birds and nature
• elements
• Multipurpose glue
• Multi-temp glue gun
• Multi-temp glue sticks
• One green foam sheet
• Trefoil template
• Multi-surface acrylic paint
• Brushes, size 0 and small flat
• Satin Mod Podge
• Palette


• Feel free to make the crafts your own and get creative with the materials. If there's anything you can't find, we encourage you to use substitutions.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Create the top part of the mobile. Choose the branches you want to use. Wrap floral wire in a figure-eight pattern around joints to secure all overlapping branches in place. Consider alternating the directions of the branch clusters and intertwining branches to add interest and more layers to hang elements from.


2. Apply the yarn wrap to the branches. Fold over the end of the yarn the length of the intended wrap plus 1". Lay it against a branch section. Wrap, starting 1" from the tail. Continue the wrap around the branch to 1/2" from the loop end. Thread the tail of the wrap through the exposed loop and cut off the end to 1" from the loop. Pull on original tail to tug final tail inside wrap. Cut off excess tails.


3. Attach branch decorations. Set selections of pom poms and/or nature elements at desired locations on the branches. Apply multipurpose glue and press in place. Elements on sides or under branches may need to be attached using a glue gun with multi-temp glue sticks.


4. Connect hanging cording. Locate three points on the branches to attach the hanging cording. These should be toward the outer edges of the branches with two points toward one end and the third on the opposite end of the branches. Fold over an uncut length of cording. Loop the folded end around the single location. Hold it in place and put the other ends of the cord at two points on the opposite end of the branches. Tie the one cut end of the cording in place and lift the mobile holding the folded end of the cord in place. Slide the fold of the cord to adjust the desired length of the hanger. Leave slack in the lines of the cording. Cut and tie the second end of the cord in place. Hold the mobile up by the two cords and slide your fingers along the cords to determine the center point where the mobile will hang level. Fold the two cords at this point and wrap them with another short length of cord, leaving the folds exposed.


5. Hang the mobile.


6. Make an Origami Bird to hang from the mobile. Fold your favorite origami bird and hole punch in the center of its back. You can learn to one here (PDF link coming).

Craft Hack Tips and Tricks:

• Transfer the trefoil to the green foam sheet. Cut out the trefoil and punch a hole at the center top. Hang it with nylon monofilament.


• Paint a variety of natural elements and hang them with the nylon monofilament between or on the same line as the birds. For the brightest colors, paint the elements with white paint first, then coat them with the final color. Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge on any parts that are not painted.


• When wrapping two colors next to one another, wrap the tail of yarn from the first color with the beginning of the second color wrap.


• If the mobile is to be transported after completed, contain the hanging parts in individual small bags closed with a zip lock or paper clips. This will prevent the nylon cords from tangling.


• Construction paper bird wings tend to flatten when hung due to the softness of the paper.