How to Make a Name Mobile

Mobiles are most commonly used to entertain babies and small children. Mobiles are not only for small children, in fact, many artists have become famous because of their mobiles. There are many different types of mobiles that you can buy, but making your own mobile is a lot of fun and a great craft to put on display when it is finished. If you are looking for an easy craft that you can do with your children, try making a name mobile for their room. It's a very simple craft, here's what you need:

Materials
-wire (gauge doesn't matter, just make sure it's not so thick you can't bend it)
-pliers
-cardboard
-scissors
-markers
-string
-pencil
-hole puncher

Instructions
1. The first step to creating a name mobile is to make the letters that spell out your name or your child's name. You can do this using cardboard very easily. Choose the color of cardboard you want and use the pencil to trace the outline of the letters. You can make these any size you want, just make sure that they are all about the same size. Another option for making the letters is using the wire, but that takes some skill.

2. Once all your letters are traced on the cardboard, use the scissors to cut them out. When they are cut out, use the markers and whatever other decorative materials you want to incorporate in your mobile to decorate the letters to your liking.

3. When all your letters are decorated, use the hole puncher to make a hole at the top of the letters where the string will be attached. If you have letters like "N" or "M" you may need to punch holes in more than one place so that the letter will hang evenly.

4. Now that your letters are ready to go, you'll need something to hang them from to create the actual mobile. Use the wire to make a rectangular shape for the strings to hang from. In order for your letters to be centered, add another line of wire through the middle or the rectangle. You'll need the pliers to cut the wire, and maybe to bend the wire if it's tough. If you use your scissors, they'll get ruined.

5. Now cut the string (or you can use ribbon or yarn). You'll need one string for each letter of your name. Make sure that they are all the same length if you want your letters to be even. You can make them all different lengths if you want, it's up to you.

6. Put the string through the hole of each letter and attach it to the wire rectangle.

7. Once your letters are attached, you'll need something for the mobile to hang from. Cut two long piece of string and attach one of them from the smaller side of the rectangle to the other smaller side (directly across) and the other string from the larger side to the one across from it.

8. Now cut one more piece of string. Find where the two strings you previously attached to the rectangle intersect and use your new string to tie a knot around the middle, leaving the other end free. Use the other end to hang your mobile and enjoy your new craft.