Fish Mobile

I have had this idea in my mind for so long now I cannot even remember what first inspired it! Recently, when we were looking forward to meeting our dear friends beautiful baby son for the first time, I knew I wanted to give something special; something handmade, I finally had the opportunity to create it. The mobile was the perfect gift as it didn't take tooooo much time and was easily hidden should the parents find it visibly offensive!! (I don't think they did though :))

I gathered all of the blue/green papers I could find and dug out my box of driftwood (yes, I know, please don't mention it), some glue, pencils and scissors and just got to work. There was very little planning...

I drew some templates on stiff card...

Then cut a load of fish out of different papers. The papers alone weren't thick enough not to curl when hung so I stuck them to card and had a number of fish that were double sided.

I used interesting papers lie maps and old book pages as bellies for the fish (sorry the pictures aren't in order of making, I didn't always have the ca,era so I took most at the end.)

I made loads as I wasn't sure what I would and wouldn't like/work. I then chose my best shoal for the mobile.

I used my spare time between caring for the boys and doing chores etc for adding some hand drawn interest to the fish.

I used coloured pencils.

And my current faves: Gellyroll pen; it has such an intense colour.

And the Uniball White Gel pen.

One fish was stitched onto some vellum paper before I stitched them all together leaving a few stitches between fish to allow for movement.

I added a small bead to the end to weight it down a bit and tied the top to a bit of driftwood. I used some yarn to make a string to vary the length of its drop and secure it to wherever it would hang, and to add a different texture (not entirely sure why but it felt it needed it, perhaps the colour helped).

I REALLY love the outcome and am already thinking I might use the reject shoal to make another mobile for myself, I mean, the kids. My favourite fish is the top one which is made from a painting that Little H did ages ago; the page was literally swimming in the glitter paint he was using but it was so beautiful when it dried I just had to keep it, I am so glad I did!!

I won't lie, it wasn't stupidly easy or quick; it took some slow time and thought and love, but really it flowed as I got lost in the creative process. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire project from start to finish and was so happy to give something that I had put love into and had given me joy.

The possibilities are endless; just imagine what Pinterest could inspire for your next paper mobile?! (I can't believe I haven't thought about this until now!!!) You could use all the pictures and bits you collected from a holiday, or pictures of people you love and miss in between colours and words that remind you of them? You could do as I did and up-cycle some of your kids masterpieces so you can keep them without hiding them away in a file or drawer? What about using letters from penpals? OH....it goes on and on....

I hope you like it and are inspired to have a go. If it all goes wrong, it's only paper and you can recycle it, no one will know. Have some fun and get lost in creativity for the sake of nothing more than having something pretty to look at :)

Thanks for stopping by,
See you soon,

Hayley
xxx