How to Make a Kwanzaa Mobile for Children

This easy-to-make craft project incorporates the colors and the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Glue Guns
• Hot Glue Sticks
• White 3-D Fabric Paints
• White Glues
• Black Coat Hangers
• Scissors
• Thin Felt-tip Pens
• Fishing Lines
• red, black, green and yellow felt

1. Cut candle shapes - about 8 inches tall and 1 1/2 inches wide - from black, green and red felt. (You'll need one black "candle," three red "candles" and three green "candles.")
2. Use 3-D fabric paint to write the Swahili name of the seven Kwanzaa principles on the felt candles. Make sure to use the correct color of candle for each principle (see "Tips," below).
3. Turn the felt candles over after the fabric paint has dried and repeat the process, this time using the English names for the principles.
4. Cut 14 flame shapes, each about 2 inches tall and 1 1/2 inches wide, from a piece of yellow felt. (Use the first flame shape as a pattern so all are alike.)Glue two "flames" to the top of each candle, front and back.
5. Tie seven 6-inch pieces of fishing line to the bottom of a black coat hanger. Poke small holes through the tops of the felt candles and tie them to the seven fishing lines, making sure they're in the right order. (three red, one black, three green)
6. Bend the top hook of the hanger down to form a loop and knot a strand of fishing line around it.
7. Hang your mobile.

Tips & Warnings

• The seven Kwanzaa principles and corresponding candle colors are: Umoja (unity - black), Kujichagulia (self-determination - red), Ujima (collective work and responsibility - green), Ujamaa (cooperative economics - red), Nia (purpose - green), Kuumba (creativity - red), and Imani (faith - green).
• In the Kinara, the black candle is in the center, with the three red candles on the left and the three green candles on the right.
• Use Elmer's glue in place of a glue gun if a younger child is making this craft.