How to Make a Merry Go Round Mobile
Kinetic art is a type of art that features moving parts or uses motion to create an impression. The motion can depend on factors like air currents, weight and the position of the piece. Rube Goldberg machines are one example of kinetic art. Mobiles are a specific type of kinetic art that spin, wave in the wind and even bump together. Here's how to make a merry-go-'round mobile.
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Things You'll Need
- Merry-go-'round printables
- Overhead projector
- Six clear plastic report covers
- Hole punch
- Scissors
- Markers, colored pencils, paint or crayons
- Metallic pony bead
- Glitter
- Metallic curling ribbon
- Monofilament fishing line
- 1" diameter metal o-ring
- Cup hook
- 8" diameter embroidery hoop
- A circle of shirt cardboard, 8-1/2" diameter
Instructions
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Using an overhead projector, project each of the printable pages onto a sheet of clear plastic. Plastic report covers work well for this. Outline the image in black. Turn the plastic sheet over and repeat the outline so that you have a-two sided carousel horse. Using markers or paint, color each horse as you like.
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2
Carefully cut each horse. Using the hole punch, make a hole at the horse's back and run a piece of monofilament line through it. Use a lark's-head knot.
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3
Tie each horse to the 8"-diameter embroidery hoop, spacing them evenly apart and using lark's head knots. Each horse should have a cord of a different length, so that they will look as if they are going up and down as the mobile turns. String a monofilament line from the knot that ties each horse to the embroidery hoop, and pass the lines through a 1"-diameter metal O-ring. Tie the lines in a lark's head knot, then make two 1/2" knots below the O-ring around all the lines.
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4
Screw a cup hook into the ceiling. Make a loop of monofilament line and tie it to the top of the O-ring using a lark's-head knot. When the mobile is finished, hang it from the cup hook using that loop. Be sure that your mobile will be able to move freely in any breeze. Using a compass, make a cardboard circle 8-1/2" in diameter. Paint both sides as brightly as you like. After it is dry, poke a hole in the center of the circle. Thread the monofilament line through the hole and tie through a metallic pony bead. Make sure the circle will swing freely at least 1" below the lowest hanging horse.
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5
Wrap the embroidery hoop with metallic curling ribbon so that as little of it shows as possible. Add a decorative bow at the cup hook, if you like.
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