How to Make a Hanging Ceramic Mobile

Making a mobile is a great family craft project and a fun way to make gifts for friends and relatives. Polymer clay comes in almost any color you can think of, making it an easy way to make bright, fun decorations to hang down from your mobile. Start out with simple shapes, then progress to more complex objects as you master working with clay.

Things You'll Need

• Clay
• Sticks or think dowel
• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue sticks
• Knife
• String
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Choose the type of clay you want to use. Self-hardening polymer clay requires the least work, since it doesn't need to be baked. Bakeable polymer clay, however, has the advantage that it will stay soft until you put it in the oven. If you have access to a kiln, you can use natural clay. Normal ovens can't get hot enough, however, so stick with polymer if you don't have the necessary kiln.

2. Make a frame for your mobile. Take two sticks and lay one over the other to make a symmetrical cross, then glue them together in the center with hot glue. Craft sticks, chop sticks, or short, thin dowels will work well.

3. Choose a theme for your mobile. You could make one with tropical fish, planets, flowers or really anything that interests you.

4. Roll out sheets of flat clay with a rolling pin. If you are making planets, roll small balls of clay between your fingers.

5. Use a craft knife, clay tool or other cutting edge to cut out the basic shapes of flowers, fish or whatever you plan on including in your mobile.

6. Shape small pieces of clay into eyeballs, fins and other small details. Attach them onto the main clay shapes by pressing them carefully into the clay.

7. Poke a small hole at the top of each of the main clay pieces. You will use this hole for string that will allow you to hang the pieces from the mobile.

8. If you are using self-drying clay, simply wait for it to dry. Otherwise, bake the clay according to the instructions on the package.

9. Tie the shapes onto the sticks with pieces of string. Once you have everything in place, anchor the strings to the mobile frame with drops of hot glue.

10. Tie a string to the top of the frame. Use this to hang the mobile.

Tips & Warnings

• If the frame leans to one side, add hot glue to the other side to balance it out. If you prefer, you can bake several small detail pieces separately and then attach them together with hot glue instead of pushing them together with your fingers.

• If you are working with young children, do the parts involving hot glue yourself.

References

• Celestial Clay Mobile Craft