Ocean Mobile Craft

Make a simple ocean mobile to hang paper tube fish and pipe cleaner fish to whimsically swim through the air.

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This ocean mobile is a cute and flexible craft that you can customize! We started by making these paper tube fish, then created the mobile to display them. You could make this with origami fish, plastic toys, or different sea creatures that you’ve made. (Maybe hang a paper bowl jellyfish in the center?)

If you’re using our paper tube fish tutorial, we recommend making them at least the day before so the paint has time to dry and set.

How to make an ocean mobile

Supplies

• wood embroidery hoop – ours is 10 inches
• white cotton yarn
• scissors
• paper fish
• large S hook

Instructions

1. Cut yarn and tie a loop.

Start by measuring and cutting the yarn. You’ll need one piece for every 2 fish you’re hanging. We cut 5 pieces, each measuring about 60 inches long.

Gather the yarn and find the center, then tie a simple overhand knot. This will create a loop at the top of the mobile to hang it.

2. Clamp the yarn in the hoop.

Unscrew the wood embroidery hoop. Center the yarn over the inner piece and spread each strand out in a spiral. Holding the loop in the center, slide the outside piece back on. Adjust the yarn so that the strands are spread evenly, then tighten it.

(Ours is a bit off-center, so it doesn’t hang quite level. If you want it to be precise, you may want to use a ruler to find perfect center.)

3. Attach the fish.

Slide the yarn through the opening in the top of the paper tube fish and out through the mouth. Tie a loose knot so you can adjust the fish in the next step. Repeat around the hoop, adding a fish to every other yarn strand.

4. Space out the fish.

Hang up the mobile to evaluate how the fish will hang. Adjust the yarn and slide the fish up or down so that they all hang at different levels. When you’re happy with placement, tie off each yarn with another knot and cut the extra tails.

5. Add more sea creatures.

Now that there are fish on every other yarn, add different creatures to the in-between pieces. We made these small fish by cutting a pipe cleaner in half, then twisting the fish to create a tail. Tie them to the empty yarn strands.

Slip the S hook through the loop at the top and hang the mobile. This is such a cute and simple craft. We love watching the fish swim!

Printable instructions

Ocean Mobile

Print

Prep Time 30 minutes

Active Time 15 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Materials

• wood embroidery hoop - ours is 10 inches
• white cotton yarn
• scissors
• paper fish - https://backyardsummercamp.com/paper-fish-craft-tubes/
• large S hook

Instructions

1. Cut yarn and tie a loop.
   Start by measuring and cutting the yarn. You'll need one piece for every 2 fish you're hanging. We cut 5 pieces, each measuring about 60 inches long. Gather the yarn and find the center, then tie a simple overhand knot. This will create a loop at the top of the mobile to hang it.
2. Clamp the yarn in the hoop.
   Unscrew the wood embroidery hoop. Center the yarn over the inner piece and spread each strand out in a spiral. Holding the loop in the center, slide the outside piece back on. Adjust the yarn so that the strands are spread evenly, then tighten it.
3. Attach the fish.
   Slide the yarn through the opening in the top of the paper tube fish and out through the mouth. Tie a loose knot so you can adjust the fish in the next step. Repeat around the hoop, adding a fish to every other yarn strand.
4. Space out the fish.
   Hang up the mobile to evaluate how the fish will hang. Adjust the yarn and slide the fish up or down so that they all hang at different levels. When you're happy with placement, tie off each yarn with another knot and cut the extra tails.
5. Add more sea creatures.
   Now that there are fish on every other yarn, add different creatures to the in-between pieces. We made these small fish by cutting a pipe cleaner in half, then twisting the fish to create a tail. Tie them to the empty yarn strands.
6. Slip the S hook through the loop at the top to hang the mobile.

More fun ideas from Backyard Summer Camp:

• Watercolor Resist Ocean Art
• DIY Summer Camp: Ocean Week
• Leaf Rubbing Bird Art