Logan's nursery redo is almost complete, and I wanted to share one of the projects I am most proud of. I never found a mobile I liked in my price range, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to make one myself. It was simple, quick, and cost less than $5. Best of all, Logan loves it! The primary colors and spinning airplanes always catch his attention.
Here is the completed mobile, followed by step-by-step instructions (although it's pretty self-explanatory):
I started with MDF cutouts bought at Hobby Lobby. I bought 6 for less than $3! I wish I had taken a before picture of the planes, because they were an interesting pink/baby blue/neon green combination.
I painted each plane in a red/blue/yellow theme, using acrylic craft paint I already owned. I followed the original design, and painted several coats until I achieved the bold look I wanted. I chose to paint the back a solid blue for simplicity.
Once the planes were painted and dry, I used a small nail and hammer to create a hole in each plane. I placed the holes at the top just behind the wing, allowing the planes to fly straight once suspended.
I also purchased a pack of simple wooden rods from Hobby Lobby and used white twine I already owned to suspend the planes. I used the twine to tie the rods together in a star pattern, and then used a piece of twine from the end of each rod to hang the planes. I left the twine long so that I could adjust the length of the planes once hung from the ceiling. By twisting the twine around the rod, I can adjust the planes in the future according to Logan's development (and ability to grab the mobile and pull it down on his head!).
My husband also suggested cutting a notch into the both ends of the rods to hold the twine in place, but so far it hasn't been necessary. I chose the wooden rots and twine to give the mobile a simple, natural look, but you could also use a variety of other things- colored yarn, fishing line, a round piece for the mobile base, etc. I even bought a old mobile from Goodwill with the intention of using it as the base of my mobile, but decided against it. Instead I bought a ceiling hook from Lowe's for $1 and used another piece of twine around the center of the rods to hand it from the ceiling. The opportunities are endless!
Supplies used:
MDF Airplane cutouts
Wooden rods
Twine (or string, yard, fishing line)
Acrylic paint
Small paintbrush
Nail & hammer (for creating the hole)
Ceiling hook
Approximate cost: $5.00
Time: 30 minutes (not counting drying time for the airplanes)
This month has been such a whirlwind! As I sit here only 3 days before Christmas, I'm amazed at how fast time has flown and how soon our baby boy will be here. Only 36 days left! (and I'm still hoping he comes just a little bit early).
So rewinding a bit, here are weeks 3 & 4 in iPhone pics:
Most of week 3 was spent working, Christmas shopping, and growing a baby (I kid, I kid!). Somehow I still managed to attend a Christmas party with my favorite nurses, a baby shower (my 4th!) thrown by these awesome coworkers of mine (of course I forgot to take pictures), and my first pro hockey game in a fancy suite with the husband thanks to HCA (go Preds!). It was an awesome, exhausting week that I wouldn't have traded for the world.
Reality hit me hard during week 4... Christmas was right around the corner, and I had a baby with no nursery! Nick and I got to work quickly painting the nursery, buying, picking up, and assembling furniture, and getting the room ready for our sweet little boy. There is still decorating and work to be done, but if Logan came tomorrow I would be ready. A huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. I also finished my Christmas shopping, wrapped all of our presents, assembled Nick's stockings (he gets 2 this year!), and washed, folded, and sorted all of Logan's clothes... and still managed to work my usual 50-hr work week. I'm looking forward to slowing down in January and only working 3 12-hr shifts a week! Floor nursing is hard on my 9 month pregnant body.
So there you have it, weeks 3 and 4 in iPhone pics. There is still so much to look forward to in the last week of December!
