Butterfly mobile!

                                        Cute Butterfly Mobile!

My sister in law and I saw this mobile in a specialty store and thought it was adorable.  Then, we looked at the sixty dollar price tag!  I knew I could re-create it for much less.

1.    Cover an old embroidery hoop with ribbon by looping the ribbon around the hoop tightly and then fasten the end with glue from a glue gun.

2.   Next using fishing line or wire (I used a purple wire) to create an x in the center of the hoop.  Simple wrap the wire around two sides and then again around opposite sides and you should have an x in the middle of the hoop. 

3.   Now it is time to make the butterflies.  I used a Martha Stewart butterfly punch but you can use any punch you want.  You need to punch out 106 butterflies out of your colored paper and then another 106 butterflies out of your clear paper.

4.    To string the butterflies use light weight thread or fishing line (I use fishing line, because it is less noticeable).  Cut a 25” piece of fishing line.  Thread a needle with the fishing line, then thread a clear and colored butterfly in the middle (make sure the colored paper is facing out).  Pull the butterfly to the top of your string leaving about two inches at the top.  Then, with your needle make a knot in the fishing line so that your butterfly won’t slip.  Continue adding butterflies every few inches till you have six butterflies on your fishing line.  Make sure your last butterfly is at the bottom of your string.

5.   Tie this string to the middle of your x.  This should be your longest string. 

6.   Repeat step four except cut your fishing line to 20” and add 9 butterflies.  Tie this string to one of the wires about two to three inches from the middle of the x on one of the sides going towards the hoop.  Repeat this step till you have a string tied to each of the arms of the x.  This is your inner layer of butterflies.

7.   Repeat step four except cut your fishing line to 15” and add 8 butterflies.  Tie this string to one of the wires about two to three inches from your 20” string.  Repeat this step till you have a string tied to each of the arms of the x.  This is your middle layer.

8.   Repeat step four except cut your fishing line to 10” and add 7 butterflies.  Tie this string to one of the wires next to the embroidery hoop.  Repeat this step till you have a string tied to each of the arms of the x.  This is your outer layer.

9.    Cut four ribbons to the length you want the mobile to hang.  Tie the four ribbons to outside of the hoop in each section created by your x and make a large bow to hang up your mobile.