"Messy Room" Fan Mobile

Uh-oh, this looks like T-R-O-U-B-L-E.

If you’ve read The Squirbles and the Messy Room, then you know what a big role The Fan plays in the story!

That’s why I thought it deserved it’s very own craft!

I made two versions of this “Fan Mobile”:

  • The B&W (Color Your Own) Version

  • The Full Color Version

image of a children's mobile craft activity

Supplies:

  • card stock

  • 1 set of chopsticks*

  • scissors

  • string, yarn, or twine

  • crayons, markers, or pencils

  • tape

* You can also try using dowels, paint sticks, rulers, pencils, or any other stick-ish item.

Instructions:

1) Print out the design on card stock (for double-sided squirbles, print 2 copies). Allow ink to dry for 6 hours. (If you’re in a squirbly pinch, you can wing it and let it dry for 20 minutes. Life is short!)

2) If making the Color-Your-Own version, color the squirbles and the fan blades as you wish.

3) Cut the squirbles along the dotted lines. Cut out the fan blades.

4) Cut 4 pieces of string about 16 inches in length. Tape one piece to the back of each squirble cutout.

5) Create your fan. Place your chopsticks side by side each other. Cut a 4-foot piece of string, and use one end to wrap a knot around the two sticks. Make sure you leave a small tail.

6) Now spread the two sticks apart so they form an X shape.

7) Begin wrapping your string around the center of the X, alternating from crotch to crotch so you make a strong joint. Keep wrapping until the joint feels very secure. Do not cut the tail. Allow it to stay loose--this will be used to hang your mobile.

8)  Tie the string off by forming a knot with the small tail near the center.

9)  Attach the squirbles to your X by tying their loose ends to each prong.

10) Hang to ceiling using the loose thread. And clean up your mess!


 

Hi! I’m Kate.

I am a writer and illustrator. Thanks for visiting!