DIY Hot Air balloon Mobile
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When we first found out we were pregnant I started flooding my mind with creative ideas. I knew that I wanted to incorporate hot air balloons in the nursery. We live in an area that is very popular with hot air balloons, they are fascinating and beautiful to me. I went straight to Pinterest for inspiration and could not find anything that I was looking for. I shopped online for days and only found very expensive options. Thats when I knew that I had to create my own.
I used a plastic pen holder, twine, mini wooden embroidery hoops, party paper lantern. You will also need scissors, hot glue gun, hot glue, drill, hooks and clear fishing line with at least 5 lbs weight. After gathering your supplies it’s time to get to work. First your going to take your pen holder and drill 4 holes, 1 in each corner about 1/4 in from the top or so. You can take your twine and hot glue to secure it; start in the bottom of the pen holder making a spiral design until you’ve reached the outer edges, reapplying glue as you continue with the twine. Once you have reached the edges you will notice there are still gaps at each corner. Take scrap pieces of twine and hot glue to fill the edges and continue the primal design. Then start a new strand at the base of the pen holder and continue until you reach the top, adding glue at each section. I added 1 final loop around the very top edge of the pen holder. Cut 4 pieces of twine the same length for the next step. Now take your paper lantern and use the twine to attach the mini wooden embroidery hoop, I looped the twine around the hoop and then continued the twine to one of the holes that you drilled in the pen holder. Continue this with each piece of twine that you cut, you should end up with the 4 pieces of twine that now attach the paper lantern to the embroidery hoop and then to the pen holder. Be sure to knot the twine at the pen holder, you can add a bit of hot glue for extra security. I added pieces of twine to each seam of the paper lantern to give it an elevated look. Your balloon should be finished now! Now would be a good time to add your customization and finishing touches.
To hang it: screw your hooks into your ceiling or wherever you plan to hang the balloons. Cut the fishing wire the length that you want your balloon to hang with a little extra for caution. Attach the fishing line to the metal hanger on the paper lantern. Create a loop with a knot at the opposite end from the balloon, this will allow you to hang the balloon on the hook.
If you want to incorporate the clouds as seen in the my photos above here’s how: you will need cardboard, polyester filling, hot glue gun, hot glue, hanging hooks, and fishing line with at least 5 lbs weight. Start by cutting your cardboard into the cloud shape that you’re looking for. Then take your hot glue, applying a generous amount and start adding the polyester filling. I did both sides of the cardboard. Once you have most of the filling in you can do some fluffing and add more as needed. Once you’re happy with the cloud you created you can hang it. We poked a small hole in the center of the cloud and put the fishing line through the hole, making a knot at the end, adding a small bit of glue here won’t hurt. Then make a small loop in the other end of the fishing line the length that you want the cloud to hang. Screw hook into the ceiling and then hang your cloud.
