babymobile

Materials 3 or 4 pairs of shanked, character buttons (must be bi-laterally symmetrical)
small plastic bead in a colour that matches the buttons
Thick thread to match buttons
thin white plastic, from a margarine or ice cream tub
short piece of cord
tacky glue

Tools
tiny hole punch, or thick needle
craft knife
steel ruler
scissors
cutting mat

Instructions
**********

Punch a hole in the middle of the piece of plastic making sure that there is a good margin around it.
Place the edge of the ruler so that it just touches the edge of the punched circle, and starting 1/12th " away from edge of the circle, cut through the plastic with a craft knife to the 1/2" mark. DO NOT CUT ACROSS THE END YET.
Repeat on the other side of the circle, so that you have something like this
___ o ___ .
Put the ruler on the other side of the circle, and repeat, so that you get
===== o ====== .
Turn the plastic through 90 degrees, and repeat.
Carefully, cut a slit at the end of each spoke, to hold the thread.
Now you can cut through across the end of the arms, and between the spokes at the middle, so that you get a four-spoked wheel, as in the picture.
If you only have three pairs of buttons, you will need to make a three-spoked wheel.

Remove the shanks from the backs of the buttons, and sand the backs flat.
Decide which way is going to be up, and glue the buttons back-to-back, in pairs, with a piece of thread between them, protruding from the top.

Glue a piece of cord through the bead, as picture, and allow to dry.

Slide a thread into one of the slots at the end of one of the spokes. Adjust the height, and trim. Secure with a tiny dot of glue.
Repeat for the other spokes.
Thread the free end of the cord with the bead, up throught the centre of the spoke.

Your mobile is now ready to hang from a hook in the ceiling above the cot!

Alison Fleming 1999