Lampshade Crib Mobile

Need a mobile now but can't afford one until next month? Make a temporary, cute mobile from a used or new lampshade! Your baby won't know the difference, and you'll be so impressed with how cute the mobile is, you might now want to purchase a new one after all. Although a lampshade mobile won't wind up, and doesn't provide music, it will give your baby colorful things to look at, and will keep his or her attention for some time.

Now, I'm not talking about a huge, garish shade, with fringe and velvet. The perfect lampshade for this project is somewhat small and has no frills. It can be any color or pattern you want. It can be paper or fabric, or you can even take an ordinary shade and "doctor it up", anyway you want.

It's easy to hang the lampshade from the ceiling. Two "C" hooks can hold the shade. Use a piece of fishing twine and fold it in half. Place the center of the twine on a "C" hook in the ceiling, bring the twine down on each side, and attach a "C" hook on each side of the metal ring, inside the shade. The two hooks will help keep the shade balanced, whereas one hook will allow the shade to hang lopsided.

One easy way to hang toys and other things on the mobile is to using fishing twine, once again. The twine is virtually unbreakable and invisible. Cut a piece of twine and place it through an opening of the toy, or otherwise tie it on. Now take the two ends of the twine and place one on the outside of the shade, and one on the inside, allowing the toy to dangle by the bottom edge of the shade. Tie a knot to hold the toy in place and trim off the excess twine.

After the toys are all tied on, it's a good idea to use bias tape, or a piece of fabric, to secure the twine. Cut a length of fabric and fold it in half, lengthways. Hot glue the fabric around the top edge of the lampshade. This will help keep the twine from detaching.

Another way to add toys to the lampshade is to thread the twine through them, and hot glue the ends to the bottom edge of the lampshade. Now use lace, or something else, to cover the bottom (and top if desired) of the lampshade. The lace will help hold the twine in place and will give you a finished look, where you can't see the twine knots.