How to Make a Safari-Themed Nursery Mobile

Last week, I made my nephew a safari-themed mobile. My brother had looked at a few on Etsy that he liked, but they were quite costly. He asked if I would be able to make one. It was super easy and it turned out pretty cute. The entire mobile costs less than $5 to make! Each animal costs less than $1 to make!

The past five days, I have showed you how to make a felt elephant, lion, giraffe, monkey, and snake to hang from the mobile. Be sure to click on the links for the tutorials of each animal if you missed them. Today, I will show you how to make the actual mobile.

Needed Materials:
String, Ribbon, or Yarn
Dark Green Felt
Light Green Felt
Embroidery Hoop
Washi Tape or Ribbon
Small Washer


Step 1. The embroidery hoop comes with two hoops. Take the inside loop out and use that. I used a 12 inch hoop. If you want yours to be bigger or smaller, just adjust accordingly.

Step 2. Take your washi tape or ribbon and put it on your the inside of the embroidery hoop. I used washi tape because it was quick and easy. You also could glue a ribbon around it or even wrap yarn around the hoop. Being that it is on the inside, you really do not have to decorate it, but I think it looks nicer.

Step 3. Attach the main hanging string. Cut 3 lengths of yarn or string at about 8 inches (or the length that you desire). Tie these three strings to the washer and then to the hoop. Try to evenly space them around the hoop. I then put a small piece of washi tape over it to hold it in place. Cut a long length of yarn and tie it to the washer. The length of this piece depends on what you are hanging it from and at what height. 

Step 4. Make the felt leaves. I did not make a template to make these. I just cut them at random.

Step 5. Cut a length of yarn about 2 feet long. Starting from the bottom of the felt animal, pull the yarn though the animal. Depending on the weight of the felt animals, you may need to play with the placement. If your animal is too heavy on one side, it can cause the animal to lean to the side. If the animal is top heavy, it can fall forward or backward, so you may have to experiment. 

Step 6. Put a knot at the very end of the yarn. Pull the yarn through the animal until you get to the knot. The knot at the bottom of the animal will hold it. You may want to put a small dab of glue on the knot just to ensure it stays.

Step 7. Thread the yarn through the leaves. Again, you will want to place a knot at the bottom of each to hold them up. Put as many or as few leaves as you want. Do this process for all the animals.

Step 8. Tie the animals to the hoop at your ideal length. You may need to move the animals around or change the lengths of the yarn because you need to create a balance. Ideally, you should place similar weight items across from each other.

Step 9. Once you are sure of your placement of the animals. Put a small piece of tape or glue on the place where you tied it to the hoop. This will ensure that they don't slide around the hoop and become unbalanced.

Step 10. Place the washi tape or ribbon on the outside of the embroidery hoop.

Step 11. If you want an animal in the middle of the mobile, tie that animal to the washer.

Step 12. Hang the mobile and enjoy!

If you don't want to use a hoop, you can usually find an old mobile at the local thrift stores. You can follow the same process of hanging the animals, just hang them to the mobile holder instead of the hoop. Here is a picture of the felt animals that I made hanging from an old mobile hanger.

Another option is to take a couple dowels, glue them together to form a "t" and hang the animals from the dowels. This method does require more work to get the animals to balance. I did not try this method, but it would work if you have dowels on hand.

This would make a great personalized gift for any baby shower. Simply change the animals to fit any nursery theme. It is quick, easy, and inexpensive to make! 

How to Make a Felt Snake Toy

Last week, I made my nephew a safari-themed mobile. My brother had looked at a few on Etsy that he liked, but they were quite costly. He asked if I would be able to make one. It was super easy and it turned out pretty cute. The entire mobile costs less than $5 to make! Each animal costs less than $1 to make!

Today, I will show you how to make the snake. I made mine yellow and black, but you can make yours any color that you want.

Needed Materials:
Yellow Felt (body)
Black Felt (markings)
White Felt (outer eyes)
Black Felt (inner eyes)
Red Felt (tongue)
Small Amount of Polyfill Stuffing
Sewing Needle
Thread
Craft Glue

Step 1. Make a template. I just drew up a template on my own for this one. It was just a long body and then the head, so there is not much to it. I am not artsy at all, so you may want to come up with your own ideas. Here is pdf file of the snake template that I used.

Step 2. Using your template, cut the snake out of the felt. I did find that it was a little easier to cut out the template if I pinned the template to the felt and then cut around it.

Step 3. Staying close to the edges, sew around the entire body. When sewing the head, place the tongue and sew it in place. Be sure to leave an open space to put in the stuffing. 

Step 4. Lightly stuff the snake.

Step 5. Once you are happy with the amount of stuffing, sew the hole shut.

Step 6. Glue or sew on the eyes. I did not make a template for the eyes, because they are just ovals. However, you might choose to use safety eyes or googly eyes or whatever you want.

Step 7. Glue or sew on any markings that you choose to give your snake.

Step 8. I just drew on the nostrils with a Sharpie, but you could also embroider it or even make them out of felt.

I think this snake turned out pretty cute. These felt animals would also make great toys or even decorations. You could also skip the stuffing and use them as embellishments.

We now have an elephant, lion, giraffe, monkey, and snake. Tomorrow, I will show you how to make these animals into a mobile.

How to Make a Felt Monkey Toy

Last week, I made my nephew a safari-themed mobile. My brother had looked at a few on Etsy that he liked, but they were quite costly. He asked if I would be able to make one. It was super easy and it turned out pretty cute. The entire mobile costs less than $5 to make! Each animal costs less than $1 to make!

Today, I will show you how to make the monkey. I made mine basic colors, but you can make yours any color that you want.

Needed Materials:
Dark Brown Felt (body and head)
Light Brown Felt (face and inner ears)
White Felt (outer eyes)
Black Felt (inner eyes and nose)
Small Amount of Polyfill Stuffing
Sewing Needle
Thread
Craft Glue


Step 1. Make a template. I looked through several clip-art monkeys for ideas and then drew up a template. I am not artsy at all, so you may want to come up with your own ideas. Here is pdf file of the monkey template that I used.

Step 2. Using your template, cut the monkey body, head, face, and inner ears out of the felt. I did find that it was a little easier to cut out the template if I pinned the template to the felt and then cut around it.

Step 3. Staying close to the edges, sew around the entire body. Be sure to leave an open space to put in the stuffing. 

Step 4. Lightly stuff the monkey's body.

Step 5. Once you are happy with the amount of stuffing, sew the hole shut.

Step 6. Follow the same process for the monkey's head.

Step 7. Sew the monkey's head to the body.

Step 6. Glue or sew on the face, nose and inner ears.

Step 7.  Glue or sew on the eyes. I did not make a template for the eyes, because they are just ovals. However, you might choose to use safety eyes or googly eyes or whatever you want.

Step 8. Make the mouth. I just drew on the mouth with a Sharpie, but you could also embroider it or even make it out of felt.

I think this monkey turned out pretty cute. These felt animals would also make great toys or even decorations. You could also skip the stuffing and use them as embellishments.

So far, we have made an elephant, lion, giraffe, and monkey. Tomorrow, I will show you how to make the snake.

How to Make a Felt Giraffe Toy

Last week, I made my nephew a safari-themed mobile. My brother had looked at a few on Etsy that he liked, but they were quite costly. He asked if I would be able to make one. It was super easy and it turned out pretty cute. The entire mobile costs less than $5 to make! Each animal costs less than $1 to make!

Today, I will show you how to make the giraffe. I made mine basic colors, but you can make yours any color that you want.

Needed Materials:
Yellow Felt (body)
Orange Felt (muzzle, horns, spots, and tail)
White Felt (outer eyes)
Black Felt (inner eyes)
Small Amount of Polyfill Stuffing
Sewing Needle
Thread
Craft Glue


Step 1. Make a template. I looked through several clip-art giraffes for ideas and then drew up a template. I am not artsy at all, so you may want to come up with your own ideas. Here is pdf file of the giraffe template that I used.

Step 2. Using your template, cut the giraffe out of the felt. I did find that it was a little easier to cut out the template if I pinned the template to the felt and then cut around it.

Step 3. Staying close to the edges, sew around the entire giraffe. Place the horns and tail pieces in place as you sew around the body. Be sure to leave an open space to put in the stuffing. 

Step 4. Lightly stuff the giraffe's body.

Step 5. Once you are happy with the amount of stuffing, sew the hole shut.

Step 6. Glue or sew on a face and spots. I did not make a template for the eyes or spots, because they are just ovals and circles. However, you might choose to use safety eyes or googly eyes or whatever you want.

I think this giraffe turned out pretty cute. These felt animals would also make great toys or even decorations. You could also skip the stuffing and use them as embellishments.

Tomorrow, I will show you how to make the monkey.

How to Make a Felt Lion Toy

Last week, I made my nephew a safari-themed mobile. My brother had looked at a few on Etsy that he liked, but they were quite costly. He asked if I would be able to make one. It was super easy and it turned out pretty cute. The entire mobile costs less than $5 to make! Each animal costs less than $1 to make!

Today, I will show you how to make the lion. I made mine basic colors, but you can make yours any color that you want.

Needed Materials:
Light Brown Felt (head and body)
Dark Brown Felt (mane, nose, and tail)
White Felt (outer eyes)
Black Felt (inner eyes)
Small Amount of Polyfill Stuffing
Sewing Needle
Thread
Craft Glue

Step 1: Make a template. I looked through several clip-art lions for ideas and then drew up a template. I am not artsy at all, so you may want to come up with your own ideas. Here is pdf file of the lion template that I used.

Step 2: Using your template, cut the lion out of the felt.

I did find that it was a little easier to cut out the template if I pinned the template to the felt and then cut around it.

Step 3: Staying close to the edges, sew around the head and the mane. Be sure to leave an open space to put in the stuffing.

Step 4: Lightly stuff the lion's head and mane.

Step 5: Once you are happy with the amount of stuffing, sew the hole shut.

Step 6: Follow the same process for the lion's body that you did for the head and mane. Be sure to put the tail pieces in place as you sew around the body. 

Step 7: Sew the head to the mane.

Step 8: Sew the head to the body.

Step 9: Glue or sew on a face. I did not make a template for the eyes, because they are just ovals. However, you might choose to use safety eyes or googly eyes or whatever you want. I did not make a mouth on this guy. I tried a few different versions, but I did not find one that I liked. I thought he looked ok without a mouth, so I just left him without.

I think the lion turned out pretty cute. These felt animals would also make great toys or even decorations. You could also skip the stuffing and use them as embellishments.

Tomorrow, I will show you how to make the giraffe.

Make a Felt Elephant Toy

Last week, I made my nephew a safari-themed mobile. My brother had looked at a few on Etsy that he liked, but they were quite costly. He asked if I would be able to make one. It was super easy and it turned out pretty cute. It cost less than $5 to make! Each animal costs less than $1 to make!

Today, I will show you how to make the elephant. I made mine basic colors, but you can make yours any color that you want.

Needed Materials:
Grey Felt (head, tail, and body)
Pink Felt (inner ears)
White Felt (outer eyes)
Black Felt (inner eyes)
Red Felt (mouth)
Small Amount of Polyfill Stuffing
Sewing Needle
Thread
Craft Glue

Step 1: Make a template. I looked through several clip-art elephants for ideas and then drew up a template. I am not artsy at all, so you may want to come up with your own ideas. Here is pdf file of the elephant template that I used.

Step 2: Using your template, cut out the elephant.

Step 3: Staying close to the edges, sew around the body. Put the tail pieces in place as you sew around the body. Be sure to leave an open space to put in the stuffing.

Step 4: Lightly stuff the elephant's body.

Step 5: Once you are happy with the amount of stuffing, sew the hole shut.

Step 6: Follow the same process for the head that you did for the body.

Step 7: Sew the head to the body.

Step 8: Glue or sew on a face and the inner ears. I did not make a template for the eyes, because they are just circles. However, you might choose to use safety eyes or googly eyes or whatever you want. I tried drawing on a mouth, but I didn't like how it turned out, so I made a mouth with felt. 

I think the elephant turned out pretty cute. These felt animals would also make great toys or even decorations. You could also skip the stuffing and use them as embellishments.

Tomorrow, I will show you how to make the lion.