How to Make a Bird Mobile | Easy Summer Craft
Designer: Marcia Izabel Marchiori
YouTube: MarciaBel Vlog
Instagram: @marciabel
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Level: Beginner
If you're looking for a simple and creative summer craft, this birdhouse mobile is a lovely project! Using wooden sticks, paper, and fabric scraps, you'll create a charming little bird nestled inside its own birdhouse.
The finished mobile has a light, cheerful charm that makes it a beautiful decoration for all ages. Hang it on a porch, terrace, balcony, garden gathering, or even inside your home to add a touch of handmade charm.
Whether you're crafting with the help of little ones or simply looking for a relaxing project for yourself, this tutorial is an easy and enjoyable way to celebrate the season with something handmade. So let's get started! 🥰
Tools & Supplies Needed
• OLFA FCM-12x17 12" x 17" Folding Cutting Mat
• OLFA QR-1x12 1" x 12" Frosted Acrylic Ruler
• OLFA AK-4 Cushion Grip Art Knife paired with curved blade
• OLFA Inch SCS-4 Precision Appliqué Scissors
• 5 wooden craft sticks
• Recycled cardboard
• Fabric scraps
• Water Based Marker (used: Posca)
• Yarn (coordinating colors with your fabric)
• Hot glue gun
• Pencil
• Hole punch tool
• Copy paper (for the template)
• Wooden beads
Instructions
- Print the bird template at full scale, then use your OLFA Art Knife to carefully cut out the template pieces. Set aside.
- Let's prepare the birdhouse. Grab a sheet of copy paper and, using the guide lines on your OLFA Cutting Mat and ruler, draw two perpendicular lines. These will serve as guides for assembling the birdhouse with the craft sticks.
- Start with the roof, as it will determine the proportions of the birdhouse. Using the paper guide, glue two craft sticks together perpendicularly, as shown below.
Note:
- Continue gluing the remaining sticks to form the birdhouse, using the guide lines on the paper to keep everything aligned. The center of the roof should line up with the point where the guide lines intersect.
- Once all the sticks are in place, secure everything with small dots of hot glue at each corner and allow it to dry completely.
- Using your OLFA ruler, rotary cutter, and cutting mat as a guide, cut fabric strips approximately ½" wide.
- Starting with a small dot of hot glue, attach the first fabric strip to the birdhouse at about a 45-degree angle. Begin wrapping the strip around the sticks, adding small dots of hot glue here and there as needed. When one strip ends, simply overlap the next strip slightly and continue wrapping until the entire birdhouse is covered.
- To make the bird, trace the template onto recycled cardboard. Then use your OLFA Art Knife to cut out the pieces.
- Using the hole punch tool, make a hole in the center of the wing where indicated on the template.
- Cut a piece of yarn to your desired hanging length (mine is about 34" long). Pass the yarn through the hole in the bird.
- Tie a knot to secure the yarn to the wings.
- Using the white marker, freely draw arabesques and patterns on your bird. This is the time to get creative 😍
- Now assemble the wing onto the bird.
- Thread both ends of the yarn through one wooden bead, positioning it on top of the bird's wing.
- Assemble both bird parts together.
- Make a knot in the yarn, leaving enough length for the bird to move freely inside the birdhouse, as shown below. If needed, add a small dot of hot glue and attach the yarn inside to the top of the birdhouse.
- Thread the second wooden bead onto the two yarn ends above the birdhouse to secure the bird to the house.
- Tie a knot with the two yarn ends, and your birdhouse mobile is ready to hang!
I’d love to see your finished work! Tag me @marciabel and @OLFA_craft so we can admire your mobile. 
Happy Summer!
Marcia
