Any creative ideas for a Penguin mobile project?

Question

I have to make a mobile about a non-fiction topic, from a book for school. I chose penguins but I can't think of anything creative to hang my pictures from. Everyone else will probably do a hanger but I want to be more creative. Anyone had to do something similair? I was thinking some kind of snowflake thing, but I don't know how I would do that.

Answer 1

First of all, it would help if I knew a little more about your "book for school", your grade level, and when the project is due.

Penguins and snowflakes certainly go together. Do you have a budget for materials? Particular materials that should or shouldn't be used? Did your teacher give you lots of "rules" or none at all?

You're right that hangers are passe for making mobiles...unless you get creative with your hanger!

Try straightening out a wire hanger (leave the hook at the top - the teacher will probably be hanging the mobiles in the classroom or somewhere). You could either add "arms" to the straighted wire (use copper wire, or other flexible wire, you can get that by the foot at a hardware or home improvement center) and hang your mobile bits and pieces from that....OR, you could curl the hanger around and make a spiral cone or corkscrew or a flat spiral (personally, I'd go for the latter). You can use a spray paint designed for metal (like Rustoleum) to paint the hanger in a metallic color, like gold, bronze, or silver...or a "regular" color, like white or blue or black. (If you're going to use copper wire, don't paint it - it will be nice and shiny and pretty as it is!)

Experiment with different mediums for hanging your mobile bits and pieces...different colors and styles of yarn (look at WalMart or Michael's or any sewing/craft store), wire, string, Christmas garland, twine, raffia, feather boas, strings of beads and so forth.

Now, what to hang?

If money isn't an object and it's okay to use "store bought" stuff, then check out the craft stores and department stores (like WalMart and Target) for Christmas ornaments and in the craft department. You don't need a whole lot of different things, just several things that express your theme, and one really stunning centerpiece. You might want to consider acrylic icicles, or crystals, glittery white snowflakes in different sizes and designs, or even Christmas balls with Artic scenes. Another thought: unfinished wooden letters made from lightweight wood (like balsa) that spell out "PENGUIN". Paint each letter - different colors or all alike - with or without glitter or painted on snowfall or snowflakes (look online for an Alpine Snow or Snowcaps downloadable font for ideas). From the very center of your mobile, and on the longest "string", hang your centerpiece - a penguin or illustration of a group of penguins. You should be able to find a penguin Christmas ornament with ease, or cut out one from a Christmas/Seasonal greeting card.

Now, if money IS an object and your teacher wants to see lots of "hands on" artwork (coloring, pasting, cutting out, etc) going on, then I'd suggest you try cutting out your own paper snowflakes and decorating them. See http://highhopes.com/snowflakes.html for some good instructions. "Icicles" can be made by putting down a layer or two of wax paper and using a hot glue gun. Just build up a long string of hot glue on the wax paper, let it harden, peel it off the paper and voila! You could sprinkle some silver glitter on the glue while it's still hot for some extra sparkle. Use a needle and thread to poke a hole thru the top of the "ice" and make a loop for hanging it. Again, a cut out or print out of a penguin for the centerpiece would work nicely - or make a penguin with pieces of felt and googly eyes. If you want to add the word "penguin", try finding a Penguin or snowcap font to download and print out the letters you need - color and mount them on thin cardboard with a thin layer of Elmer's glue or some adhesive spray.

Most of all, use your imagination and have fun!!

Answer 2

Write a Book or Paint a Nice Picture? Or what about A Garden Redesign Project. The Possibilities Are Endless! Good Luck.