DIY Network

Mod Modern A quartet of projects to modernize your outlook and decor From "Creative Juice" episode DCRJ-311

Hip crafters Cathie Filian and Steve Piacenza are about to help you become modernized.

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Plexiglas™ Mobile à la Calder

A balancing act that can’t be topped, this far-out mobile -- reminiscent of the work of American sculptor Alexander Calder -- is sure to unleash your inner artist.

	Plexiglas Mobile
	PDF Mobile diagram: click to download.

Materials:

6 Tap Plastics random sized acrylic discs: 2 small (2"), 2 medium (3"), 2 large (4")
Galley glass paints
paintbrush
power drill or Dremel
brace/clamp and a scrap piece of wood
bolt cutters
permanent fine-point marker
ruler
monofilament
2 colored wire hangers
round-nose pliers
scissors
small keyring
pin (to pop bubbles)

Note: Creating mobiles involves math, weights and balance, in addition to an artistic eye. The directions below will create a mobile just like the one on the show, and making changes to any length or weight will alter the balance and look of the mobile. But feel free to be creative: come up with your own designs and balances by trial and error.

Creating a Wire Mobile Base

1. Using one bottom corner of the hanger as the starting point, measure 8-1/2" up the short end and mark with a marker. Next, measure 16" out along the bottom edge of the hanger. Cut the hanger at both marks using bolt cutters. This large V-shaped piece will be the base of the mobile.

Note: It’s okay if the measurements go around curves in the hanger: the curves will simplify the work in the design process (figure A).

2. Next, straighten the V-shape into an L-shape with a right angle. Use round-nosed pliers to grip one end of the wire and twist it around the pliers to create a small loop (figure B). Repeat for the other end of the wire. Here’s where you utilize the curves you cut around: there should be one curve left from the hanger at each end of the L -- just curl the wire in the same direction the wire goes. If both loops don’t twist to the outside of the L-shape, use your hand to twist the wire loop until both loops curl outward.

Figure A

Figure B

Creating Two Wire Mobile Branches

1. With the second hanger, you’ll utilize each bottom corner for a mobile branch. Begin by measuring 3-1/4" in each direction from the corner; mark and cut. For the next branch, measure 3-1/4" in one direction and 2-3/4" in the other; mark and cut. Gently bend each V-shape until the corner angle is slightly larger than 90 degrees.

2. Curl the ends of the equal-sized V to the inside of the V-shape to make the first branch. Curl the ends of the uneven V to the outside to make the second branch (figure C).

Prepping Discs

1. Mark a drilling point 1/4" from the edge on all discs, with the exception of one large disc that will need two marks, one at the top and bottom.

6. Securely attach an acrylic disc to the scrap wood using the clamp.

Note: The discs can be scratched through their protective blue film. To avoid scratches, place a small piece of folded paper between the disc and the clamp. Drill a hole on the mark with a power drill, Dremel or hand drill (figure D). Repeat for all discs.

Figure C

Figure D

Painting Discs

1. Peel off one side of the blue safety film from the discs (figure E).

2. Make sure the discs are clean and free of dust or drill shavings. Starting with one disc, color the entire surface evenly, utilizing the tip of the paint bottle as a paintbrush, sweeping back and forth or working in circles (figure F). Surface tension will keep the paint from flowing over any edges. Gallery Glass is a thick dimensional paint, and the surface begins to dry quickly. The paint surface can be smoothed out with a sponge brush after it's filled in, but it has to be done quickly, and it still may not be perfect.

Figure E

Figure F

3. Finally, when the paint is dry, pop any large bubbles in the surface with a pin.

Color Breakdown

Color the discs two at a time as follows:

• Ivy green: 1 large (4") and 1 medium (3") disc

• Orange poppy: 1 large and 1 small (2") disc

• Purple: 1 medium and 1 small disc.

Figure G

Cutting Monofilament

Cut 10 lengths of monofilament as follows (all measurements include extra length for tying loops and knots at each end) (figure G):

#1: 8"
#2: 13"
#3: 10"
#4: 6"
#5: 6"
#6: 6"
#7: 12"
#8: 4"
#9: 6"
#10: 12" (or preference)

Assembling Mobile

Peel off the remaining blue safety film from discs. Working on a flat surface with plenty of space, attach monofilament lengths to their appropriate disc and branch as listed below (figure H) (figure I):

Figure H

Figure I

Key:
knot Tie a simple single knot, repeat to secure.
loop Create a loop by doubling the filament and making a knot, trim excess.

#1: knot to large ivy green disc and loop to long base arm
#2: loop both ends, connecting to base center and length #3
#3: loop both ends, connecting to each end of branch #1
#4: knot to large orange poppy disc and loop to branch #1 center
#5: knot to both large orange poppy and medium purple discs
#6: loop both ends, connecting to short base arm and branch #2 center
#7: knot to medium ivy green disc ad loop to branch #2 center (make sure to thread length thru loop of length #6 -- also attached to branch #2 center)
#8: knot to small purple disc and loop to short arm branch #2
#9: knot to small orange poppy disc and loop to long arm branch #2
#10: knot to key ring for hanging and loop to base center (make sure to thread length thru loop of length #2 -- also attached to base center)

13. Trim excess filament threads, then, holding the key ring, gently lift mobile and hang in a favorite sunny window to enjoy!

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