CREATE: Grimm's Rainbow Beaded Cloud Mobile

A Tutorial by Kate Kwijas

"Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud" - Dr Maya Angelou

In celebration of World Kindness Day, Kate and her boys are showing us how to create Rainbow Beaded Cloud Mobiles -  simple homemade decorations to brighten your home or play space. These colourful, cheerful pieces of art are not only beautiful; they will get your little artists working on those fine motor, language and counting skills. To get their rainbow clouds to hang straight, they will need to ensure that each side has an equal number of beads, so they will also be learning about equality and size ordering. 

Hang your colourful creations where you can admire them each day and be reminded of all the kindness within our children and world. 

Please don’t forget to share your Rainbow Beaded Cloud Mobiles with us on Instagram or Facebook, tagging @oskarswoodenark.

Step 1:

Print out two copies of the provided template per person. Cut out.
Use recycled cardboard and cut out an A4-sized piece.
Glue one of the rainbow clouds onto the cardboard and carefully cut around it, leaving a cardboard border. Glue the remaining printout to the other side.

Step 2:

Sit with your little artists and watch as they explore their world and express their creativity through art.

Provide various mediums: Kitpas Crayons, LYRA Coloured Pencils, and STOCKMAR Paints. We used Kitpas, STOCKMAR Wax Sticks and blocks, STOCKMAR paints and LYRA Watercolour Pencils.

When your little artist has finished adding colour to their rainbow cloud, and it has dried, create holes using scissors or a hand drill for the rainbow beads to hang from.

Step 3:

Spend time threading the Grimm's Beads onto the strings together.

This is a fabulous opportunity to not only strengthen the muscles in your little artist's hands and provide fine motor work but to slow down and connect.

Why don't you start a conversation with your little artist while threading the beads: Why does kindness matter? What is something kind you have done for someone? When did someone do something kind for you?