4. Rainbow and Cloud Felt Mobile
Rainbows have been a nursery staple for years, and felt gives the arcs a soft, matte quality that fabric and plastic versions cannot quite match.
Cut six to seven arcs in graduated sizes and colors. Instead of stuffing each arc, layer them flat and stitch along the outer edge of each band, building the rainbow from the outside in. This keeps the whole piece flat and light, which is exactly what you want in a mobile. Finish with two small stuffed clouds at either end of the rainbow.
Materials: felt sheets in your chosen rainbow palette, embroidery floss, fiberfill for the clouds, a hoop or mobile arm, and twine. Expect about two and a half hours.
You can mute the palette for a more grown-up look by choosing dusty rose, sage, mustard, terracotta, and cream instead of bright primary colors. Hang the rainbow horizontally from the hoop with a single cloud dangling beneath it.
💡 Pro Tip: Cut your arcs from paper first and check the proportions before you cut into felt. Felt is forgiving, but a rainbow with uneven bands is hard to fix once stitched.