When Otis found some holographic cardstock in his paper stash, he wanted to make a mobile for Otto. The Octahedron and Dancers Mobiles have been Otto's favourites so far and it is in part due to the nice shiny, metallic paper. While ours is not as elegant as the Dancers, nor as complicated to balance, Otis loved making it, Otto loves using it and I have to believe that it's somewhat age and developmentally appropriate for Otto. We used this holographic card (Australia) but similar can be found here.

Otis used holographic card, stencils, pencil, scissors, glue, tape, fishing line (transparent nylon thread) and a piece of thin wire.  

Otis used his stencils to trace shapes on the holographic card and then cut out the shapes. He made two of each shape and six shapes in total. He lined up the shapes in two columns. He taped the fishing line to the back of the shapes and then he glued the corresponding shape on the back (so the shapes were back to back with the fishing line taped in between). Then he tied the fishing line to a thin wire. We used more fishing line to hang the wire to a hook in the ceiling about Otto's movement area. 

Otis really wanted to add more shapes but I've had him pare it back for simplicity and not to overwhelm Otto, noting that most Montessori mobiles have around five to six elements. We kept it to three colours for the same reason. The holographic paper catches the light and the shapes look lovely when they move in the breeze. 

This mobile was super easy and fast for Otis (six years) to make. To be honest, Otto loves just about any mobile, but it's extra nice that this one is made by his brother.