Making a paper mobile is quite easy, but you will need some special materials and tools to complete the project. Before you get started, make sure that you have:  18 pieces of 15cm by 20cm card stock in the colors of your choice scissors pencil glue stick a needle thread three beads a wooden stick The pattern provides a guide to help you create the shapes that you need for the mobile pieces. You can print out this pattern and use it to trace the design onto your card stock. You can download the pattern at: http://anadiycrafts.com/decorative-mobile/ Take all of your card stock pieces and fold them in half so that the shorter edges meet. Then, use your pencil to trace the pattern design onto the card stock so that the edges of the design line up with the folded edge.  When choosing card stock colors, consider the color scheme that you hope to achieve. For example, if the room where you plan to place the mobile is painted blue, then you might consider using different shades of blue, such as light blue, aqua, and navy. Or, you could also go for a complementary color (one that sits opposite the color on a color wheel). For example, a yellow room would be complemented by shades of purple. After you have traced the pattern design onto all of the shapes, cut along these lines with your scissors. When you are finished, you should end up with two pieces: a heart shape with no center and a smaller circle shape. Make sure that you do not cut along the folded edge. Use your glue stick to secure the edges of six of the heart shapes first. Apply glue to just one edge of one of your heart shapes and then press it against the edge of a different heart shape to secure it.  Repeat this process for the other four pieces so that you connect the heart shapes into one unit. You can alternate colors as desired to achieve the look that you want for your mobile. Glue together the edges of the circle pieces as well. You may need to trim these up slightly before you start gluing them to make sure that the circle units will fit inside of the heart units with a little space around the edges.  The circle units will be made up of only three circle pieces instead of six, but you will follow the same process. Make sure that you leave one edge of each of your units unglued. This is necessary so that you can connect these edges around the string later.

Summary: Gather your materials. Download the pattern. Fold all of your card stock pieces in half. Cut out the shapes. Glue the edges of the hearts and circles together. Connect the circles in the same way.


A tank size of 2.5 gallons (9.5 liters) at minimum is recommended for a single betta fish. If you have more than one fish, you should get a bigger tank to accommodate all of the fish. If you have a larger tank, you may not need to change the water as frequently. Toxins will build up more quickly and in higher concentration in a smaller tank. Having a good pH balance will help restrict the levels of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, which will in turn keep your betta healthy. An ideal pH is 7.  Treat the water with a dechlorinator. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to put this into the water. Test your water for ammonia using a test kit. You will either use a dip-stick test or gather a water sample to test the water. Your ammonia level should read 0, since you just used a dechlorinator. Measure the ammonia level once per day until you start seeing ammonia levels. This will tell you how long you can go before changing the tank’s water. Twice a week, you should change the water in the tank to make sure that you don’t have dangerous levels of ammonia, nitrate and nitrite building up. You can use distilled, bottled or tap water, but each kind of water needs to be treated before it goes in the tank in order to restore the proper balance of nutrients in the water.  Change 25%-50% of the water in the tank twice a week. This means you add 25% new water and keep 75% of the old water (or 50% new and 50% old). Use aquatic water conditioners, available at your pet store for $5-$10, to adjust pH levels in the water. Use them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Add 1 tablespoon of aquarium salt and 1 drop per gallon of a fungus preventative like Aquarisol. Do not use table salt in place of aquarium salt. Table salt may have additives like iodine and calcium silicate, which can be harmful to fish. Cycling your tank means that you build up good bacteria in the tank so that your fish can flourish. This bacteria will help keep ammonia levels low by breaking down fish waste into nitrite and then into nitrate. Start with a fresh tank with no fish in it to cycle the tank.  Add an ammonia source to start the process of generating the good bacteria in nitrate. You can either add fish food or an ammonia solution to the tank. Use a test kit to test the water for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels. Your ammonia level will initially read 0. Test the water every day and the ammonia level will start to show trace amounts. The ammonia level will then drop as the nitrite level starts to show up. Then the nitrite level will decrease and the nitrate level will go up. Add a few flakes of fish food every day to keep the ammonia levels generating, which generate nitrite and nitrate levels in turn. Be patient. Cycling a tank properly can take 4-6 weeks to introduce the proper levels into the tank. The improved water quality will keep your fish healthy and sustain longer lives. The tank’s temperature should be between 75 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a 25 watt heater to keep the temperature constant. This heater is available at your pet store or online for $10-15.  Keep a thermometer in the tank and check it periodically to make sure the temperature is constant. Keep the tank in a warm area of the room. The tank should maintain an even temperature. Keeping it by a window can risk exposure to colder temperatures that can be damaging to the betta. Place a filter in the tank to help clear the water of impurities. The filter should not cause the water to stir too much, as bettas don’t like turbulent water. Filters are available at the pet store for $30-$150, depending on the size of your tank.  Try an air stone that connects to a small pump if you don’t want to get a filter. Air stones are available at your pet store for $5-$10. Buy a filter that is the correct size for your tank. Aquarium salt is derived from evaporated sea water and can be used in fish tanks to reduce nitrite in the water and promote healthy gill functions. It can also help increase electrolytes, which improve a fish’s overall health.  Add 1 tablespoon of aquarium salt for every 5 gallons of water. Add aquarium salt to new fish tanks, when you are changing the water, and when you are trying to figure out a fish’s health problems. Do not use table salt in place of aquarium salt. Table salt may have additives like iodine and calcium silicate, which can be harmful to fish.

Summary: Get a larger tank. Test the tank’s water. Change and condition the water. Cycle your tank. Regulate the tank water’s temperature. Use a filter in the tank. Put aquarium salt in the tank.


There are three main muscles that you will use: (1) a crescent shaped muscle just above the pubic area; (2) The area between the 1st muscle and below the navel; (3) just above the navel to your ribs (the one that hurts when you laugh too hard). Isolate the first muscle group, then the second, and then the third. Once you can isolate and clench these muscles, you'll be on your way to doing the stomach ripple. Work on clenching and releasing them individually and then combine the movements.
Summary: Practice making the stomach ripples that cause the back and forth movements. Try isolating or clenching each muscle individually.