Today I’m sharing a printable ocean mobile craft, full of cute sea animals 🐟🐙
We will make the sea creatures one by one, with just a few simple steps that kids can easily follow. We will also assemble the mobile hanger from the pieces in the template. This is a fun, low-prep activity for summer: just print, cut, glue, and string.
Printable Mobile – Easy Summer Craft
The printable template includes everything you need to make your own DIY sea life mobile. You’ll find colorful ocean creatures drawn in a kawaii style, each with simple 3D pop-out features to assemble — plus a printable paper hanger to build the mobile frame.
Kids can create a colorful ocean scene to hang at home, in the classroom, or anywhere that could use a little underwater magic.
🎁The printable template is exclusive to my newsletter subscribers, and you’ll find the sign-up box at the end of this post.
* This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission, at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.
Craft Your Ocean Mobile!
Once you grab you free printable template, you’ll be ready to create your paper ocean mobile craft. Below are the steps-by-step instructions to easily assemble your mobile:
What You’ll Need*:
- The printable template (available at the end of this post ↓)
- White cardstock for Printers (for best results)
- Scissors
- Glue
- String (I used embroidery thread)
- Small hole punch
*Includes Amazon affiliate links
How to Make Your Mobile:
1. Print and Cut
Print out the template and cut out all the parts. Each sea creature has a few pieces to cut and glue.
2. Make the Octopus
The octopus has two matching pieces.
Fold both pieces along the dashed lines, folding inwards so the lines are hidden inside the fold.
Glue the pieces back-to-back, but leave the arms unglued.
Punch holes at the top and the bottom for hanging.
3. Make the Starfish
The starfish has two matching pieces.
Glue the pieces back-to-back, lining up the edges (make sure the face on each side is upright).
Punch one hole at the top and one at the bottom.
4. Make the seahorse:
The seahorse has two body pieces and two fins.
Glue the body pieces back-to-back.
Fold each fin along the dashed line, folding inwards so the line stays inside.
Spread glue on the small flap of each fin and glue one fin to each side of the seahorse.
Punch one hole at the top and one at the bottom.
5. Make the orange fish:
The orange fish has two body pieces and two fins.
Fold the tail and bottom flaps of the body pieces along the dashed lines, folding inwards so the lines are hidden.
Glue the body pieces back-to-back, leaving the folded parts unglued.
Fold each fin along the dashed line, folding outwards so the line stays outside.
Spread glue on the grey part of each fin and stick a fin on each body piece, with the fold of the fin pointing to the fish’s head.
Punch a hole at the top of the fish for hanging.
6. Make the Shark
The shark has two matching pieces.
Fold the bottom fins upward along the dashed lines, so the lines are hidden inside the fold. Fold the tabs of the belly downward, so the lines stay visible.
Spread glue on the tail, spine, back fin, and forehead — but not on the nose or belly. Stick both shark pieces to each other, leaving the bottom area open.
Stick the tabs of the belly on top of each other, aligning their edges. Bend the fins outward so they stick out from the sides.
Punch a hole at the top of the shark.
7. Make the Seashells
Each shell has one main piece and one strip.
Fold the shell in half along the dashed line, with the colorful sides facing out.
Fold the strip in half along the center dashed line, folding outwards so the line stays visible. Then, fold each end of the strip inwards so the dashed lines are hidden.
Spread glue behind the folded ends of the strip and glue it inside the shell — one end on each wall.
Punch a hole in the strip where marked with a dot.
8. Make the Purple Fish
This fish has three pieces: a white piece for the center and two colored pieces for the sides.
Fold the head and tail of the colored pieces along the dashed lines, folding inwards so the lines are hidden.
Fold the middle section of each colored piece along the dashed line, folding outwards so the line stays visible.
Glue the head and tail onto the white piece, matching the shapes and lining up the edges. Leave the middle section unglued so it pops out.
Punch a hole at the top and the bottom.
9. Make the Mobile Hanger
The hanger has four pieces: two with a tab and two without.
Fold all the pieces along the dashed lines, folding inwards so the colorful part is on the inside.
Place one piece without a tab facing down. Keep the two tabbed pieces folded in half, and stick them on top of the placed piece, side by side. Each one should cover half of the piece below. Their top flaps remain unglued.
Stick the remaining piece on top, with its colorful side facing up. Line up the edges and press to secure.
Now you have a mobile hanger with four curved arms. Hold the tabs together and punch a hole in them for hanging.
10. Assemble the mobile
It’s time to put everything together!
Cut five pieces of string — four for the sea creatures and one to hang the mobile.
Some sea animals have two holes, so you can stack one below another. Others have just one hole and should hang at the bottom.
Tie your strings, attach them to the mobile arms, and finish by adding a string at the top to hang your mobile.
That’s it! Watch your ocean creatures float and swim in your handmade underwater world ✨
🌞 Get the Free Printable Template
This printable ocean mobile is an easy summer craft for kids to make and enjoy — and it’s a great way to add a little color and creativity to the season!
The printable template for this craft is available exclusively to my newsletter subscribers ♥
If you’re not signed up yet, you can join below, and I’ll send it straight to your inbox.
You’ll also get access to all my future printables and craft ideas made only for subscribers:
More Printable Summer Crafts
Looking for more printable summer crafts for kids? Check out these favorites from my blog:
🍧 Pop-Up Card for Summer – Color, cut, and glue a cheerful summer scene with this kawaii printable pop-up card.
⛵ Boat in a Bottle Craft – Build a 3D paper boat inside a bottle, complete with a clear window for display.
🐡 Paper Submarine Craft – Make a playful paper submarine with clear windows and curious passengers on board.
🤿 Submarine Window – A more detailed ocean craft using both printable pieces and materials like a paper plate and clay.
* All the free printables in my website are for personal, non-commercial use. Please always share them with a link and credit. Thanks!
