Crafts: Solar System Mobile & Galaxy Watercolor Art

Crafts: Solar System Mobile & Galaxy Watercolor Art

Okay listen—sometimes homeschooling turns into cosmic chaos, and I fully support it. There’s something wildly therapeutic about flinging paint around while pretending you’re NASA’s newest recruit with glitter glue in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. Today we’re blasting off into art class with two space-themed projects that are as educational as they are delightfully messy:

✨ A Solar System Mobile that lets your kids (and let’s be honest, you) hang the planets in perfect wobbly alignment.

🎨 And a Galaxy Watercolor Art project that’s basically therapy disguised as painting.

We’re talking sparkly orbits, salty nebulae, paint-splattered shirts, and probably at least one moment of “is this Jupiter or a meatball?” But that’s part of the fun. Ready? Let’s make the universe.

☀️ SOLAR SYSTEM MOBILE

You’ve seen them—those hanging planet mobiles that make you want to immediately redo your entire ceiling decor? Yeah. We’re making one. But our version involves more personality, more chaos, and probably a touch of glitter in your hair.

Supplies:

Black or white cardstock (or cut up cereal boxes—reduce, reuse, re-orbit)

Paint (acrylic or tempera works great)

Paintbrushes

Scissors

String, yarn, or fishing line

Wire hanger, stick, or wooden dowel

Hole punch or something pokey (technical term)

Glue

Optional: glitter, metallic markers, sequins, googly eyes (because Pluto deserves one)

How to Make It:

Draw your planets. Different sizes—Mercury’s a marble, Jupiter’s a beach ball. Don’t forget the Sun!

Paint them. Go classic or chaotic. Saturn doesn’t need to be beige. Add texture by sponging or flicking paint for that space dust effect.

Cut them out once dry, unless you like cosmic fingerprints as a motif.

Punch holes and thread your string through.

Tie them onto your hanger/stick at varying lengths so it looks like they’re orbiting and not forming a conga line.

Hang it up. You did it. You literally made a miniature solar system. You’re basically a celestial architect now.

🪩 Bonus tip: Add constellation cutouts, name labels, or even tiny rocket ships between planets for a full “living museum exhibit” vibe.

🎨 GALAXY WATERCOLOR ART

This one? Gorgeous. Cathartic. Messy in a way that’s good for your soul. It’s all about letting watercolor do its thing and watching an accidental masterpiece happen.

Supplies:

Watercolor paper (the thicker, the better)

Watercolor paints (or thinned-down acrylics)

Brushes or sponges

Cup of water

Paper towels

Salt (yes, actual salt—trust the process)

White gel pen or white paint (for stars)

Optional: metallic pens for constellations and sparkle

How to Make It:

Get your paper damp. Use a big brush to wet the surface—don’t drown it, just a nice cosmic mist.

Add your colors. Purples, blues, pinks, and blacks. Let them blend and swirl like interstellar soup.

Sprinkle salt while it’s still wet. The salt will absorb pigment and leave tiny star-like bursts. It’s actual magic.

Walk away. Let it dry completely (seriously, don’t poke it).

Brush off the salt and reveal your galaxy.

Flick on stars with white paint or a toothbrush, or dot constellations with a pen. Bonus points for naming your own nebula.

🌌 Optional: Outline planets, rockets, or the Moon once dry to turn your cosmic chaos into a legit art piece.

🧠 Bonus Learning Moment

You can sneak some science in here, too—talk about the order of the planets, gravitational pull, or why stars look like tiny salt flakes (okay, not exactly, but we’re having fun here). It’s equal parts art class, science lab, and stress relief.

When you’re done, hang your Solar System Mobile near your Galaxy Art and bask in your home-made universe. Congratulations—you’ve officially brought outer space to your living room, and all it cost you was a little glitter and sanity.