help me solve this crafting problem

[CloudBee]

I've had the sewing bug for a while, and did a lot of sewing last weekend and through NYE/NY. Now I can't spend much time just sitting in our hard dining room chairs for hours on end. So no more sewing. Thankfully all of my projects are finished.

But now I want to craft! I want to do something else!

I have all of the supplies I need to make a mobile for the nursery, minus the embroidery hoop.

There are no big box crafting stores in town, just a small, local art supply store. I doubt they have embroidery hoops, but my husband says he'll go take a look tomorrow.

I'm trying to think of what I can use in place of an embroidery hoop. It doesn't have to be flat like an embroidery hoop, just circular. I have fabric to cover it with, but it doesn't have to be covered if it's got a good finish to it already... whatever it is.

My first thought was "cardboard, we have tons of it!" Unfortunately all of our cardboard is corrugated, so you can't smoothly bend it into a circle/hoop. It's also not really strong, and I fear it would bend over time.

Then I thought "one of those cheap plastic cutting board sheets that you can roll up and store in the cabinet! I could cut one into strips and staple to make a plastic hoop!" I checked, and we tossed all of those a while ago.

Any other ideas of something I may have hanging around my house that can be used in place of an embroidery hoop as a base for the mobile pieces to hang from?

I bought these felt garlands from Land of Nod in teal, orange, and lime. Originally I was going to drape them across the crib in lieu of a mobile, but now I think I will trim them down and make a mobile so it's less "busy".

www.landofnod.com/this-garland-is-shaping-up-teal-circle/f10318#familyKnockKnock

[Redpoppy]

Do you have a hardware or garden supply? They should have plastic ring to put under pots in various size. Can't think of anything in the house though unless you stack some paper plates or something. Does it have to be round? Chopsticks or skewers could work.

Eta: springform cake pan you never use?

[CloudBee]

Springform pan! I think we have a stack of those in the garage that never get used, in smaller sizes I'm going to have my husband check. I can't remember if we donated them or not. Awesome!

We do have kabob sticks. Maybe I will consider that route if I can't find something round.

[Deleted]

How about a foam wreath? You can wrap that in fabric.

[lindyanne]

I was going to suggest a foam wreath as well. Even without a craft store, if you have a hardware store you can get supplies there - and it will be cheaper! pinterest.com/pin/223983781436985425/

[mlvmd]

Those metal rings the go around pipes? I don't know how big they are,
But the have that little knob on them to tighten.

[birdmom]

Can you make cushions for your hard dining room chairs?

Check the floral section of Michael's for something foam you use. They used to have all kinds of stuff like that.

[jackpackage]

I wanted to buy an embroidery hoop for a mobile too, but they were all out. I ended up finding bamboo purse handles in the bead section at Joann Fabrics.

Eta: There's no quilt shop in your area? There's like 3 in my small town, lol!

[kathybela]

Do any of the dollar stores in your area carry craft supplies? Embroidery hoops are pretty common in the dollar stores here.

[Ashley&Scott]

Amazon Prime?

[chia]

Order one!

www.amazon.com/dp/B002QK8N3S/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=krissfacepage-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B002QK8N3S&adid=143K5C0NFNMBJB690AZX

You could also maybe use hangers, formed into a circle and covered with ribbon?

[CloudBee]

I could order, but I want to craft NOW! lol

Thanks for the ideas. I think I will send my husband down to the local hardware store tomorrow. I bet he could find something there. Maybe in the gardening department as someone suggested above.

[pitterwoo]

pex tube from the hardware store. I have a friend who uses it (covered with colored tape) to make hula hoops.

[catbus]

Late to the game, but I think those garlands would look cute hanging from a Plexiglas circle, like what I did for E's room out of card stock:

My mobile was based off this Frazier and Wing mobile:
(For the record, the room color similarity is a coincidence... I'd painted the nursery months before making the mobile!)
To hang the strung circles, I just drilled small holes in the disc, threaded through the strings, and knotted them on the other side.

[CloudBee]

I love that mobile, catbus! You did a great job!

ETA: Where did you get a circle of plexi?

[catbus]

Jan 5, 2013 23:03:59 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

I love that mobile, catbus! You did a great job!

ETA: Where did you get a circle of plexi?

Umm, I didn't... I made H cut me a circle from a rectangular piece we bought at the hardware store. ;D It was easy with his Dremel.

[Deleted]

Do you have a Walmart and are you willing to shop there? I think they might have embroidery hoops in their craft section.

[grover]

My local Walmart and Meijer both have embroidery hoops. Maybe check a place like those if you have one nearby?

[CloudBee]

I can't go out as I'm on bedrest. I might be able to talk my husband into Walmart, but I might have I really push.