Crocheted Hot Air Balloon Mobile

This is a hot air balloon mobile I crocheted. 

You'll need:

Yarn
Size G crochet hook
A balloon
Elmer's glue and water
An old mobile. 

First I crocheted the balloon. I did an magic ring, then increased and decreased as needed. 
(there are lots of instructions out there on how to crochet a ball. )
The last 3 rows I made the same as the previous row to give the balloon a neck. 

I didn't want to stuff it with filling, I decided to try to make it stiff. 
I put a latex balloon inside the crocheted balloon, and blew it up to the right size.

I know they sell sitffener for yarn, but I didn't have any. I thought I would try glue. 

I did probably about 3 parts water to 1 part glue. Next time I would make it half and half. 

I soaked the balloon in the glue mixture. It absorbed most of it. Then I propped the balloon on top of a cup to catch the drips. 

The next day it was dry and fairly stiff. Once totally dry, you can pop the balloon and remove it. 

I made the basket by crocheting a circle, then making the next few rows into the neck.  I free formed the clouds, and made a circle sun with some single chain rays. 

I attached this all to an old mobile I had, that had sort of sad grubby teddy bears hanging from it. 

This is not necessarily child safe, so you might not want to put it in the crib. Make sure you don't leave the latex balloon in the hot air balloon and give it to the child.  You don't want a baby to get tangled in the strings. Just be careful. I'm going to hang mine in the corner of the playroom from the ceiling. 

That's all. Hope you like it!