Fish Aquarium with Cats
This project is a lot more involved than the other crafts available at Irish's Story Playhouse and may require adult supervision and assistance. It is recommended for older children (12 and up). This project will also take a few days to complete. It is not a quick project, but it does make a really great gift! I'd save this one for a special occasion such as Christmas.
Materials for base:
1 sheet of cardstock 6 inches by 6 inches
1 piece of lightweight cardboard (cereal boxes work well) 6 inches by 6 inches
1 piece decorative paper 6 inches by 6 inches
Glue the cardstock to the cardboard. Let dry.
Glue the decorative paper on top of the cardstock. Let dry.
Materials for Frame:
Four pieces light blue cardstock 3 3/4 inches by 6 inches [1]
Four pieces light blue cardstock 2 inches by 6 inches [2]
Twelve pieces light blue cardstock 1/2 inch by 6 inches [3]
Eight pieces light blue cardstock 1 1/2 inches by 6 inches-will be prepared later [4 & 8]]
Four squares black construction paper 4 inches by 4 inches [5]
Four pieces dark purple 1 1/2 inches by 6 inches [6]
1 square light purple cardstock 6 inches by 6 inches with a square cut out of the inside using 3/4 inch border (It should look like a picture frame) [7]
[1] Fold these four pieces to make the columns of the aquarium edges. You will need to make five equal folds as one will serve as the anchor.
Glue the fifth fold to the first fold to form a square column. Set aside and let dry completely before moving to the next step.
[2] Fold these pieces in half lengthwise. These are glued to the bottom of the columns you made earlier to construct the shape of the aquarium. Glue the bottom of these strips to the base of the aquarium.
[3] These are support pieces. Glue 8 to the top of the pillars (one on the inside and one on the outside) to make the aquarium frame.
Glue four of the support peices to the inside of the pillars at the bottom.
[4] Fold four of these pieces so that each long edge has a 1/4 inch fold. Cut to fit between the support pieces you just made in [3] at the top of the frame. Glue in place. Allow to dry completely before moving on.
Prepare the other four the same way, but place them in the bottom supports of the frame.
[5] Fold the four black pieces of construction paper into an accordian (fan) pattern. Make sure the folds are not larger than 1/4 inch. Glue into the top frame support pieces.
[6] Prepare these pieces as you did [4]. Glue them into place over the black construction paper fans.
[7] Glue the square to the top of the aquarium to finish the frame.
Table for Aquarium:
Two pieces red card stock 3 inches by 6 inches [1 and 5]
Two pieces red cardstock 1 1/2 inches by 6 inches [2]
Two pieces red cardstock 1 1/2 inches by 3 inches [3]
1 piece construction paper 5 1/4 inche by 6 inches [4]
Two pieces red cardstock 1inch by 6 inches [6]
Two pieces red cardstock 1 inch by 3 inches [7]
Four pieces red cardstock 1 1/2 inches by 3 1/4 inches [8]
[1] Take one piece of cardstock (3x6) and lay it upside down. This is your table top.
[2] Fold the two pieces of cardstock 1/4 inch on each long side (1 1/2x6). Glue to the long sides of your tabletop.
[3] Fold the two pieces that are 1 1/2x3 in the same manner as you did the last step. Glue them on the short sides of the table top.
Let the table dry completely before continuing.
[4] Fold construction paper into an accordian or fan shape. Make sure the folds aren't more than 1/4 inches wide. Place this inside the table top.
[5] Glue the second piece of 3x6 cardstock onto the bottom of the table. Set aside to dry while doing the next steps.
[6] & [7] Fold the 1x6 inch pieces in half. Fold the 1x3 pieces in half. Glue together to form a frame. Let dry completely while completing the next step.
[8] Fold the four pices of 1 1/2x3 1/4 inch pieces in the same way you did the columns for the frame. These are your table legs.
Once steps [6] and [7] are dry, glue the frame to the bottom of the table [5]. Allow to dry.
Now, when everything is dry, glue the table legs to the table bottom. Allow to dry completely.
Glue the entire table to the side of the aquarium frame. The big cat will stand on this to reach the fish.
Plant for Aquarium:
Green craft foam
Cut three sea plants from the craft foam.
Glue the plants to the aquarium frame on the inside of the aquarium. These will hold the fish the cat is trying to catch.
Cat for Aquarium:
Orange Cardstock
Black Marker
Cut two cat shapes exactly the same. Your cat should be 7 1/2 inches high and be in a standing position.
Glue the shapes together back to back.
Draw in the details of the cat with a black marker.
Fishing pole for Aquarium:
String
Thin dowel painted any color
Small amount of craft foam-black or crimson
Reinforcement for three ring binder paper
Small amount of brown cardstock
Glue the string to the dowel. Leave enough hanging off the string to hang into the aquarium.
Stick reinforcement where reel would be.
Cut a small circle of craft foam and glue on top of reinforcement.
Cut a small worm from the brown cardstock.
Glue the worm onto the end of the string.
Glue the fishing pole with worm to the cat.
Glue the cat to the table and aquarium. You may need to make a hinge to support the cat on the side without the fishing pole. This is the back of your aquarium and won't be seen when it is set up for display.
Fish for Aquarium:
Piece of orange craft foam
Piece of dark blue craft foam
Scraps of white and light blue craft foam
Googly eyes
Black marker
From the orange craft foam, cut two fish shapes.
From the blue craft foam, cut two fish shapes
From the scraps of white craft foam, cut two fins
From the scraps of light blue craft foam, cut two fins
Glue the fins onto the fish shapes.
Glue googly eyes onto fish-one googly eye per fish
Draw scales and a mouth on each fish.
Glue three of the fish to the plants around the aquarium.
Glue the remaining fish to the worm.
Allow to dry completely before moving.