Children who cannot have a pet of their own may enjoy creating this home aquarium in a box. It is a fun craft that creates a very unique fish tank decoration. The directions below tell just one basic way that the aquarium can be made. Box sizes, materials, and types of fish can be changed to suit your tastes.
Materials Needed for the Aquarium Craft
- One large shoebox
- Scissors
- Acrylic craft paint and paintbrush
- Clear or blue-tinted plastic wrap (cling film)
- Scotch or masking tape
- Green tissue paper
- Thin cardboard or cardstock
- Markers or crayons
- Fishing line
- Clear drying craft glue
Designing the Aquarium Box
The home aquarium is made from the large shoe box. Begin by cutting out a large rectangle in both the top and bottom of the box. Then, use the acrylic craft paint to paint the remaining box pieces. This will be the frame and sides to the fish tank. You can decorate the aquarium with stickers, glitter, or other accents if desired.
The next step in creating the craft aquarium is to make the glass. Of course, you will not really use glass. The plastic wrap or cling film will be the aquarium glass.
Cut a piece of plastic wrap large enough for each side of the aquarium. Tape the edges securely on the inside of the box top and bottom. Make sure there are no wrinkles in the plastic.
Stocking the Craft Home Aquarium
Before you close up the aquarium box, you must stock the fish tank. The first step is to create water weed or aquarium plants. Use two colors of green tissue paper to cut out long, wavy strips of plant. Tape these to the top of the aquarium in clumps and let them hang down. Some may reach the bottom, but others will be shorter for a realistic look.
The next step is creating the fish for the aquarium craft. Cut small fish shapes out of cardstock or construction paper. Color them with markers, paint, or crayons. You can also use glitter or fancy papers to make them special.
Cut lengths of the fishing line long enough to stretch from the top of the aquarium to the bottom. Use clear tape or glue to attach the fish to the fishing line. Then, tape the ends to either side of the aquarium craft. You can also leave them dangling free instead of sticking them to the bottom as well as the top.
After all your fish are in the tank, close the sides or the box and tape them together. If you get tired of the aquarium arrangement, simply undo the box and make new fish.