Most of the people prefer to spend their time in a useful way. Making the things out of cardboard is an interesting hobby. It empties your storeroom and makes you decorate your house free of cost. Moreover, you can also make a number of storage organizers and kids’ toys from cardboard boxes. A fish aquarium is of the items which people love to make from cardboard. Any of the large custom cardboard boxes can be used to make the body of the aquarium. Kids are always fond of playing with Koi fish. You can easily design them from cardboard. It can decorate any unused corner of your house and fascinate your kids too. Below are some of the easy steps how to make Koi fish with cardboard:
Materials Required:
- Paper Tubes
- Fin and Tail Templates for Koi Fish
- Acrylic paint
- Coloring palette
- Hot Glue
- Black Marker
- Cork
- Cardboard
Step 1: Collect the cardboard
The first step of the process is to gather cardboard. The best option is to utilize the cardboard from the tissue roll. Collect them according to the number of fish you want to make. If you are unable to get cardboard out of a tissue roll, take some old custom printed boxes. Cut out their taped ends to make them flat. Cut them in the strip and roll them similar to the shape of a cardboard roll.
Step 2: Prepare the Tints and Shades
Now it’s the time to color the fish. As we all know that Koi fish exist in a wide variety of colors and shades. It adds more charm to its attractiveness. First of all, you need to decide the combination in which you want to color the Koi fishes. For making the tint of that color, add the original color to white. Convert the tints to shades by mixing a little charcoal grey to it.
Step 3: Make the body of the fish
For making the body of the fish it’s better to color it at the start. Let it dry. Afterward, stick one end of the cardboard roll using a strong adhesive. Hold it for a few seconds to fix it properly. As cardboard is a hard and stiff material, so hot glue works best.
Step 4: Make the tails and fins
For making the tails and fins of the Koi fish, you need some old cardboard boxes. If you can make them on your own its good, otherwise download an online template. Copy the template of fins and tail on a sheet of cardboard. Insert the tail inside the body of the fish and paste the fins on its upper and lower sides. Make some long cuts of the back of the tail to give an attractive look. Trim off the outer edge of the tube create a fine body shape. You can color them side by side or in the end, it’s your choice.
Step 5: Paint
Start with painting the koi fish bodies. Then color the fins and tail. Let the paint dry. Make the eyes with a black marker and enhance the lips of the fish with a coral paper strip. And you are done! You can make some other type of fish and worm as well by using cardboard. Design an aquarium or a fish game from the custom boxes by cutting off their lids. Place your lovely creation inside it and enjoy.
