Here’s a simple paper roll fish craft you can make and as a bonus you get to upcycle your cardboard tubes at the same time.
You might also like our egg carton goldfish
I adore making paper roll animals using a cut and fold technique and this is possibly one of the simplest ones ever.
Originally I designed this craft years ago for my girls when they were preschoolers. I cut out the fish shapes for them and they decorated them with sequins, glitter and other bits and pieces. The girls used their finished fish as ‘food’ in their toy kitchen for a long time – years even! You could also turn them into a fishing game with the help of some paper clips and magnets on strings.
I thought it was time to revisit this fun idea with a revised step-by-step tutorial and I’ve even created a video too.
How to make a paper roll fish
You will need:
• one painted recycled cardboard tube per fish (you can use a paper towel roll cut down to size or a toilet roll, both will work)
• more paint to decorate
• googly eyes and glue
• permanent marker
• scissors
How to:
- Flatten your cardboard tube
- Cut a rounded end for the fish’s head and two slits at an approximate 45º angle for the tail
- Fold the angled cut inwards both forwards and backwards and then tuck it inside the fish to create the tail (see video or photos if this sounds confusing)
- Decorate your fish with paints and allow to dry
- Glue a googly eye onto each side and draw on a mouth with a marker
See – I told you it was easy!
Here are a few that my girls made when they were pre schoolers. Aren’t they cute?
I’m always up for a challenge! What paper roll animal would you like me to create next?
More paper roll animal crafts
• Giraffe
• Swan
• Frill necked lizard
• Fox
• Grasshopper
You can find tons more on our Cardboard tubes board on Pinterest too.
Pin it:
This is really creative and cute!
Great idea for the children ti work with, painting them putting them together, love it.
This is so cute and easy!
Something little ones can do with little help. Great
i want to try this .. how many things we needed for this
Cardboard tubes, scissors and paint is all you need. Googly eyes and glue optional but not necessary.
What kind of paint did you use?
Acrylic paint. My favourite brand is Jo Sonjas but that may not be available near you. Some brands will need a couple of coats of paint to get them looking opaque.
Kate you are amazing !! This such an amazing way of crafting the fish. I am sure going to use it with my pre-k class, and thank you so much for sharing. Do you have any such simple but creative animal craft work for my class to create on wild, farm or air borne animals. Thank you
Loved it
Could be fun to not only make these but hot glue small metal flat washers and give child a honemade fishing rod with magnet on end?
That sounds like a great idea!
Thax Kate I am going to use this art for my life skills lesson. You the best .
Awesome! hope the kids enjoy making them 🙂