Fish Projects for Kids

Fun fish projects for kids to do!

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Make whimsical fish to float around a room out of scraps of Masonite and the limits of your imagination!

School of Fish

Materials:

Masonite
jigsaw with scroll blade (or scroll saw)
220-grit sandpaper
tack cloth or rags
primer
paint
paintbrushes
small sawtooth picture hangers
hammer

Steps:

1. Draw the desired fish designs on paper, and then trace them onto the Masonite pieces.
2. Cut each out using a jigsaw with a scroll blade attached. The scroll blade makes it easier to follow the traced line. Be sure to take your time and don't push the blade, let it work for you. Or, cut them out using a scroll saw, which provides precision cuts and almost eliminates the need for sanding after cutting.
3. Once the designs have been cut, lightly sand the edges. Remove the dust with a tack cloth or damp rag. 4. Prime the fish and let dry. Paint as desired and let dry.
5. Attach a sawtooth picture hanger to the back of the each fish and use a nail to hang them.

Surround a plain mirror with a blowfish design that'll make you smile every time you look at it!

Blowfish Mirror

Materials:

24" round mirror
MDF (medium-density fiberboard) panel
jigsaw
compass
220-grit sandpaper
router
construction adhesive
picture-hanging wire and hooks

Figure A

Steps:

1. Use the same technique as above to cut the shape of a blowfish out of the MDF.
2. Draw a circle that measure 23 inches in diameter in the center and cut it out using a jigsaw (figure A). Use a router with a round-over bit to soften the outer edge of the circle with one quick pass. Lightly sand the edges and remove the dust.

Figure B

3. To mount the mirror on the reverse side of the board, use the router with a straight bit to cut an inset groove for the mirror to rest on. Run a bead of construction adhesive along the groove (figure B) and place the mirror in position. Push lightly to set it in place.
4. Prime and paint the frame as desired. Let dry.
5. Attach picture-hanging wire to the back with a couple of hooks to hang the mirror.

Hang a topper that simulates a school of fish to add to the underwater feeling even more!

School of Fish Topper

Materials:

Masonite
jigsaw with scroll blade (or scroll saw)
220-grit sandpaper
tack cloth or rags
primer
paint
paintbrushes
small sawtooth picture hangers
hammer
scrap blocks
screws
drill

Figure C

Steps:

1. Follow the same steps for the fish project above to make a school of fish on a board of Masonite and paint as desired. Cut more single fish out and once painted, screw them to the board with a small block behind the fish to add dimension. Cover the screw with paint to disguise it. Mount 1x4 pine boards to the back using L-brackets (figure C).
2. Attach L-brackets to the wall and secure the mounting board to them from below to hold the topper in place. Hang more fish on the walls to add to the effect.