Birthday Fish Tank

 

This is a project that is very dear to me. It is for my nephew Ryan. He LOVES fish tanks and I thought it would be wonderful to make him one that he doesn't have to change the water or feed the fish.. I wish I could take credit for this idea, but that goes to Kerri Hortle. Here is a link to her card on Pinterest. The moment I saw this, I knew I would make one for my nephew. Isn't she clever?

So, here are the details on how this was made. I cut the box on my Silhouette Cameo using a cut file from a 3d fern box. It was square, so I had to manipulate it a bit, and I only used one piece from the cut file and removed the fern from the inside of it. I just didn't want to buy another box cut file. I measured and cut a piece of acetate to put on the inside to enclose the box. The background was made using Encaustic Wax on white card stock. I cut the piece to be a little bigger than the box and scored and cut the edges to make the inside of the box. That way, I could glue the sides of the bottom box to the top box to keep everything inside. I had to use glue dots, because the wax wouldn't hold white glue.

I used black lava rocks from my stash for the bottom of the ocean. This was done by squeezing a generous portion of Martha Stewart white glue (dries clear) along the bottom edge, pouring the lava rock on top and setting aside to dry completely before dumping the excess back into the container. The coral was made using a McGill punch and then dipping it into colored UTEE using the melting pot. I did the orange first, and then added green and got this dark green effect. The fish are from Gina K. Design's Under the Sea set.  They were stamped on white card stock and colored with Copic markers (orange fish - YR12, YR14, YR16; starfish - E11, E13; yellow & blue fish - Y04, Y06, Y08, BG02, BG05; turtle - YG21, YG23, YG25). One of the fish was stamped onto a clear block and then onto card stock, so I could get it faced in the opposite direction.

I mounted the fishtank on a piece of black card stock, then added a 3-tiered, sponged set of rectangles and then the metal sentiment (Tim Holtz Ideaology Word Bands) and then used black metal circles to make it look anchored.

I had the best time making this card. It has already gone into the mail to him today and I'm praying it makes it in one piece. I hope it doesn't get crushed.

I am entering this into the following challenges:

STV's MIUM Summer ABC's Challenge

Saturday's Paper Ala Mode - Animals Challenge - The Outlawz

CDAC - Anything Goes Challenge

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

Crafting With Dragonflies Challenge #4 - Make a Box