TROPIKAL BOTTLE FISH

Tropical Bottle Fish

by Amy Brown

Materials

· Scissors

· Clean plastic 2-liter bottle

· Permanent marker

· Clean plastic 20-ounce bottle (optional)

· Masking tape

· Fishing line

· Newspaper

· Thinned white glue or Mod Podge

· Paintbrushes and acrylic paint

· Milk-jug cap

· Glue dots

· Googly eyes (we used 3/4-inch)

1. Use scissors to cut off the end of the 2-liter bottle about two inches from the bottom (a parent's job). Hold the edges of the bottle closed and use the marker to draw on the tail shape, as shown. To add a fin, use scissors to cut off the top and bottom of the 20-ounce bottle. Flatten the plastic, then use a marker to draw a fin shape on the fold, as shown. Cut out the tail, and fin, if using.

2. Tape together the ends of the bottle, then tape the fin closed, if using, and tape it to the bottle. Cut a length of fishing line and tape a loop to the top of the bottle so that it will hang at the angle you like.

3. Tear the newspaper into pieces (we used 2-inch squares). Working in sections and taking care not to glue over the hanging loop, brush glue onto the bottle and press on the paper. Let the glue dry.

4. Paint the fish and let it dry. For eyes, cut the milk-jug cap in half. Use glue dots to attach a half on each side and to attach a googly eye to each half.