I don’t know about you, but I could sit and look at a tank full of fish swimming around all day long! For today’s doll play activity we are going to make the easiest fish tank ever for our dolls using the printable at the end of the post.
La Dee Da Doll Tylie agrees. she loves the new fish tank on the end table and finds it oh, so relaxing to watch.
There are two versions of this project – the super duper easy version perfect for small dolls like La Dee Da dolls, Hearts for Hearts, Liv, and Barbie – and there is the slightly more difficult version for 18″ dolls like American Girl.
Let’s start with the super easy!!
Step 1 – Print out the fish tank sheet below.
Step 2 – Cover the long scene (the long scene is for small dolls and the single one is for larger dolls) with clear packing tape. I find it is easier to work with and few steps this way.
Step 3 - Cut out the long scene and fold on the solid lines to make a box (without a top or bottom). Tape the end closed.
Step 4 – Cut a piece of clear packing tape to go over the top of the box. You could also use a piece of black paper, felt or fun foam to cover it instead.
Step 5 - Cut a narrow strip of black paper, felt or fun foam and glue along the bottom edge and the top edge to form the edges of the fish tank.
For the larger version (which I have yet to make 
):
Step 1 - Print out the fish tank scene, find one on Google images or cut one out of a pet supply catalog
Step 2 – Cut a piece of dark blue construction paper that is twice as long as your scene plus 3-4″
Step 3 – Using the packing tape, stick the scene to your construction paper (using our small template as a guide) and make your fish tank box.
Step 4 – Cut a piece of clear packing tape to go over the top of the box. You could also use a piece of black paper, felt or fun foam to cover it instead.
Step 5 - Cut a narrow strip of black paper, felt or fun foam and glue along the bottom edge and the top edge to form the edges of the fish tank.
Download the printable pattern for a doll fish tank as a PDF file.
You could also use a clear plastic box or packaging material and just tape the scene inside if you wanted to. Like all of our projects, this is inspiration – there are so many ways you can make this your own.
Love this! We have a tank and it is a favorite around here.
Firstie!
Cute! Thirdie!
Cute! I will totally do this! Also, fourthie!
This is a great idea!!!!!!
5thie! Cute!
Neat! I have a doll-sized fish and turtle that live in a plastic battery pack. We have two fish tanks at home, too, with four goldfish and a beta. I’d use this, too, if I didn’t already have one.
sixthie and i am sooo making this!
Dollsome!
wow this is great!
CHAR THEY HAVE PICTURES OF THE CAROLING MINI DOLL AND BOXED SET ON AMAZON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just saw them – I will post them soon.
I saw the mini doll to but I hope she prettier in person :/
Mia, I put them on my blog.
Hayley – I don’t think any of the stock photos of the mini dolls are good… Most of them are cuter in person.
Cute!
Haha, I love this! Too cute!
Tylie looks great on that Groovy Girls chair, by the way. It almost seems sized better for her than the GGs.
Cute. I could expand the larger picture to make it like the dolls are in a restaurant and sitting by the fish tank. I could sit at a fish tank too, especially when I’m under a lot of stress
Pretty Irish AG – that is the kind of imagination I hope to inspire! Take the idea, run with it and make it your own.
dollsome! totally making this!!!!!
I am so gonna make this!
This is a cool idea! Thanks for sharing this idea, Char.
Hi, this ADORABLE! I love it! I already have a fish for my A.G. dolls, but I am planning to use the smaller one for my Barbies. I might glue it on to the wall instead of making a box. I’m not sure though. I know where it will go though. In the Barbie library. There my dolls can just read and watch the fish go by.
Oh and Char, did you make the little table out of a duct tape roll or just something round?
Audrey – here is the way I made the table – http://dolldiaries.com/doll-play-day-80-the-easiest-doll-table-ever/ except for this photo shoot I used a few sheets of tissue paper that match the Groovy Girl chair instead of fabric.
Cute. I really have no interest in fish tho.
This is SOOOOOO cool!
Thank you Char!
I made a Barbie fish tank and it turned out great.
i am making this!!!
this would be great for barbies dream house i need to get a printer!
I love fish. My cousin has two fish in a big fish tank. My friends also have about 5 or 6 fish..
At the dollar store you can get this little fish tanks that when you put water in ti the ”fish” grow. They are perfect size for Ag dolls.
i knda like the bollywood la dee da doll