Goldfish Bowl Craft inspired by “Goldfish on Vacation”

“Goldfish on Vacation” by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Leo Espinosa

This sweet story is one of the cutest stories about goldfish that I have ever read.  It features three children and their three pet goldfish whom they love.  When summer vacation draws near they feel bad that their fish are stuck in their bowl rather than vacationing or having fun.  Then good news comes that the neglected city fountain will be repaired and local goldfish pets are welcome to come vacation in the fountain for the summer.   Of course they jump on the opportunity and their fish get their own little vacation.

This story is absolutely darling.  The expressions on the faces of the children are so cute and the diversity of children shown is wonderful.  It is a book with a real sense of community and friendliness that goes beyond the cute story.  We love this one!

Click here to purchase “Goldfish on Vacation” *affiliate link

Goldfish Bowl Craft

This is the kind of book that will make your kids (and possibly even you) wish that you had a goldfish or two.  And, if you’re like me, even after reading this book you aren’t quite feeling ready to commit to getting one.  Despite the cuteness of the story.  That was why I thought that it would be so fun to create our own goldfish craft inspired by this book that my kids could keep.

The ones we made were SO much fun to create and my kid’s favorite part is that the fish are free hanging inside which means if you gently rock the “fishbowl” back and forth it can give the illusion that the fish are swimming.  My oldest loved his so much that he requested that it be hung up in his room so he could see it whenever he wanter.  That’s how big of a hit it was!

Supplies:

• 2 sturdy paper plates (pick the deeper ones with the wide rims)
• clear plastic wrap
• hot glue gun or stapler
• liquid craft glue
• string
• artificial grass/plants
• brown rice
• blue colored paper
• goldfish printable (or make your own fish) (we used the free Set 2 printable found HERE)
• markers to decorate
• wiggly eye (optional)

Process:

1. Using the bottom of your paper plate, trace a circle on your blue paper and cut it out.  Glue it to the bottom of one of your paper plates.  (With the paper plate right side up.) (I used hot glue for the blue paper to make sure it was adhered strong enough for all the heavy decorations to come, but a good craft glue should work as well.)
2. Cut the center out of your second paper plate using the rim as a guide.  Next cut out a piece of plastic wrap that is approximately the size of your cut out opening.  Then, glue it to the plate so that it covers the opening like a window pane.  (Glue on the bottom of the plate when it is right side up so any patterns on your plate will be hidden for your final product.)
3. Here is what it looks like when you turn it over.
4. Spread some liquid craft glue along the bottom of your blue background and then sprinkle brown rice on top.  Allow to dry and then shake of excess.  This will be your “sand/gravel”. Glue any artificial grass/plants you would like to your background as well.
5. Print out a fish shape, cut it out, and decorate it with a wiggly eye and markers.  When it is finished attach it to your plate by taping a bit of string on your fish and then to the top rim of your bottom/background paper plate.  (Tape the string on the very top of the rim so that your fish can swing freely.)
6. Using a stapler or a hot glue gun, staple your two plate rims together and you’re done! 

We hope you enjoy your “easy care” goldfish “pets” as much as we do! If you give this Beyond the Book activity a try I’d love to hear how it goes! Share it on Instagram and tag me! (I’m on Instagram as @book.nerd.mommy) or even just comment here with your thoughts. It would make my day! Or to simply save for later pin the image below.