Fish Tank

inspiration: Lawn Fawnatics #57 + Simon Says Stamp Monday (Bright and Cheerful)

I usually make packaging and then find candy to go inside, but this time around, it was the candy that inspired the project. I found some fruit juice candy at my Bulk Barn and I immediately thought it could work great paired with the Keep on Swimming stamp set to create a fish tank. Initially, I was tossing around ideas where I would have created a window to see inside the packaging, but when I went looking in my packaging box to find cello bags, I actually found little acetate boxes from Stampin' Up! that were just the right size to be turned into a fish tank.

I inked blended a long panel of white cardstock, on both sides, using Distress Oxide inks (Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers and Lucky Clover) and Blender Brushes. I spritzed with water and dried with my heat tool on the low setting. I then scored at 1-15/16" intervals twice so that I had a three panel insert to put into the box. I cut the last piece to 1-15/16" x 1-15/16" for the bottom of the box. By having the folded panel, I was able to simply slip the insert inside the box and now have to glue it in place, which is preferable when working with a transparency. I did glue the bottom part in with narrow double-side adhesive as it kept popping up a bit, but it didn't matter since we won't really be seeing the bottom of the box. It doesn't really matter when there's candy in there because the weight is keeping the panel down, but I've noticed that people tend to keep the empty boxes for a while after it's empty when I'm giving away candy as they think the packaging is cute.

I glued various fish and shells on both sides of the panels and added the Hope your day is fantastic on cardstock strips on the back. For the cat at the front, we would have seen the adhesive inside the empty box, so I die-cut the cat image (and snipped the tail off the image) and the fish food image a second time using grey cardstock and I glued it inside the box, lining it with the colored images. Then it looks like a shadow and hides the adhesive in between. My tip for you: glued the grey pieces inside first and then add the colored pieces outside afterwards. It's way easier to line up the small pieces on the outside since you have room to work. (I forgot to do that with the fish food image and I struggled to put it in place inside - I worked smarter with the cat and it was much easier.)

To finish the package off, I tried various ribbon and twine options. I didn't like it wrapping all the way around the box as it hid the fish, so I did pink ribbon around the cover only and baker's twine on top to tie the tag on it. I tried another colour option first but was not liking it, so I went back to my inked cardstock scrap and die-cut a tag out of it, which looks much better.

This set with the cat looking at something is fun. I can see using it for many more projects to come!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplies
Stamps: Keep on Swimming (Lawn Fawn); Étiquettes des Fêtes (Tags & Tidings - Stampin' Up!)
Cardstock: Thick Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Inks: Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Features and Lucky Clover Distress Oxide (Ranger);
Tuxedo Black (Memento); Night of Navy Classic Ink (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Flirty Flamingo Ruched Ribbon, Basic Black/Mint Macaron Baker's Twine,
Clear Tiny Trest Boxes, Christmas Tags Thinlits Die (Stampin' Up!); White Gel Pen (Gelly Roll);
Markers (Copic); Blender Brushes (Picket Fence Studios); Candy

 

Comments

[Grace Camou]

Oh my goodness! This little box design is fantastic! I love how this little aquarium is a scene in itself and it also holds candy! Very creative and super cute!...awww, and that kitty...precious! Thank you so much for sharing this brilliant creation with us at Lawn Fawnatics! -Grace