Wednesday 2 December 2015

Fish Bowl Christmas Tree Baubles

I have wanted to try this idea ever since I saw it on Pinterest, I had the clear glass baubles but couldn’t find any pliable, plastic fish that would fit easily inside them ……….. until I was in Hammersmith, with Marc, in about March, when we found the perfect ones in Tiger (I think they were £1 for a pack of 10). But it then took me until mid November to actually start making them in just in time for this Christmas.
The baubles were a bargain sale find in Dunelm a couple of Christmas’s ago, they were reduced from £4.99 to £1 for a box of three.  They looked hideous as they had horrid strips of dull tartan card inside, but I reckoned that I could easily hook the card out ….. which I did.  So each bauble cost me about 33p.
I first took the bauble and poured in a mix of small, glass seed beads into the bottom.  I then threaded invisible thread through the top fin of the fish and delicately glue gunned the end to the outside of the bauble top, this was quite fiddly and often took a couple of gos, but I got better at it as I went on. The bauble I first saw on Pinterest had one fish in it, but I wanted to try using two.  Again, it was a fiddly as I wanted to get the fish at slightly different levels and I didn’t want them to touch, but through trial and error I think I got them pretty balanced.
The metal top, when refitted, covered up any glue or thread that needed to be left there.In all, I reckon that each bauble cost no more than 50p to make and I think I could, if I wanted to, sell them for an awful lot more, but these are destined to be given as presents, if I can actually let any go, as I love them so much! 
IMG_6727I also made this version, using a plastic spice jar, for Iris, as she loves fish, making sure that the lid was very solidly glued on of course.

5 comments:

Cheryl W said...

OMG, Helen, you've done it again! These baubles are awesome and look so darn realistic, even though you KNOW they're just little plastic fish. They will really look special on a tree or wherever they are placed, and I am certain Iris will love hers!!

ali said...

LOVE THE BAUBLES ITS LOVELY TO HAVE YOU BLOGGING BEATS AN ADVENT CALENDER ANY TIME

marc said...

OMG i love these def going to see if they have any more of the fish and keep my eye out for clear plastic balls big love marc

PharmacyMichele said...

These are fantastic or should I say "Fintastic" ?!

Michele

Roni said...

Omg! These are just so cute!! But my favourite is the little purple one for Iris in its own little fish tank!!

Big hugs
Roni :D xox