How to Make a Mermaid Tail From Cardboard

Mermaids' tails enable them to swim in water for long periods of time.

Mermaids are often depicted in movies or books as mysterious or romantic heroines. The mermaid is a mythical creature that has a human upper body and a fish tail. Making a mermaid tail out of cardboard enables you to attach it to a mermaid costume or to decorate a craft project. Forming the mermaid's tail is not complicated if you have the right supplies and add colorful scales to the design.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Large piece of cardboard
• Drinking glass
• Aluminum foil or fabric with a sea-inspired design
• Pencil or colored marker
• School glue
• Raffia, green or brown yarn (optional)
• Self-adhesive hook and loop tape (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut the mermaid's tail out of cardboard by cutting a long rectangle that is approximately 18 inches wide by 36 inches long. The purpose of the mermaid's tail determines the size; make it bigger or smaller depending on how you are using it.

2. Shape the mermaid's fins by using scissors to cut an upside down V shape out of one narrow end of the rectangle. Use the scissors to narrow the cardboard section above the fins if you desire.

3. Lay fabric or large strips of aluminum foil down on a flat work surface.

4. Set a drinking glass upside down on the fabric or foil and trace circles all over the material. Keep the circles close together, as you will need many circles. Foil is useful if you want to add a shiny, wet look to the mermaid tail.

5. Cut the circle shapes out with the scissors.

6. Fold each circle in half to crease it, and then cut along the crease with the scissors. This creates half circles for the fish scales.

7. Glue the half circle shapes all over the mermaid's tail in rows. Cover one entire side of the cardboard tail with the half circles. Allow the glue to dry completely before using your mermaid's tail.

Tips & Warnings

• Cut strands of raffia or green or brown yarn in 6-inch lengths and glue it on various places on the mermaid's tail. This gives the look of seaweed clinging to the tail.

• Cut two squares out of self-adhesive hook and loop tape. Peel off the backing and attach one side of each to the back of the costume where you want to hang the mermaid's tail. Attach the other hook and loop closures to the back of the cardboard so that it matches up with the tape on the costume. Press the hook and loop tape together to add the mermaid's tail to the costume.

References

• American Museum of Natural History: Becoming Mermaids