Make an awesome shark lamp
Turn your bedroom into an amazing aquarium with your very own super cool shark lamp. And let our Earthshot Champion, mega shark fan and incredible adventurer Steve Backshall show you how.
- Cardboard
- Clean plastic bottle
- Pen
- Scissors
- Double sided tape
- Tape
- Blue tissue
- PVA glue
- Battery powered fairy lights
How to create your shark lamp?
🚨 Be careful and get a grown up to help you when using sharp objects🚨
1. Creating your shark body
First draw the outline of a shark on a piece of cardboard, making sure it's big enough to fit your plastic bottle in the centre. Don’t forget to also draw the fin and the tail of the shark as well.
Once you are happy with your shark outline fins and tail, cut out your shark. Also cut out strips of cardboard to make your shark 3D, we will be using these in a minute. Carefully cut out your shark shape and fins.
Lay your clean plastic bottle down onto your shark shape with the top of the bottle facing the sharks mouth as this is where you will be feeding in the fairy lights at the end. Secure it down with double sided tape to keep it in position.
Using the strips of cardboard you cut earlier, stick over the top of the plastic bottle and secure it in place. Continue down the length of the shark. Make the strips of cardboard slightly smaller as you get to the sharks tail, this will bring your sea creature to life.
Attach the tail to the back and the fin to the top of the shark using sellotape.
Top tip: You can use glue instead of double sided sticky tape, but allow time to dry between steps.
2. Decorating your shark
Cut long strips of blue tissue paper, this will cover the shell of the shark, leaving the front of the shark open for its mouth.
Use PVA glue and water mixture to stick your strips of tissue paper onto the shark. Make sure to add some extra glue to the tissue paper to make sure it is fully secured. Don’t forget to cover the tail and fin of the shark as well.
Once covered, leave to dry and then paint over again with an extra layer of PVA glue mix to help make the tissue layers stronger.
Once the shark is fully dry, we need to give it a face. Cut out two sets of sharp teeth using foam paper or white card, and stick one set onto the bottom of the sharks mouth and the other to the top of the mouth. Add some googly eyes to the side of your shark to finish of your face. Now you need to add shark eyes and teeth! Be creative and make your shark face unique.
Finally, feed some battery lights into the bottle inside the shark. Your shark is now a lamp that will look amazing in the dark 🦈
Display your wonderful creation on the wall or lay on a table and watch the lights from your shark lamp swim around your room.
Want to try more makes on Blue Peter?
Find even more makes, bakes, quizzes and games on the Blue Peter page!