Washi Tape Koinobori

Koinobori, are Japanese carp shaped streamers that are traditionally flown on Children's Day - May 5th.

This version is made out of a empty toilet paper roll, some wide tape and lots of colorful washi tape.

It's really easy to make and comes out very pretty and colorful.

Supplies

Toilet paper roll

Wide tape (5cm) - I used white tape because my toilet paper roll was not white.

colorful washi tape

scissors.

Optional:

wooden bbq sticks

hot glue gun

Flatten and tape closed one end of the toilet roll. Over that add an additional layer of wide tape leaving an edge of tape at the end.

If you need to - cover the other end of the toilet roll with white tape (because my roll was not white).

On the open, mouth side - cover the edge with colored tape and tuck the overlap into the mouth.

on the closed, tail side - cover with a band of tape all around, then mark out scales and cut them out.

For each row of scales -

Cut a long piece of wide tape and fold over 1cm (fold the entire length).
On the non tacky side you add a long piece of colorful tape. Then cut the scalloped 'scale' shape along the colored tape.
Wrap the wide tape around the roll so that each row of 'scales' partially overlaps. Cut off the excess tape.
Make the next line of scales..

When you have about 60% of the length of the roll covered (from the tail end), its time to add fins.

Make 1 more line of regular scales. Remove about 2cm of those scale on each side.
Cut a length of wide tape (about 6cm). Fold the long end over by 2cm now, leaving 1cm of tacky tape.
For each fin use 2 pieces of 5cm color tape (going in the other direction now). Make sure not to cover the tacky part of the white tape.
I shaped each fin like a large scale with a width of 2cm.
Tape each fin into the gap you left in the last row of scales.

Add 1 last row of scales to partially cover the row of the fins.

Draw some googly eyes.

If you want - add a spot of hot glue at the bottom and attach a bbq stick... now it can decorate a plant

Done!!!