Comical Fish Easel Card 6x7

Overlay details on shaped card base deliver pizzazz 

to this stylized fish card. 

Lift lower front edge of bottom fin and prop against 

the half-oval stacked “stop” which is glued 

in place at guide marks for display. 

Stamp an appropriate message onto the interior 

sentiment strip (or on the small fish silhouette sentiment panel) 

to customize this whimsical card. 

Optional “You’re a keeper” print & cut mini fish label 

is included. A coordinated, sized-to-fit envelope is 

also available as separate design. 

Card measures approx. 6” tall x 7” wide when closed. 

Requires 12x12 card stock and cutting capacity 

for largest card base shapes. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A main card base with 2 folds to create easel

B card front fish shape

C card backside fish shape

D stop shapes (3-5 to stack and glue together)

E body decoration base with upper and lower

edge trim shapes

F head overlay with 2 back edge trim shapes,

and swirl smile

G eye patch base with eye base, accent, pupil

H upper fin base with spikes overlay, bottom trim

I belly overlay

J lower fin base with spikes overlay, bottom trim

K horizontal cross-body trim

L tail base with spikes overlay, end trim

M body side fin with spikes overlay, trim

N optional sentiment label

O optional gold fish sentiment label

(shown as print & cut option with phrase)

2. Prepare the card base shape by bending on

perforation lines as shown: upper bend as "mountain"

and short bend as "valley". NOTE that shape is shown

with FACE side toward viewer.

3. Position card FRONT whole fish shape over front

(upper) fold of card base so that top half edges align,

and glue together only upward halves that line up.

This will allow the easel action.

4. Turn the card over, so front is face down,

and position, attach the backsides together.

This will create the "whole" fish shape and provide

reinforcement and strength for easel action.

5. Prepare the "stop" by stacking and attaching

the 3 to 5 shapes on top of each other with cut edges

as precisely aligned as possible.

Press under a heavy weight until dry.

6. Locate on the "inside" body face

the dash cross line and vertical end lines

that will serve as positioning guides for the stop.

Position the stop top straight edge below the cross

line, with ends of stop even with end marks,

and glue in place.

7. Assemble the head accent:

a) "gill" trim shapes at back curve edge, and

slightly forward with narrow space in between;

b) layer the eye ring on top of eye base and attach;

c) position and attach the pupil oval inside ring

center, with punch holes aligned;

d) position the eye unit over patch shape with

punch holes aligned, also align rounded edges

and "nub" tiny edge shaping near top left,

and attach;

e) position patch unit over head with punch holes

aligned, back edges conforming with gill trim edges . . .

. . . so that when the smile shape is positioned,

the swirl is parallel with patch shaped edge

as indicated, and glue all in place.

Press the glued-together head unit under a heavy

weight and allow to dry completely.

8. Prepare the other assemblies for fins, belly,

and tail as is shown here with separate shapes . . .

. . . and then with overlayed spikes and trim

glued into place.

9. Assemble the fish body unit by positioning

and attaching head unit at front with edges aligned;

belly along bottom edge, abutted behind head;

tail unit at end with trim edge abutted to belly end;

body accent trim shapes along edges,

abutted at ends to head or tail.

10. Position and attach body fin behind head assembly

with cross-body trim between fin and tail edge

where ends best allow abutted fit.

11. With card base closed so that whole fish shape

is evident, position and attach the body assembly

onto front, with even offset margins around face end,

lower back body and tail.

12. Position upper and lower fins with curved edges

abutted at body edges, offset margins even,

and attach in place.

13. To employ the easel action, lift front lower fin

bottom edge slightly upward and back to position

straight lower edge at stop inward straight edge.

14. As desired, position the sentiment panel

centered along lower body edge, below stop.

If preferred, use the gold fish shape, or the print & cut

variation.

15. To close the card, lift edge away from stop

and flatten.

In this configuration, the card will fit into

the companion fish cut out flap envelope

which is also available as a separate design download.

Whimsical Fish Shaped Stitch Card

Moderately detailed cartoon-y fish has edge-outlined 

fins and tail, wavy dorsal panel with stitching holes 

to add dash outline details 

(or omit with optional no-stitch body shape), 

and fin-shaped side body accents. 

Full silhouette build-upon shape is included. 

Front and back card base shapes have 1/8” offset margins. 

Back panel includes perforation line that allows 

back to bend away to provide interior sentiment space, 

acting as self-standing easel. 

Sized to fit into a 5x7 card envelope. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:
A card front offset base  
B card back perforated fold base
C fish assembly silhouette base
D body base with stitching holes
E body "waves" dorsal accent
F head with accent stripe and eye
G dorsal fins with edge accent overlays
H top fin with edge accent overlay
I body inset triangle accents
J tail base with edge accent overlay
K tail inner double swirl accent

2. Position and attach the head accent vertical

stripe on the back straight edge of the head,

with back straight edges aligned.

3. Position and attach the edge accent overlay

shapes onto corresponding dorsal or top fin

base shapes.

4. Position and attach the tail edge accent overlay
on top of the tail base, and also center and attach
the double swirl tail accent onto tail assembly.

5. If you have selected the hand-stitching options,

the following steps apply.

Cut a length of thin perle cotton or embroidery floss

and thread it onto a fine gauge blunt needle.

6. Determine which end of the stitching line you
plan to start with (left vs. right handed), then attach
tail of threaded twine with a small piece of cello or
paper tape on the backside of the body shape
just below the first stitching hole.

7. Start the stitching by inserting the needle
up through the first opening, from back to front.

Draw the twine all the way through so that
there is no excess on the backside.

8. Complete the first stitch by inserting the needle
down through the next hole.

Draw the twine down completely so that it lays
flat onto the surface of the body shape, with
no slack.

9. Continue the same stitching process,
up and down through the successive holes until . . . 

. . . all the holes have been used, and the twine
has traveled down through the final hole.

10. On the backside of the body shape, clip the twine
approx. a scant 1" from final exit hole . . . 

. . . and secure the tail end discreetly with a small
piece of tape, as at the beginning.

11. Position and attach the "wave" accent along

the bottom of the body so that "matching" lower

edges align. 

12. Position and attach the upper fin and
the lower fins in place on the body base shape.

13. Position the body assembly onto the assembly
base silhouette shape, match up corresponding edges,
and attach in place.

14. Position and attach the head assembly, eye,

upper and dorsal fins, and tail assemblies in place.

15. Position and attach the body triangle accents

into their matching openings (NOTE these triangle

shapes are NOT interchangeable - select the correct

shape for the correct opening.)

16. Position the fish assembly on the silhouette base

onto the card front base, centering it within the narrow

edge offset margin all around.

17. Prepare the card back shape by bending forward

on the diagonal perforation line.

18. Position the front card assembly in front of

the back card assembly (back to back), align the upper portion

edges, then attach ONLY the upper portion of

back above the perforation line to the backside

of the front panel base.

Here is the completed whimsical fish card.