With my gerbil tank sitting in my office, I started referring to it as my "Gerbil TV". I had some extra time on my hands, so I decided to make that phrase a reality. Here is how to make an old timey TV front out of simple supplies that most people would have at home. It makes watching them even more fun! This TV front can be put on any type of pet tank, but it works best with horizontal glass tanks. If I had fish, I would definitely make another one for them.

In these instructions, I have omitted specific measurements because my tank is a weird size and you would probably have had to redo them all anyway.

Supplies

To make this TV you will need:

- 1 large cardboard box

-1 black marker

-1 brown marker

-1 pencil

-1 brown crayon

-1 precision blade

-1 pair of scissors

-1 ruler/tape measure

-1 hot glue gun

-1 brad

Step 1: Cut a Cardboard Rectangle

Using scissors, cut out a rectangle that is 1/2 and inch wider and 1/4 inch taller than your tank. If it's not perfect, don't worry. No one is coming over to your house to check.

Step 2: Draw the Basic Outline of the TV on the Cardboard

Following this image, draw the basic outline of your TV. I recommend using a pencil before you use the black marker. For the buttons, you can use a compass or a round object to trace. If you feel confident, you can free hand it. In my case, I used a pill bottle cap for the smaller buttons and a cup for the larger one.

Step 3: Cut Out the Window of Your TV

Cut out a window in your cardboard along the inner, curved line. You can use scissors or the precision blade. I found it helpful to use both. If you are using scissors, the easiest way to cut is to stab a hole in the middle of the board and cut out from there.

Step 4: Shade in the TV

Using a brown crayon, shade in the area between the straight and curved line like in the image. This simulates the depth of a TV.

Step 5: Cut Out the Buttons

Using a precision blade, cut out 4 buttons the size of the smaller buttons and 3 buttons the size of the larger one. You can cut them out of the middle of the TV that you removed. Two of the larger buttons should get a plus cut out of them for the brad to push through. Be sure that the pluses are larger than the point of the brad but smaller than the head of the brad.

Step 6: Cut Holes for the Brad

In the middle of the traced button on the TV, cut out a plus the same size as the ones in the separate buttons.

Step 7: Insert Brad Through the Back of the TV

The head of the brad should be on the back of the TV.

Step 8: Place One of the Buttons Over the Brad

Slide one of the large buttons with the plus over the brad.

Step 9: Glue the Next Button Onto the First

This step is the same as the last one except you should apply hot glue to the top of the previous button. This will help the dial turn more evenly. Once the glue is dry, secure the brad by pulling the two points apart and flattening them.

Step 10: Glue the Non-cut Button on Top of the Dial

Apply hot glue to the top of the dial. Then put the last, unpierced large button prettiest side up. This is the face of your dial.

Step 11: Glue the Remaining Buttons in Place

Glue the 4, smaller buttons into their spots on the outline.

Step 12: Draw on the Button Details.

First, color the buttons and dial with the brown marker. If you use an up and down motion, it gets a woody texture. Next, use a black marker to outline the buttons and dial. Then, write letters 1-10 on the dial. Last, draw a black circle in the center of the dial. I also drew a small triangle pointing to the dial to show

Step 13: Tape to the Tank and Enjoy!

The TV is done! All you need to do is tape it to the tank and enjoy it! I just used 1 piece of tape at the top of the tank, but you should use as many as you need. My gerbils weren't feeling very photogenic today, so here are two shots so you can see both of them.