DIY Paper Toy Postcards: Flounder, Clownfish, Terrier Compared
By Designer Toy Store | Art Gallery | Rotofugi | Published: 2026-10-30
Category: Comparisons
Compare three Monkey Design DIY paper toy postcards: Flounder, Clownfish, and West Highland White Terrier. Find the right fit for your skill level and crafting style.
Quick Answer
For beginners, choose the Flounder postcard for its simple, flat shapes. For a playful challenge, the Clownfish adds stripes and fins. The West Highland Terrier is best for experienced crafters who enjoy intricate details.
What to Consider Before Choosing
All three postcards come from Monkey Design, a Taiwanese studio known for quirky 3D paper models. They share the same basic materials: cardstock, a cutting mat, a craft knife, scissors, and glue. But each model has its own assembly complexity.
The Flounder is a flat fish with simple contours, making it a straightforward project. The Clownfish features bold stripes and multiple fins, adding a bit more cutting and folding. The West Highland Terrier has a more complex body shape with legs, ears, and a tail, requiring careful precision.
Think about your experience level and how much time you want to invest. If you're new to paper crafting, start with the Flounder. If you want a moderate challenge, the Clownfish is a good step up. For a rewarding project that tests your skills, the Terrier is the way to go.
Decision Trade-offs
- Flounder: Easiest Start: Choose the Flounder if you're new to paper crafting. Its flat, simple shape minimizes tricky cuts and folds, letting you build confidence. Start with the Flounder to learn the basics.
- Clownfish: Moderate Challenge: Pick the Clownfish when you want a bit more complexity. The stripes and fins add visual interest but require careful cutting and aligning. The Clownfish is a good next step after mastering a simple model.
- Terrier: Advanced Precision: Go for the West Highland Terrier if you're experienced and enjoy detailed work. Its intricate shape demands patience and precision, but the result is a charming display piece. Only choose the Terrier if you're comfortable with complex paper models.
Product Facts
- Flounder DIY Paper Toy Postcard #055: Monkey Design designs are universal and fun, but assembly requires knife, scissors, glue, and patience. The Flounder's simple shape makes it a patient-friendly project for beginners, letting you focus on mastering basic cuts and folds.

Flounder DIY Paper Toy Postcard #055 - Clownfish DIY Paper Toy Postcard #042: Monkey Design models vary in difficulty; some are really hard and some are easy. The Clownfish's stripes and fins likely fall in the moderate range, offering a satisfying challenge without being overwhelming.

Clownfish DIY Paper Toy Postcard #042 - West Highland White Terrier (Box) DIY Paper Toy Postcard #104: Monkey Design models require patience and can be quite challenging depending on the design. The West Highland Terrier's detailed silhouette means it's best for crafters who enjoy precise work and have experience with intricate paper models.
Which One Fits You?
Best for
- Beginners who want a simple, achievable first paper craft project
- Crafters who prefer quick, satisfying builds with minimal complexity
Not for
- Experienced crafters seeking a complex, detailed challenge (choose the Terrier instead)
- Anyone who wants a model with intricate patterns or multiple parts (choose the Clownfish or Terrier)


