How to Build a Plus-Plus Mermaid from the Imagination Bundle
By Plus-Plus USA | Plus-Plus Blocks - Empowering Open Ended | Published: 2026-10-14
Category: How-to Guides
Follow the Mermaid Imagination Bundle to build a Plus-Plus mermaid, then reuse the same pieces for open-ended under-the-sea play.
Quick answer
Start with the Mermaid Tube inside the Mermaid Imagination Bundle, sort the pieces by color, and follow the included instructions to build the mermaid from the tail up. Then reuse the same pieces for the Pearl Tube and Highlights puzzle activities so the build becomes open-ended play rather than a one-time model.
What comes in the Mermaid Imagination Bundle
The Mermaid Imagination Bundle combines three under-the-sea components: the Mermaid Tube, the Pearl Tube, and Highlights: Mermaid Puzzle and Play. The Mermaid Tube gives you the pieces and instructions for the mermaid model. The Pearl Tube adds more pieces so you can expand the scene. The Highlights: Mermaid Puzzle and Play adds Hidden Pictures puzzles, activities, stickers, and more. Because the bundle is designed as a set, you can build the mermaid first and then move into puzzle and sticker play without switching to a different kit.
Set up your workspace before you start
Empty the Mermaid Tube onto a flat, light-colored surface. A tray or shallow box keeps pieces from rolling away and makes cleanup faster. Sort by color into small piles so you can see the tail, fin, and body colors at a glance. Keep the instruction sheet visible but slightly off to the side so it does not get buried under pieces. This setup step is the main difference between a smooth build and a frustrating search for one missing piece.
Build order that works for a first mermaid
The mermaid model is easier to build from the tail up. Start with the tail fin because it is the widest and most stable part, then build the tail upward in rows, and finish with the head and hair. If you build the head first, the model becomes top-heavy and tends to tip while you attach the tail. Follow the included instructions for the exact color sequence, but use the tail-first order as your working method. If a row does not sit flat, check that the pieces are pressed fully together before adding the next row.
Turn the build into open-ended play
Once the mermaid is complete, do not put the pieces away. Use the Pearl Tube pieces to add shells, rocks, or a coral base around the mermaid. Then open Highlights: Mermaid Puzzle and Play and use the Hidden Pictures puzzles and stickers to extend the story. The same pieces can become a second mermaid, a sea creature, or a completely different scene, which is the point of open-ended building. If you want a second guided model, the Tube - Unicorn gives you another step-by-step creature build using the same style of pieces.
Step-by-step mermaid build
- Empty and sort the Mermaid Tube pieces: Pour the Mermaid Tube onto a tray and sort pieces by color. Common mistake: skipping the sort and then hunting for a single color mid-build. Checkpoint: all pieces are visible and grouped before you start.
- Build the tail fin first: Assemble the widest part of the tail according to the included instructions. Common mistake: starting at the head, which makes the model top-heavy and hard to handle. Checkpoint: the tail fin sits flat and holds together when you lift it gently.
- Build the tail upward in rows: Add rows from the tail fin toward the waist, pressing each piece fully into place. Common mistake: leaving gaps between rows, which weakens the model. Checkpoint: the tail is straight and no pieces wobble.
- Attach the torso and head: Connect the upper body to the completed tail, then add the head and hair colors from the instructions. Common mistake: forcing pieces at an angle instead of aligning the studs. Checkpoint: the mermaid stands or lies flat without tipping.
- Add Pearl Tube pieces as scenery: Use the Pearl Tube pieces to build a base, shells, or coral around the mermaid. Common mistake: treating the Pearl Tube as spare parts only instead of scene-building pieces. Checkpoint: the mermaid has a display base or backdrop.
- Open the Highlights puzzle and sticker activities: Move to Highlights: Mermaid Puzzle and Play for Hidden Pictures puzzles, activities, and stickers. Common mistake: putting the pieces away before trying the puzzle extension. Next step: rebuild the mermaid in new colors or invent a different sea creature.
Product facts
- Mermaid Imagination Bundle: The Mermaid Imagination Bundle combines the Mermaid Tube, Pearl Tube, and Highlights: Mermaid Puzzle and Play. You get one guided mermaid build plus extra pieces and puzzle activities, so the set supports both instruction-following and open-ended play.
- Tube - Unicorn: The Tube - Unicorn includes 70 pieces and instructions to build a unicorn, then reuse the same pieces for other 2D and 3D designs. If your builder likes guided creature models, this tube offers a second step-by-step build in the same piece style.
- Learn To Build - BIG: Learn To Build - BIG includes colorful BIG pieces, a sturdy baseplate, and a step-by-step guidebook for 2D and 3D building. For younger builders who need a larger format and a baseplate, this set provides a more supported starting point than a standard tube.
