Craft Stick Cactus Craft
Gather some craft sticks, it’s time to make our Craft Stick Cactus Craft! They are the absolute cutest cactuses, making a perfect summer craft. And we have a Free Printable Pattern Template for the pot and flower pieces, too!
I’ve been really into houseplants lately. However, I’ve never been able to keep a cactus alive. I want to water them too much. Succulents are about the same. There’s no chance of that happening here, though, with this really fun cactus craft.
Make a Cactus Craft with Craft Sticks
To make our super cute Craft Stick Cactus Craft you will first need our free printable pattern template. The rest of the supplies include jumbo craft sticks, paint in a couple different shades of green plus white, craft foam, rick rack, black marker, a glue gun, and scissors.
Craft Stick Cactus Craft Supplies Needed
- Pattern template
- Craft sticks, jumbo
- Acrylic paint – light green, bright green, white
- Craft Foam – brown, yellow, pink
- Rick Rack – assorted colors
- Black marker
- Glue gun
- Scissors
Popsicle Stick Cactus Craft Step by Step Directions
We made 2 different cactuses. To create the barrel cactus base, line up five jumbo craft sticks on your work surface with a rounded top edge.
Using scissors, trim additional jumbo craft sticks to the width of the cactus and attach with a glue gun and glue sticks. With scissors, trim the excess craft sticks from the base of the cactus.
Note: I’m not a big fan of using hot glue with kids, usually. For other options, you can use liquid craft glue for this project, but you will have to wait for it to dry. Or glue dots are good, too.
To create the saguaro cactus, line up three jumbo craft sticks on your work surface with a rounded top edge. Using scissors, trim additional jumbo craft sticks to the width of the cactus and attach with a glue gun and glue sticks. To create the cactus arms, cut jumbo craft sticks in half, and then cut the rounded end from one piece.
Glue the saguaro cactus arm pieces together at a right angle, with the rounded part facing up. Then attach the cactus arms to the right and left sides of the cactus base.
Paint the barrel cactus with light green acrylic craft paint, and the saguaro cactus with bright green acrylic craft paint. Let dry, and apply a second coat, if necessary.
Download, print, and cut out the pattern template. Using a marker, trace the clay pot patterns onto brown craft foam. Trace the flower patterns onto yellow and pink craft foam. Cut out all patterns with scissors, making sure to cut inside the traced lines for a clean, finished project.
Attach the cactus into the craft foam terra cotta pots, and the flowers to the cactus using a glue gun and glue sticks.
Attach rick rack to the clay pots using a glue gun and glue sticks. If you don’t have rick rack handy, use markers to draw on a pattern, or cut out a pattern from craft foam, felt or colored paper.
To create the needles on the saguaro cactus, draw the letter “v” in a random pattern with a permanent black marker. Stamp the needles onto the barrel cactus with the blunt end of the cut craft stick dipped into white acrylic craft paint.
So easy and so much to fun to make a garden full of fun and funky cactus! This is a great craft to keep kids busy on those super hot summer afternoons.
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More Cactus Crafts for Kids
For more fun cactus craft ideas, be sure to see our Potato Stamp Cactus Craft, Cardboard Roll Cactus Craft, Easy Paper Cactus Craft, and our Valentine’s Day Cactus Craft. Then check out even more of our awesome summer crafts for kids at Our Kid Things!