15 Neat DIY Cactus Themed Projects
Updated on August 9, 2018
Have you ever come across a small decorative detail, an interesting design element, or a kitschy thing and found yourself oddly obsessed with its aesthetic or appeal? As creative people who love a whole range of DIY based things, from simple kids’ crafts to larger interior decor projects, we fully understand that! Every once in a while, we’ll suddenly find ourselves drawn to just about anything we see that’s themed after whatever little detail we’re currently raving over. Last summer, for example, we fell in love with all things pineapple themed. There’s just something so cheerful and colourful about how pineapples look that looking at them made us happy, so we started tracking down all kinds of craft projects and DIY ideas that let us harness what we liked about them in new ways. So, what’s our latest themed crafting obsession, you ask? Well, as much as we still love pineapples, we actually have moved onto something new: the cactus! Once again, we’re not entirely sure what it is about the funnily shaped, spiky little plant, but we adore all things cactus themed and have been browsing the Internet at length to find as many cactus things to make ourselves as possible.
Just in case you’re just as intrigued by the idea of cactus themed crafts and DIY projects as we were, if not more, here are 15 of the best ideas, designs, and tutorials we’ve come across in our search so far!
1. Felt cactus pincushion
Are you the kind of DIY enthusiast who loves crafting so darn much that one of your favourite things to do is make things from scratch that will actually help you out when you make other things in the future? Well, we can’t say we blame you, since we make crafts for our crafting process all the time! If you’re a sewing enthusiast, we have a feeling you’ll love this adorable cactus pin cushion just as much as we did. See how wonderfully simple it is to make on Deschdanja.
2. Painted pebble cactus planter
Have you always loved the way miniature cacti look in tiny planters but you had little kids and pets who love to touch and explore everything in the room, so even a very small spiky plant is a bad idea for your home? Then perhaps you’d prefer to get a similarly cute look but in a much safer way instead! Check out how The Whoot made a craft that looks like a bundle of little cacti in a small planter but is really a series of hand painted rocks glued into the pot on end. Talk about a low maintenance plant!
3. Gold cactus summer tote
Are you actually such a big fan of cacti that you love them right down to their interesting shape? Well, if your personal style is a little more minimalist, we have a feeling you might enjoy this subtle cactus outline detail on a simple, stripy tote! The finished project might look very professional indeed, but Lovely Indeed is here to show you how simple it actually is. We think the technique would look great in all kinds of colour and pattern combinations.
4. Cactus macarons with edible flowers
Are your best DIY skills actually based in the kitchen because you’re an avid cook or baking enthusiast who just loves getting creative with food in unique ways? Well, if you’re even half as big a fan of the way brightly coloured macarons have been popularized in the dessert world as of late, we think you’ll enjoy this miniature cactus macaron idea very much indeed! Sugar and Cloth guides you step by step through the process of making them, texturing them, “planting” them, and even adding little flowers.
5. Glitter polka dot cactus planter
Perhaps you were actually recently gifted an adorable little cactus but the planter or pot it came in is quite plain and your personal styles and tastes are a little bright and more flashy than regular terra cotta? Then we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how The Crafted Life hand painted theirs to add a cute pop of colour wherever they place it! We love the way they also added gold glitter polka dots (but we think any combination of paint and sparkles would be equally cute).
6. Embroidered cactus box
Are you the kind of parent who’s always looking for kid-friendly versions of the very crafts you enjoy making yourself because you want to instil that love for creativity in your kids as well and get them started on learning basic techniques early? In that case, we have a feeling you’ll be very intrigued indeed by this awesome embroidery box idea! We’re obsessed with how simply adorable this stitched cactus design featured on Delineate Your Dwelling looks on it (and we like that you could change it up after a while if you pleased).
7. Foam cactus cake topper
Did we really catch your attention when we started talking about cacti in the baking world because you’re a huge dessert enthusiast who loves any opportunity to bake, especially if the finished product looks really cute, but you’re also still kind of a beginner so you need some simple ideas? In that case, we absolutely think you should take a look at how Tell Love and Chocolate made these adorable foam paper cake toppers shaped like all different kinds of cacti. Crafty cake toppers are an easy way to amp up the visual appeal of your cake without taking on advanced baking and cake decorating techniques that you’re just not quite ready for yet.
8. Potted neon cactus light
Perhaps you still think the decorative cactus idea is very cool indeed but you’re also the kind of person whose interest in DIY has always lain more in technical and electronics based projects yet, so we haven’t really shown you anything on our list so far that quite holds your attention? Well, we’re happy to report that you’ve finally scrolled long enough and hit the jackpot! Take a look at how Shrimp Salad Circus used malleable wire lights to bend a cactus shaped and create a cute neon table light that looks just like the plant you’re currently crazy about.
9. Hanging yarn tassel cactus planters
Are you still thinking about how much you liked the idea of crafting for the cacti plants you actually already owned but you’d like to do something a little craftier than just painting the pots, since you’ve tried that project before? Then perhaps you’d be a little more interested in making some tasseled hanging planters from yarn instead! We love the way Hello DIY contrasted white for the main supporting strings with fun, bright colours for the tassels themselves. Suddenly your cacti are decorative items rather than just houseplants!
10. 30-minute drawstring fabric backpack
Are you actually more of a sewing enthusiast than anything else, so you’ve been scrolling through our list hoping to find some kind of cactus based project suited for a seamstress? Then we think we might have found just the project for you! Check out how Hello Wonderful made an adorable cactus pattern drawstring bag complete with backpack style straps and a pocket on the front. It’s a very versatile little piece indeed, no matter what patterned fabric you decide to use!
11. Pom pom trim wrapped cactus tree
Do you actually already own a decently sized cactus and you’re interested in jazzing it up a little bit but you don’t actually feel like painting the pot or hanging the whole thing? Then maybe you’d prefer to decorate the actual cactus itself, as if it were a funny, spiky Christmas tree! Check out how Sugar and Cloth jazzed their favourite cactus up a little bit by wrapping it in differently coloured pom pom trim.
12. Kids toothpick cacti craft
Are you still thinking about the idea of creating kid-friendly cactus themed decor like we talked about earlier because your little ones are very curious and hands-on, but you also want to find an alternative idea that’s very simple because you think they’d really like to get in on crafting the faux cacti themselves with you? Then we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Mod Podge Rocks made these funny little foam and toothpick cacti nestled into miniature terra cotta pots!
13. Papier mache cacti planter
If you’re going to make a faux cactus, or a collection of fake cacti, would you actually prefer to create something that looks surprisingly real? Then maybe you’d prefer to give these awesome painted papier mache cacti featured on Design Sponge a try! They guide you step by step through the process of moulding cacti in a number of different, very realistic looking shapes before painting them and adding fine details.
14. Miniature felted succulents
If you’re going to make something cactus themed and decorative from scratch, would you rather really make sure the entire thing is actually handmade from start to finish? Well, if you’re a felting enthusiast like we are, then we have a feeling you might be very interested in this multi-technique project idea featured on Think Make Share! They show you how to make a little felted cactus, how to nestle it into a miniature terra cotta planter, and how to create a macrame inspired hanger that’s been knotted like a friendship bracelet.
15. Miniature crocheted cacti
Have you actually been scrolling through our list hoping to find a yarn based craft because you’ve been an avid crochet enthusiast all your life? Then we’re pleased to tell you that we’re finishing our list off with the perfect DIY project for you! This surprisingly simple pattern featured on Pops de Milk gives you all the stitches to form the different types of cacti and shows you how to affix them into the miniature planters. We love the texture contrast between these and the sharp spikes on the real thing!
Do you know a fellow crafter or DIY enthusiast who loves cacti and cactus themed things just as much as we do, if not more? Share this post with them so they have plenty of new ways to get creative with the things they like most!