Looking for a fresh and fun art project? Cactus squeegee painting is a colourful way to explore scrape painting, and the results are seriously eye-catching! With just a few simple supplies and the swipe of a squeegee, you can create vibrant cacti that pop right off the page.
This project is perfect for both kids and adults, and fun whether you’re planning a summer art activity, crafting at home, or getting creative in the classroom. It’s easy to customize, super satisfying to make, and totally frame-worthy when it’s done. Ready to try your hand at this playful painting technique? Let’s get started!
This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a small commission which helps us run this website.
How to Make Cactus Squeegee Art
Materials:
- Watercolor paper
- Acrylic paint (shades of green and brown)
- Black marker
- Fine tipped black marker
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Prepare paper
- Place a piece of watercolor paper on a baking tray or other protected surface. You can use a full sheet of paper, or cut one in half like we did.
- Cover the bottom 2 to 2-1/2 inches of the paper with painter’s tape or washi tape (something that won’t damage the paper).
Step 3: Paint the cacti shapes
- Make an upside-down “U” shape with the paint. The top curve will be the top of the cactus.You can use a toothpick to smooth out the paint lines if it doesn’t come out cleanly from the bottle.
- Put the squeegee above the paint and pull it down towards yourself, applying a bit of pressure as you do so.
- Continue until the squeegee is past the tape line. Then wipe or wash the squeegee clean.
- Repeat with different shades of green, adding the paint marks at different heights.It’s okay if the plants overlap each other, but you can also try to make thinner cactuses beside each other instead.
Step 4: Add details to the cacti
- Carefully remove the tape from the bottom of the paper.
- Use a regular Sharpie marker to outline the cacti. You can decide which cactuses you want at the front and which will only have parts of the outline showing.
- Use an ultra fine tip marker to add details to a cactus, making it look nice and spikey.
- Repeat with the rest of the cacti, trying to add different types of lines and dots to represent various styles of cactuses.
Step 5: Paint a pot
- Then use brown acrylic paint and a brush to add a pot below the cactus garden. Allow to dry.You can also cut a pot shape from construction paper or cardstock and glue it on.
- Your cactus squeegee painting is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Make your tape less sticky: Painter’s tape can tear your paper if it’s too sticky. To prevent this, press the tape onto your jeans or apron and peel it off, repeating about 5 to 6 times. This helps remove some of the tackiness so it won’t rip the paper when you remove it later.
- Play around with different shades and cactus shapes: Use a few shades of green to add depth and variety to your cacti. You can also place them at different heights and experiment with shapes, mixing tall, thin cactuses with wider, rounder ones.
What’s the best paper for squeegee painting?
We recommend using watercolour paper for any squeegee art. Watercolour paper is especially ideal because it’s designed to absorb moisture and won’t warp or curl when you apply thin layers of paint. This helps your artwork stay smooth and flat as it dries.
Heavy cardstock is another good choice, especially if you want to make your scrape painting into a greeting card. Cardstock will warp a bit, but you can place it under a stack of heavy books after the paint is dry to flatten it back out.
Do I need a squeegee to make scrape art?
A squeegee works best and is easiest to control, especially for kids. You can find one at the dollar store and reuse it again and again. The handle makes it easier to apply even pressure.
But if you don’t have a squeegee, a plastic ruler, old gift card, or credit card also works well. In a pinch, a piece of cardboard can be used, but it’s harder to control and may absorb paint, which can create streaks on your artwork.
How can I make a flower for my cactus squeegee art?
To create a simple flower for your cactus art, cut two small squares of tissue paper. Snip inwards from the sides and corners, then layer them together with the corners facing in different directions. Stick the two pieces together with a tiny dot of tacky glue or some glue tape.
Then press the center down with a pencil tip or toothpick and twist the bottom to form a flower shape. Glue it to the top of a cactus and fluff it up for extra dimension!
Cactus squeegee painting is such a fun and satisfying way to get creative with colour and texture. Whether you’re crafting with kids or enjoying some solo art time, the swipe-and-reveal technique makes every piece feel like a little surprise. Plus, with so many ways to personalize your cacti (from shades of green to tissue paper flowers), no two artworks will ever be the same.
So grab your paint and get ready to make some vibrant cactus art that’s as fun to create as it is to display!
Here’s even more squeegee painting ideas:
Now available
Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
Leave a Reply