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Cactus Clay Sculpture
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DIY Clay Cactus

Have fun making this DIY clay cactus! It’s a super cute polymer clay craft perfect for beginners, and it’s easy enough for all ages.
Active Time1 hour 15 minutes
Baking Time15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: 1 clay cactus
Author: Debbie Chapman
Cost: $2

Equipment

Materials

Instructions

Step 1: Find what you need

  • Gather your supplies and materials.
    Clay-Cactus-Supplies

Step 2: Prepare your clay

  • Wear nitrile gloves to prevent fingerprints on your clay. Work on a dust-free surface, such as a silicone mat or parchment paper on a baking sheet.
    Clay-Cactus-1
  • Condition a medium ball of green polymer clay. Squish and knead the clay with your fingers until it's soft enough to work with. Then roll it into a ball.
    Clay-Cactus-2
  • Stick 2 toothpicks in the bottom of the ball to act as a handle. This allows you to work on the clay easily from any angle without running the risk of accidentally flattening or squishing it with your hand.
    Clay-Cactus-3

Step 3: Form the cactus

  • Use a clay knife (or craft knife) to make lines across the ball, dividing it up like a pie into 8 equal sections.
    Clay-Cactus-4
  • Drag a silicone paintbrush down the lines, creating indents/grooves in the clay.
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  • Then use the silicone brush to smooth the sides of the clay. Repeat the process of defining and smoothing until you're happy with the look.
    Clay-Cactus-6
  • Use a toothpick or a pointed clay tool to create a line of dots going down each section of the cactus.
    When you're done, remove the toothpick handles and set the cactus aside for now.
    Clay-Cactus-7

Step 4: Make the flower pieces

  • Condition a small ball of dark pink (or another flower colour) clay.
    Clay-Cactus-8
  • Break the clay into 5 equal parts. Roll them into balls and then flatten them with your fingertip.
    Clay-Cactus-9
  • Press the flat circle onto the edge of your fingertip to round it. Then pinch one end of the petal together.
    Clay-Cactus-10
  • Repeat with the remaining petals. Here's what they should look like.
    Clay-Cactus-11
  • Form a tiny ball of yellow clay and flatten it.
    Clay-Cactus-12

Step 5: Put the flower together and bake

  • Press 3 of the petals together and use a toothpick or needle tool to smooth the edges against each other.
    Clay-Cactus-13
  • Repeat, adding the 4th petal. When you add the 5th and final petal, you can use the needle tool in the center to keep the petals together.
    Clay-Cactus-14
  • Press the yellow circle into the center of the flower and use a pointed tool to create texture.
    Clay-Cactus-15
  • Curve the edges of the petals up.
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  • Bake the 2 clay pieces according to package directions.
    Our clay recommends 275F for 15 minutes per 1/4 inch thickness.
    Clay-Cactus-17

Step 6: Assemble the cactus

  • Once the clay has cooled, add a dot of hot glue to the bottom of the flower.
    Clay-Cactus-18
  • Press the flower onto the top center of the cactus.
    Clay-Cactus-19
  • Place a piece of dark brown felt on top of a 1 inch clay pot and cut around it. (You can also trace the pot first with chalk.)
    Clay-Cactus-20
  • Add glue to the bottom inside of the pot and then stuff it with a cotton ball.
    You can also use a ball of tin foil or crumpled paper, but make sure that the top is smooth.
    Clay-Cactus-21
  • Glue around the top of the cotton ball and press the felt circle into place.
    Clay-Cactus-22
  • Add glue to the bottom of the cactus and press it into the center of the felt. Hold it until the cactus feels secure.
    Clay-Cactus-23
  • Your DIY clay cactus is complete!
    Clay-Cactus-24

(Optional) Step 7: Make a clay succulent

  • Roll a piece of brown clay into a flat 1 inch circle.
    Clay-Succulent-1
  • Make 9 small 1/2 inch balls of green clay and flatten them with your fingertip.
    Clay-Succulent-3
  • Pinch one side of each green circle into a point, making a petal shape.
    Clay-Succulent-4
  • Repeat, forming 9 green petals.
    Clay-Succulent-5
  • Place 3 green petals on the brown clay circle, spacing them evenly around it.
    Use a needle tool (or toothpick) to smooth the pointed ends of the petals into the center of the brown clay.
    Clay-Succulent-6
  • Repeat, adding 3 more petals, placing them between the first 3.
    Clay-Succulent-7
  • Place the last 3 petals in the center of the succulent, overlapping the other petals a bit.
    Clay-Succulent-8
  • Adjust the petals, bending them slightly so they sit how you like.
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  • Bake according to your clay's instructions.
    Clay-Succulent-10
  • Your clay succulent is complete!
    Clay-Succulent-11
  • Have fun experimenting with different colours and shapes to create a whole cactus garden!
    Clay-Succulent-12

Video

Notes

Looking for more cute clay crafts? Here's a few of our favourites:
How to Make a Clay Bunny
Clay Macaron Ornament
How to Make a Clay Chick