DLTK's Holiday Crafts for Kids
Cactus Crafts and Coloring for Kids
Our Cactus Crafts and Coloring for Kids invites young minds on an artistic adventure into the vibrant world of cacti. With a collection that spans from detailed coloring pages to hands-on craft projects, children can explore the unique beauty of these desert plants. Each activity is designed to spark imagination and creativity, turning a simple afternoon into an exploration of nature's wonders. So gather your colors and crafting supplies, and get ready to create your very own desert masterpiece!
Learn to Draw a Simple Cactus
Materials: paper, green pencil crayon
Activity: Sometimes the simplest is the most fun! Show your kids how to draw a simple cactus. Make a cross shape, then add an upward arm at each tip of the cross.
Cardboard Tube Cactus Craft
Materials: Cardboard tubes, green paint, black or white paint or ink, paintbrush or marker, green construction paper, glue, scissors.
Activity: First, paint the cardboard tube green to mimic the cactus body and allow it to dry. Then, using a thin paintbrush or marker, draw on the cactus spikes with black or white paint or ink to create the illusion of texture. Cut out small, arm-like shapes from green construction paper for the cactus arms, and glue them onto the sides of the tube. This craft is a fun and mess-free way to explore creativity and bring a piece of the desert into your home or classroom.
Barrel Cactus Paper Plate Craft
A barrel cactus is quite a round variety of cactus so it makes a great paper plate craft
Materials: Paper plates, green paint, white yarn, glue, scissors.
Activity: Children paint the paper plate green. Glue on small pieces of yarn as spines. Use paint or markers to add needles. Decorate with paper flowers for a colorful finish.
My mom doesn't drive so takes a taxi grocery shopping. She was hosting a small BBQ and the store was out of round paper plates so she was "stuck" with oval ones (she didn't want to take the taxi to Walmart to try to find round ones). They worked fine for the potato salad and burgers and were great months later when the grandkids decided they wanted to turn them into cacti!
Cactus Salt Dough Decorations
Materials: Salt dough (salt, flour, water), green paint, toothpick, string.
Activity: Kids can shape the salt dough into cacti, use a toothpick for texture, then paint them green after baking. Make sure to poke a hole before baking for stringing if you plan to hang your creation.
You can also use store bought clay to design lovely cactus statues!
Tissue Paper Stained Glass Cactus Craft
Materials: Black construction paper, waxed paper or sticky contact paper, various colors of tissue paper, glue, scissors.
Activity: Begin by cutting out a cactus shape from the black construction paper to serve as the outline for your stained glass project. Next, tear or cut the tissue paper into small pieces. Arrange these colorful pieces on a sheet of waxed paper, applying glue to secure them in place, creating a vibrant, translucent effect reminiscent of stained glass -- you can use sticky contact paper instead of waxed paper and glue if you prefer. Once the tissue paper layer is complete, glue the black construction paper cactus outline on top, framing the colorful tissue paper. This stained glass cactus craft brightens any window, casting colorful light into the room and adding a cheerful, desert-inspired touch to your space.
Cactus Fingerprint Art
Materials: Green paint, paper, markers.
Activity: Kids dip their fingers in green paint to make cactus shapes on paper, then use markers to add spines and flowers, turning fingerprints into little cacti. Your thumbprint can be the base of the cactus and you can use smaller fingers to make the arms of the cactus.
For kids who don't like to get messy, you can use cotton swaps instead of fingerprints to design your cactus!
Cactus Paper Plate Wreath
Materials: Paper plate, green construction paper, gold paint or ink, cotton swab or thin brush, glue, scissors.
Activity: Start by cutting the center out of the paper plate, leaving a circular "wreath" shape as your base. Then, cut numerous ovals from the green construction paper to resemble small cactus pads. Use gold paint or ink with a cotton swab or a thin brush to add spines to each cactus pad, creating little dots or lines for texture. Once your cactus pads are decorated and dry, arrange and glue them around the paper plate wreath, overlapping them slightly for a full, lush look. This cactus paper plate wreath brings a unique, desert-inspired charm to any room, perfect for adding a touch of greenery and creativity to your space.
3D Paper Cactus Craft
Instructions:
- Prepare the Paper: Fold your green construction paper in half. This will allow you to cut out symmetrical cactus shapes more easily.
Cut Out Cactus Shapes: Draw a simple cactus shape on the folded paper – it could be a classic saguaro with arms or a more straightforward columnar shape. You'll need 4 to 6 of these identical shapes, so either draw and cut them out individually or stack the paper to cut multiple shapes at once.- Decorate: Before assembling, let the kids decorate their cactus pieces. They can add lines for texture with markers or crayons and even color in some flowers.
Glue Together: Take two cactus cutouts and apply glue to one half of one cutout. Press the half of another cutout against the glue, aligning the edges carefully. Repeat this process, adding more cactus cutouts and gluing them edge to edge until you form a 3D cactus.- Add Final Touches: Once your 3D cactus is stable, you can add more decorations if desired. Glue small flower embellishments or colored paper flowers to the cactus arms for a pop of color.
- Display: Your 3D cactus is now ready to be displayed! It can stand on its own on a flat surface, making a great decoration for a desk, shelf, or as part of a diorama.
This 3D Paper Cactus Craft is a fantastic project for kids to work on their scissor skills, understanding of symmetry, and spatial awareness. Plus, it's a fun way to bring a bit of the desert's charm into your space!