I was originally going to make this project with felt but then had some trouble cutting some of the designs with the rotary blade so I reverted to using cardstock instead.
(In case you are curious, the problem with the rotary blade is it doesn’t turn for sharp corners all that will and sometimes just cuts off the stem altogether. I didn’t have a really sharp fine point blade on hand so didn’t give it a try with that but that might have worked better. I did eventually alter the template slightly to create a set for felt. Here is the tutorial for felt succulents if you are interested.)
Living in California, I see succulents growing everywhere. They are actually quite a few different varietals. They make for beautiful vegetation that works both indoors and out.
My favorite are the cabbage like succulents that line the front of our housing complex. It looks relatively easy to maintain so I’ve been meaning to break off a piece and taking it indoors.
In the meantime, I created some even easier to maintain indoor succulent decor with this paper version. They are actually really simple to make and assemble and they last forever!
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Cardstock – I just pulled green cardstock from various packages I already had. My only recommendation is to use cardstock with a colored center. Here are the different packages of cardstock I used.
Cutting Machine – I use a Cricut machines and accessories for beginners for more info.
Start by cutting out all the pieces from the template. I like to use my Cricut cutting machine for this step and it makes things go much faster. For not so intricate patterns, I like to use a blue light grip mat because it makes clean up much easier. I simple just cut each succulent in a different shade of green.
This pattern isn’t so complicated that you can’t cut it by hand. That works as well with a pair of scissors although it might take a bit longer.
Curl all the petals with a scraping tool or a credit card in a pinch. I just do a quick swipe with the scraper.
For other flowers, I like vary up the direction of the petals. However, for succulents, I keep them all going in the same inverted direction.
For a more cupped flat succulent, just glue each piece from the largest to the smallest starting with the base piece.
Be sure to offset the petals. For other layered flowers, sometimes I like add a little foam tape between the layers to add more elevation. While I don’t think it is necessary for succulent, it is really up to you if you want more of a 3 dimensional effect.
To add even more of a 3D effect, I like to flip over a few of the curled pieces to add elevation to the plant. The base layer then just sort of acts a little stand for the rest of the plant.
This template works for making really large paper succulents as well. They look great as a wall backdrop.
For really large paper succulents, especially if you are going to put this up on the wall, I would skip adding elevation to the layers because it might be hard to keep that in place.
The Tacky glue is surprisingly strong once it has dried and work to hold up the layer flower. The only slight problem is if you make it too big, the layers become a bit heavy and might require some additional handing structure to stay on a wall.
For a shorter duration, I actually just use some painters tape and make a little loop. Painters tape doesn’t damage the wall and is sticky enough to keep the flowers on.
While I wouldn’t add elevation between the layers, I would consider adding depth by coloring the tips. I like to use Metallic Oil Patels and just outline the tip of each leave and then smearing it in with a q-tip. It’s ok if it doesn’t look perfect, it will mostly be covered by all the tiered petals.
I’ve also used soft pastels to color petals but that rubs off sometimes and for bigger projects like this, I don’t want the color to be getting all over the walls.
3D succulent SVG templates are perfect to make your own paper houseplants from scratch. Typically, each mini cactus plant stands a few inches tall. Of course, you can always scale up your 3D succulent SVG templates if you want to make a larger plant.
In addition, DIY paper succulent crafts are great to give to friends and family as well. For example, these make great no-maintenance house-warming gifts. They’re sure to brighten up any work desk, college dorm, or kitchen table! You can also use these free succulent templates to make DIY cactus cake toppers, wall art, and homemade succulent cards. To get started, sign up for my newsletter for your free download!
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I understand that not everyone has the time to take care of plants. Although succulents are a pretty low-maintenance type of plant, they still require care and time. But, if you are living in a fast-paced place like California, this type of commitment could be challenging.
Some of us really wanted to take care of plants. We have various reasons why. Others came from a family that has a ton of plants growing up. Some wanted a new look for their indoor space. Or, you may be one of the people who wanted some succulents to make your home lively. However, as mentioned, not everyone got the break to water these plants. We don’t want to see them wither, right? Can we get the best of both worlds – having plants without spending too much time? I got you! Regardless of your reasons, this DIY paper succulents will be a great project for you!
There are different succulents. They vary from look to colors. And that makes succulents amazing and great indoor plants. As for our DIY paper succulents, you can easily place them in your living room or bedroom. It will give your space a fresh look. It is also a great decoration for your tiny space desk in your office.
If you think these DIY paper succulents are only great for decor, you are wrong! You can easily give this as a sentimental gift for a friend or family. Make sure to attach a letter or note with it.
