Please tell me I’m not the only one who has those days/weeks/months! I was going to share this with you on Tuesday, but I just didn’t get to it. The last three weeks have been kind of crazy for me. My husband was on his way to scout camp a few weeks ago, in my car, when it started smoking. As it turns out, my car needs a new front axle. Anyway, since my car could no longer go to scout camp, the truck that my husband was leaving for me to drive that week, then got to go to scout camp. I was hoping that my car would be gone about a week or so, but we are nearing three weeks. Friends, not having a car is the pits! They were able to find a used part for it, which is good, because it’s less expensive, but the last time we called and checked a couple of days ago, they still hadn’t gotten the part. 🙁 So, I’ve basically been stuck at home for nearly three weeks. During the summer with a house full of boys, it’s not exactly my idea of fun. Anyway, on top of all that, my baby has had a fever this week, I’m pretty sure he’s teething, but he sure hasn’t been himself. I am finally sitting down to write this post though, even if it is a couple of days late, so here you go. 🙂 This project has been a long time coming. Maybe it’s because it’s summer and the kids are home, or maybe it’s just because I haven’t gotten it done as quickly as I had hoped. I’ve been working on it since May, but it’s been a thought in my mind for probably about a year. I am happy that it’s finished now and I’m finally sharing it with you. As with most projects I plan to make, things always seem to change a little bit as I’m working on the project and this project is no different. I started with different shades of green paper, but then I decided to go more teal and purple, and I really adore the way this Paper Succulent Centerpiece turned out.
This post contains affiliate links. All ideas and opinions are my own.
Paper Succulent Centerpiece Supplies:
- Succulent Colored Cardstock
- Succulent Colored Ink Pads
- Cricut Explore Air 2
- Cricut Cut File
- Ink Daubers
- Hot Glue Gun
- Container
- White Foam Core Board
I started by cutting out all of my flowers with the Cricut Explore Air 2 machine. I pulled out my ink pads and ink daubers and then inked the edges of all the different pieces. I’m not going to lie, this seemed to take forever because of all the layers and small pieces. I enjoyed mixing the ink color with the cardstock color so all the succulents weren’t the same. Once I was finished with inking the edges, I curled all the edges. Then I got out the hot glue gun and glued the succulents together, layer by layer.
I did basically the same thing for the rolled paper flowers/succulents.
Once I had them all done, I cut a piece of foam core board to fit the top of the flower container that I was using. I found my container a couple of years ago at IKEA. Then I just started gluing the succulents onto the foam core board.
I seriously can’t believe how this project turned out! It’s more stunning in person than the pictures really show.
I’m so glad that I used some teal ink on the teal paper as well as purple ink on the teal paper and vice versa. It really adds to the project, don’t you think?
After I got all of the larger succulents made and glued into my container, I made some smaller ones to fill in with.
They may not quite look like really succulents, but they are much easier to take care of. I know some people say that succulents are hard to kill, but I’ve managed to kill a couple of them…SO, these are much easier for me to keep alive, ha!
I currently have this sitting on the shelf in my craft room. I’m loving that it adds some color to my shelf and it totally matches my Cricut Explore Air 2 machine. 🙂 That kind of makes me happy.
I also think it goes well with my Spring Paper Flower Centerpiece and my DIY Paper Bridal Bouquet, both of which are in my craft room.
Tell me, where would you put this Paper Succulent Centerpiece in your home? Do you have the perfect place for it? Although it was time consuming, it sure was fun to make. I even think these succulents would be so fun put on a wreath. What do you think?
Love container you put those absolutely gorgeous succulents in.
Your succulents look like they were made by professional. Using your Cricut really helps with how paper shapes are cut out and how you embellished each piece with the ink really makes them stand out. You should be really proud of job you did in every way.
Know how it is being stuck with no vehicle. I was stranded with 3 small kids and no vehicle. Didn’t drive til was almost 28.
I used to be stuck at home out in middle of nowhere at time out by airbase in Tucson. Nothing close around there at that time. While after I got divorced a friend sold me an old car, taught myself how to drive, no automatics in those days, early 60’s. It’s so hard being stranded alone let alone with small kids. Used to have to take bus with 2 rowdy boys, 16 months apart was such fun. Oldest wasn’t much older than them.
I have a Cricut Air, the first one, but due to being digitally challenged couldn’t get it installed, duh! So it sits when there are all these wonderful projects to be done with it.
Do you get your project how’s to from Lia Griffith? Yours looked like her paper succulents. She has so many gorgeous things can make with Cricut. Do you buy your papers from Paper-Papers? Good paper, the right kind, makes such a difference to how things turn out. I too love making paper creations.
Hope your baby feels better soon, so hard when they run a fever, not much can do for them.
Enjoy rest of week and weekend
Thank you! I don’t read the Lia Griffith blog. I come up with my own ideas that I share on my blog. I hope you are able to get your Cricut machine going soon. I’ve loved my many Cricut machines that I’ve been using for years and know that you would love to use yours as well.
I love your site. I tried following you on Pinterest by clicking Pin button, your link must be broken.
Thanks for the heads up! I’ve got it fixed now. 🙂
These succulents are seriously amazing! The things you create with paper always impress me. I need to make these to replace the succulents that I ‘tried’ to grow 🙂
loved your pictures of these succulents. my nephew is getting married and fiance wants to use succulents on the tables. to me this would be lovely, dont know about them but you did a fabulous job here
These are super gorgeous Amy! I really love the color gradient you added with the stamp ink; super smart!
I just wanted to let you know that you were featured as a Rockstar at last week’s Creativity Unleashed party! Congrats, and thanks for sharing at our party! http://www.practicallyfunctional.com/creativity-unleashed-182-hand-lettering-giveaway
Stunning! I hope you can come party over at my site. We would love to have you share your work!
Can you share the file you used to cut these? They are gorgeous. Thank you!
There is a link to the cut file in the supply list above. 🙂
The link to the cut file doesn’t work. 🙁
Hi Crystal, I’m not sure why it wasn’t working. I just tried it and it opened up. It did take a minute to load though. It is a Cricut Design Space file. Let me know if you are still having issues with it and I’ll see what I can do with it. 🙂
Your Blog is very nice.
Wish to see much more like this. Thanks for sharing your information
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Oh my god, these are so adorable! Love the colors and how you added purple shades to the green paper. Thank you for sharing!
Do you have templates for your amazing succulents?? Would love to have something like this for my tables at my wedding as I’m incorporating succulents 🙂
can you also show/tell me how you did the roll-up succulents?? mine have no dimension to them!
This post shows how to roll the flowers up to make them dimensional. Let me know if you have other questions. 🙂 https://www.thehappyscraps.com/2014/03/paper-flower-spring-centerpiece.html
I don’t have templates, because I used my Cricut to cut all of the paper out. Once I cut them all out I put them together.
Gorgeous! I just love the Stampin’ Up ink colors you used. Is the bottom pad Coastal Cabana? Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! The bottom ink pad is Pool Party. 🙂
Hi! I was wondering why one of the pieces of the succulent has a slit that neither of the pieces do. Are you supposed to glue those edges together? Or leave the slit open?
Thank you!!
I think I just left it open. I honestly can’t remember though. I’m not sure why the slit is there. 🙂
I don’t know why mine look so tiny compared. They look pretty so far but yours look to be different sizes. Mine all look the same size. Did you resize some of them?
I really don’t remember what I did, but after looking at the cut file and the finished project, I must have cut some smaller succulents. It was probably an after thought and I used them to fill in with. I hope that makes sense.
Hello! These succulents are beautiful and I am trying to make these for a party. I clicked on the file link and it opened the design space website but the website just wants me to download the plug-in (which I already have downloaded). Do you know why the link won’t open into the design space plug-in program? Hopefully that makes sense. Thank you!!
I’m not sure why it won’t open. Maybe try opening Design Space, see if it prompts to download the plug-in (there might be an update), then try and open the cut file. I get prompted to download the plug-in quite often because of updates.
Hi! I was looking for the cardstock you bought and it links me to Amazon to view different types. Can you help me find the exact set you used? I love the ones you made specifically 😅