Cactus Flower Favor
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with this cheerful Cactus Flower Favor craft. It is a fun and colorful table decoration that also works well as a party favor for guests to take home. Kids will enjoy painting, folding tissue paper, and creating a bright paper flower to top their little cactus.
This easy craft for kids uses simple supplies and makes a festive addition to holiday crafts, classroom activities, or family celebrations.
Supplies
- Styrofoam egg
- Craft wire
- Tissue paper
- Raffia
- Tacky glue
- Green paint
- Terracotta paint
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Sand
- Small paper cup
Instructions
- Paint the Styrofoam egg green and let it dry completely.
- Paint the small paper cup terracotta and let it dry.
- Fill the painted cup about two-thirds full with sand. Mix a little tacky glue into the sand to help hold the cactus in place.
- Press the small end of the painted Styrofoam egg down into the sand so it stands upright like a cactus.
- Cut several short pieces of craft wire and push them into the Styrofoam egg to look like cactus spines.
- Cut tissue paper into pieces about 2 inches by 4 inches. Stack four pieces in different colors.
- Accordion fold the stacked tissue paper back and forth in about 3/8-inch folds.
- Round off both ends of the folded tissue paper with scissors.
- Cut another piece of craft wire and fold it in half. Pinch the center of the folded tissue paper stack and twist the wire tightly around the middle.
- Fan out the folded tissue paper. Carefully separate the layers one at a time, starting at the top, to form a full flower.
- Push the wire stem of the flower into the top of the cactus.
- Tie a piece of raffia around the paper cup and glue it in place.
Fun Facts
Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. It is a great time to enjoy colorful decorations, festive food, and holiday crafts.
Patterns, Templates and Printables
This project does not require a printable template.
Teacher Friendly Educational Extension
This craft can be used as part of Cinco de Mayo classroom activities. Talk with children about the meaning of Cinco de Mayo and show where Mexico is on a map. You can also discuss cactus plants and how they grow in hot, dry climates. For a simple writing activity, have kids write one sentence about how they decorated their cactus flower favor.
Supplies
Styrofoam Egg
Craft Wire
Tissue Paper
Raffia
Tacky Glue
Green and Terracotta Paint and Brush
Scissors
Sand
Small Paper Cup
Instructions
Paint a Styrofoam egg green. Let dry. Paint a small paper cup terracotta. Let dry.
Fill the painted paper cup 2/3 way with sand. Mix in some tacky glue. Press the small end of the painted egg into the sand.
Cut pieces of craft wire and push into the Styrofoam.
Cut tissue paper into 2" x 4" pieces. Stack four pieces in different colors. Accordion fold back and forth in 3/8" folds so you have a 3/8" x 2" bunch. Cut the ends rounded.
Cut a piece of craft wire and fold it in half. Pinch together the middle of the tissue bunch and twist the wire tightly around it.
Fan out the folds of tissue. Gently pull sheets apart starting at the top and shaping the flower as you go. Push the craft wire into the top of the cactus to hold bloom in place.
Tie a piece of raffia around the pot. Glue in place.
Contributor
These projects are created by Terri, Betty, Jamie or one of the talented staff members at MakingFriends.com. They have been created exclusively for publication on FreeKidsCrafts.com with supplies you'll be able to find around your house.
