The faux cacti centerpieces were created in partnership with FloraCraft® Make It: Fun®. All ideas, opinions, and styling is my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make A Kailo Chic Life possible.

This month I was asked to use FloraCraft® Make It: Fun® Foam Cones to create decorations for a party or celebration. The possibilities are endless with these simple foam shapes and I initially thought of using them to create a snow cone banner or mobile just perfect for a summer party. But then I thought of an even better idea. Cacti! Cacti in home decor is trending hard right now, and they are especially popular during these hot summer months. While I love the look of real cactus, I can’t really have them in my home with two crazy kids running around. So I decided to create a few out of the foam cones. They turned out super cute and I think they would be the perfect summer party centerpiece. Bonus points for no finger pricks!

Follow along below for the full tutorial.

The Supplies:

• FloraCraft® Make It: Fun® Foam Cones in various sizes (I used the large 18″ and 12″ cones)
• FloraCraft® Smooth Finish
• FloraCraft® Foam Tools
• Small off set spatula
• Lime Green Spray Paint
• Pot and colorful aquarium rocks
• Fake flowers for the cacti blooms (optional)

Begin by cutting the last few inches of your cone off to shorten the tip a bit.

Now use the foam knife to cut and round the large end of the cone to create a nice smooth dome.

The final step in your cacti creating is to create the grooves similar to a Peruvian torch cactus.  I used the ball tool to indent the foam and create the groves running from the top to the bottom of the cacti. Then I used the sanding tool to widen the groves and smooth them out. Once the the shape of the foam resembled a cactus, I removed the excess foam bits and used a small offset spatula to apply the Smooth Finish to the entire foam piece. You want to make sure you really press the Smooth Finish into the foam and fill in all the groves. I used my finger to smooth out the Smooth Finish in the groves a bit. Now let it dry over night.

Once the Smooth Finish is dry, you can use a piece of sand paper to smooth out any rough areas. Then take the foam outside and spray it green using your spray paint. Once dry it is time to “plant” your cacti in your pots and surround the base with the colorful aquarium rock.

To make the cacti a little more realistic looking I used a few floral pins to attach fake flowers to the tops of the cacti.

I hope you give this tutorial a try, because although it may look complicated, it really doesn’t take long to make the cacti. And they are just super cute, so you really do need to make them! I think I may have to try my hand at a few other types of cacti soon so that I can create a whole cacti garden.