Let’s shake things up with an unexpected tool—an everyday fork! A fork’s tines make the perfect prickly print for painting the spikes of a cactus, and it adds a whole new twist to painting time.
Have your kids swap out the usual paintbrush to make this fork painted cactus craft! Using a fork to dab on the cactus allows little hands to explore painting in a new way.
For even more festive fun, check out some of our other Cinco de Mayo activities that blend celebration with creativity!
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Cactus Art Activity
This hands-on project is a great addition to lessons about the desert, learning about plant life, or adding flair to a Cinco de Mayo celebration.
It brings art and learning together in an engaging way, and kids will be proud to show off their colorful creations!
Download our free cactus template, and grab some construction paper, paint, and a fork for your little artists to be ready to create a one-of-a-kind cactus masterpiece full of texture and personality.
Supplies
- Colored cardstock or construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Plastic Fork
- Acrylic Paint
- Marker
- Paper Plate
- Cactus Template (click the “click here to get your freebies” image at the end of the post)
Directions
Start by downloading and printing the template. Once the template is printed, gather the materials for this fun activity. Get those scissors ready, and let’s help the kids bring this cactus to life!
Prepare a paper plate and squeeze two shades of green paint onto it. Then, let your child dip a plastic fork into the paint and press or stamp it across the cactus outline to create fun, spiky textures.
Keep going with the fork painting until the whole cactus outline is covered. Layering the strokes makes it look fuller, and using both shades of green gives it that fun, textured cactus look.
Once the paint is completely dry, glue the brown pot to the bottom of the cactus. This turns your painted cactus into a potted one.
Now the cactus needs a face! Help the kids glue the eyes right in the center of the cactus.
Next, add the mouth right below the eyes. It already looks happy—but wait, there’s more!
Grab the tongue and glue it right inside the mouth. It’s a small detail, but it gives the cactus a fun, playful expression!
Using a black marker, help your child draw eyebrows above the eyes to give the cactus some expression.
Finally, finish it by drawing little cactus spikes or lines with a black marker to mimic thorns.
And just like that, your happy little cactus is complete! Isn’t it adorable? We think your kids will have a blast making it—and showing it off! While you’re here, check out some of our other summer crafts for kids to keep the creativity going!
More Cinco De Mayo Ideas
Whenever we introduce a new theme or holiday to the kids, we always like to start with reading books! Below are some of the top rated Cinco de Mayo books.
Living In Mexico is a great book to read to little kids. It follows a child in Mexico and talks about culture, geography, and more!
Off We Go To Mexico takes kids on some of the fun adventures they’ll have in Mexico, plus it teaches Spanish words and phrases!
Chicano Jr.’s Mexican Adventure is another children’s book that dives into the cultures and adventure of a child born in the US, but with Mexican heritage!
Easy Summer Camp Crafts
Pirate Gnome Craft – Ahoy, matey! X marks the spot for fun! Set sail on a creative adventure and have your little buccaneers create a pirate gnome. He has a treasure chest in hand and a hat fit for the high seas. He’s sure to spark your little ones’ imaginations.
Handprint Firefly Craft – Light up little imaginations with a glowing good time! Have kids create a firefly using their handprints for the wings with this fun project.
It’s a bright idea that brings summer fun to life, and lets their creativity shine and their tiny hands become part of the magic.
Flamingo Name Craft – Let your little ones strut their stuff with this fabulous flamingo! Each letter of their name is on a puddle ready to be put in order.
As kids cut, paste, and spell, they’ll sharpen scissor skills, boost letter recognition, and create a flamingo masterpiece that’s uniquely theirs! Grab our editable template for your kiddo to make one today.
Cactus Paper Cup Craft – Turn an ordinary cup into a cheerful, blooming cactus bursting with personality! Kids will love transforming a plain paper cup into a spiky green buddy sporting some bright flowers. It’s a fun and engaging way to get creative, practice fine motor skills, and add some desert charm!
Free Summer Printables
Scoop up some fun with this sweet ice cream matching game! Kids will love this game of match where they flip cards to find the perfect pair! It’s a playful way to sharpen visual memory, build concentration, and practice taking turns.
To get started, all you have to do is print the cards, lay them face down in a grid, and let the games begin. Whoever collects the most pairs wins!
This brain boosting activity is simple, sprinkled with learning, and sure to bring smiles to everyone’s faces. Family fun never tasted so good!
Dive into building skills with these jaw-some shark worksheets! Kids can label a shark, practice writing S is for Shark, and navigate a letter S maze all while discovering fun facts about these incredible sea creatures.
Whether you’re planning a Shark Week celebration, a fin-tastic lesson plan, or just need a rainy day activity, these printables are sure to keep little learners engaged.
They’re an engaging way to explore shark anatomy, boost literacy, and spark curiosity about ocean conservation!
Cinco de Mayo Dot Art Printables
Make a splash this summer with these summer connect the dots pages! Kids will count their way through a sandcastle, a crab, a slice of watermelon, and a swimming boy to build number recognition and fine motor skills as they go.
The pages vary in difficulty levels, so there’s something for every age and stage. Once the dots are connected, they can color in their creations for even more hands-on fun! Just print and play to beat summer boredom!
Keep little learners buzzing with excitement as they search for summer themed words like sun, beach, and pool in these summer word searches!
Kids will boost letter recognition, spelling, and focus while playing this word search game. These no prep printables are a good way to sneak in learning at home or in the classroom.
Share With Us
Did you make this activity with your kids or students? We’d love to feature them on our social media!
For a chance to have your child’s project featured, simply snap a picture of the completed project and post it to our Facebook page, email it to us directly by clicking here, or use #simpleeverydaymom on your social media!
Fork Painted Cactus Craft
Materials
- Colored cardstock or construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Plastic Fork
- Acrylic Paint
- Marker
- Paper Plate
- Cactus Template
Instructions
- Download the template, print it, and cut out the pieces you need.
- Squeeze two shades of paint onto a paper plate.
- Dip a plastic fork into the paint and stamp it over the cactus outline to create textured strokes.
- Continue fork painting until the entire cactus shape is filled.
- Let the paint dry.
- Next, glue the pot cutout to the bottom of the cactus.
- Then glue the eyes near the top of the cactus.
- Grab the mouth piece then glue below the eyes.
- Glue the tongue inside the mouth.
- Draw the eyebrows above the eyes using a marker.
- Draw small spikes around the cactus to complete the look.
Free Fork Painted Cactus Craft Template
Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump and more. Read more.