How to make a paper cactus gift box

Learn how to make a paper cactus and tap into the houseplant craze with this collection of cacti gift boxes by Anne Richardson

Try 6 issues of any craft magazine for just £9.99

Holly Spanner

Published: May 2, 2021 at 6:34 am

We’ve gone crazy for cacti here in the Gathered studios! Stylishly striking yet easy to keep, they make the perfect houseplants and now, they’ve inspired our crafting with these super-cute gift boxes.

Here we’ve used My Mind’s Eye Happy Days collection but you could use any patterned paper that takes your fancy – the brighter the better! Also, don’t feel like you have to stick to one sort of succulent! We’ve topped our boxes with different shapes and sizes of cacti to add even more interest to the make.

Cacti are bang on-trend at the moment so we expect these gift boxes will be a big hit! And the best bit? They’ll look great perched on a windowsill or keeping you company by your desk for years to come – and they look after themselves just fine!

Download your free paper cacti templates to get started!

Want more free patterned paper? Take a look at our ever-growing collection of free patterned papers, there are lots to choose from and there are lots of different themes. We love these free stylish succulent papers! For more general card making, let us show you how to make cards.

We love seeing what you make with our free printable papers, so don’t forget to share your cards and papercraft projects with us on Facebook and Twitter, too!

You will need:

Patterned paper
Die (small flowers)
Die-cutting machine
Glue (or double-sided tape)

Step 1

Print the cactus template at the desired size. Cut six pieces of paper double the width and fold in half. Place the template onto the fold, draw around the shape and cut out.

How to make a paper cactus – step 1

Step 2

Line up the folded pieces and stick one on top of the other until you have stuck all six pieces together. Open the panels out and attach the two end pieces together. Separate the spikes.

How to make a paper cactus – step 2

Step 3

Die-cut some small flowers in different shapes. Use an embossing tool to shape them and create dimension, then stick them together with the largest at the bottom. Stick the flower on top of your cactus.

How to make a paper cactus – step 3

If you don’t have a small flower die, you can use pre-bought flowers, or go freehand and design your own! Layer up lots of simple flower shapes to create interest for the top of your cactus, or leave plain if you prefer.

How to make a paper cactus

Staff Writer, BBC Science Focus

Holly is the Staff Writer for BBC Science Focus and looks after the popular Q&A section. She holds an MSc (distinction) in Geoscience (Space and Climate Physics) from UCL, and specialises in astronomy and earth sciences. Before joining Our Media, she worked as a geoenvironmental consultant and engineer, informing on ground risk and remediation in the north of England, while hunting for exoplanets in her spare time. Alongside this, she was regional editor of a popular theatre website for nine years, and has a solid background in curating and developing content for the digital space. Holly is also an artist and illustrator, and regular contributor to the craft website, Gathered. She has previously worked with the RSPB, English Heritage, Disney, Pilot and Brother, as well as on BBC Good Food magazine, Home Style magazine, and Papercraft inspirations magazine. She enjoys photography and has a sustained interest in antiques.