Create miniature cactus from polymer clay for your fairy garden, doll house or miniature collection. Or you can make them simply because they are adorable. These tiny succulents can easily be recreated with a little patience and lot of fun.
What started out as a request from my daughter to make a couple of plants for her Fairy Garden turned into mini obsession with me. After I made the first plant I kept going and going. I ended up with 17 tiny plants and each one is adorable. 
For size comparison I thought I would take a picture next to a penny so you could see how tiny they really are. 
Supplies for miniature cactus:
- Sculpey Premo Polymer Clay – Jungle, Spanish Olive, Raw Seinna, Cadium Red
- Apple Barrel Paint – White, Bimini Blue, and paint brushes
- Tile or aluminium foil for baking polymer clay cactus
- polymer clay cutters
- polymer clay tools
Notes about working with polymer clay.
Start with clean hands and work surface area. Good work surfaces include wax paper, metal baking sheet, or disposable foil. Knead clay until soft and smooth. For best results, clean your hands in between colors.
Shape clay, pressing pieces together firmly. Bake on oven-proof metal surface at 275 °F (130 °C) for 30 minutes per ¼” (6 mm) thickness. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer.DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME.
Instructions for making the miniature cactus from polymer clay:
- Roll out a small piece of clay to make the leaves. A grape size piece of conditioned polymer clay will work well.
- Use cutters to cut out shapes or hand shape the leaves. Make as many leaves as you want for your plant.
- Use a tool to shape the leaves.
- Shape clay, pressing pieces together firmly.
- Form a mini terra cotta pop by rolling a ball and pressing a finger in to for the center. Place plant in the pot.
- Bake on oven-proof metal surface or tile at 275 °F (130 °C) for 30 minutes per ¼” (6 mm) thickness. For best baking results, use an oven thermometer.
DO NOT USE MICROWAVE OVEN. DO NOT EXCEED THE ABOVE TEMPERATURE OR RECOMMENDED BAKING TIME. - I bake on a slick tile.
- If you need to support the leaves of the plant so they have more dimmension – use foil to hold and seperate the individual leaves.
- Remove from oven after following manufactures directions for baking and baking time. Allow to cool before handling.
- One the plants are cool you can paint as desired. This plant has tiny dots to mimic the spikes that are on the edges.
Tips for miniature cactus from polymer clay.
To make other mini succulents this is how the leaves are layered.
Some pictures of the other plants I made that afternoon. Pin any that you like. They are all really fun. If you like working with polymer clay I have an entire category filled with ideas and techniques. Sculpey Polymer Clay
Love these! I live in the desert and enjoy all kinds of succulents! Yours are beautiful!
Thank you so much. I really enjoyed making them!