Learn how to make DIY fake succulent art in less than 30 minutes, and you’ll add pretty plant life to your decor without all the dirt and water.
If you love the look of succulents but your thumb is black instead of green, then this easy craft is for you!
I expected the little green plant my son proudly brought home from school one day – a product of a class project – to thrive in our sunny kitchen.
After all, the $2 Trade Joe’s succulent next to it keeps growing taller, and succulents are supposedly impossible to kill.
(That cheap-o plant’s in the photo above, next to the DIY fake succulent art we’re creating in today’s tutorial.)
Can you guess what happened?
I somehow managed to kill my kid’s succulent. Perhaps it was too much water, not enough drainage, or the wrong dirt – I don’t know. But I’ve been wary of the popular plants ever since my boy’s class project shriveled up into a tiny and dry green stump.
Despite my mixed results, I still love the look (and idea) of succulents – but now I focus on the fake kind.
This easy faux succulent craft is a quick spring decor project that you can finish in 30 minutes or less, so send your kids out to the backyard for half an hour and start crafting!
How to Make DIY Fake Succulent Art
Don’t have time to read all the details? Watch this short video on how to make DIY fake succulent art, then scroll down for the supply list.
Supplies to Make DIY Fake Succulent Art
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- Faux succulent floral picks (I used these succulents for this project)
- Picture frame (I used one similar to this unfinished 5×7 wood frame, but any frame will do.)
- Foam core board or a piece of corrugated cardboard
- Preserved sheet moss mat
- Wire clippers
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors or craft knife
- Pencil
How to Make Framed Fake Succulent Art
If you want to paint or stain your picture frame, do that first. I left mine raw and just sanded the rough edges with medium-grit sandpaper.
Pop the back out of the picture frame, trace it on the foam core board, then cut the board with a craft knife or sharp scissors.
Next, put the foam core board into the frame to ensure that it fits, and trim it if necessary. Then, flip the frame over so you can trace the inside of the frame.
Remove the foam core board from the frame and heat up your hot glue gun.
The pencil line you drew on the foam core board is your guide for cutting the sheet moss. The moss I ended up using is a little different than what’s in the picture above – that moss was not actually on a sheet – but the moss you see in the picture below is attached to a sheet. The sheet makes it much easier to cut to size.
Glue the moss to fit within the outline you drew on the foam core board – otherwise, it will be too thick to fit back into the frame.
Related Reading: How to Make a Succulent Wreath In Just 5 Minutes
After you glue the moss to the board, pop it back into the frame but do not put attach the frame’s backing yet.
Next, use your wire cutters to trim the stems off the fake succulents, leaving just a little nub to push into the mossy foam board. I suggest placing your succulents on the moss before gluing them in place so you can play around with the design before making a commitment.
When you’re ready, put a generous amount of hot glue around the base of the succulent’s stem, and press the succulent firmly onto the mossy board.
Repeat the process until your frame is filled with pretty faux succulents!
Now you can perch your pretty DIY fake succulent art on a shelf, or use it as a wall hanging.
Craft a Creative Succulent Display!
The colorful faux succulents add a lovely pop of color to your spring decor and are about as “easy care” as you can get. Now you’ll have a green (plastic) thumb after all. 🙂
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patricia says
beautiful can you tell me please where you bought all the colorful succulents you used on this frame?