I got a new eight-petaled punch, about 5/8-inch (16 mm). It has spawned a whole new genus of succulents. These are punched from a sage green cardstock painted with an acrylic wash. After lengthy fooling around, I prefer detailing each shape with markers.
Here’s where my documentation lapses. Profoundly. I call Sunday, North American time change, and very good California champagne.
I’m really happy with the end result, and will be more mindful to share my steps. It’s basically three punched and shaped forms, and then a lot of individually applied shaped petals. Or leaves, whatever they’re called. This version more closely approximates what I see in parts of my own succulent garden.
This is also where I *really* want to buy a laser cutter, to be able to realistically emulate the considerable varieties of succulents and cacti. What do you think? Anyone else out there enamored of miniature succulents to want to make them in their boundless assortment? Do you know of anyone already making kits?
nancyland.com 
Your succulents are FAN- TASTIC! I love the height that you have given them too! The edging with the markers has made quite a difference in the detail and make the individual leaves more distinct. Very Beautifully done! :D
Thank you, Elizabeth! I’m really enjoying this exploration, and am going to start posting photos of my reference and inspiration, so you can see what I’m going for.
Wow! They are getting better and better! I just ordered the Cricut Explore Air 2. I’ll post an unpacking blog post about it soon after it arrives. I am hoping that it will open a new world of possibilities including LOTS of flower parts!
https://shop.cricut.com/en_us/machines/cricut-explore-air.html
Jodi, thanks, I’m glad you think so! I’m looking at that machine, too, to cut the varying sizes of same-shaped petals. (Resolve: look at a succulent botanical diagram so I can start using the right language. TONIGHT.) It’s exciting to me that there might be a few of us trying to bend this machine to our distinct miniature wills.
Stunning! Your talents are endless :-))
But is cardstock thin enough for making leaves and flowers?
I guess the thing you need to check when buying the lasercutter is whether it can cut extremely thin paper, too.
Marion, you are very kind. I expect there will be a lot of experimentation. Thus far, card stock is ideal for succulents. I use a text-weight paper for the California poppy petals, as well as eucalyptus leaves. It seems it’s more about what shaping can be done with a stylus than the weight of the stock. Let’s find out!
You should be happy with the “end result” – it’s simply stunning. Such beautifully detailed work.
Thank you, BW. Each experiment opens new avenues of exploration. I’m liking the potential of armature stems. I think I like an element of whimsy — a Dr. Seussian quailty — to succulent construction, rather than strict adherence to faithful reproduction.
These look amazing! Typo alert — double “of” in the first paragraph. “…new genius of of succulents” Because you told me to tell you immediately next time :)
Double thanks, baby girl <3
Gorgeous! I love how they look, like it’s been raining and the garden just went wild. Shannon has a lasercutter I think. Maybe consult with her? She did some passion flower shapes for Keli.
http://shannonsminiblog.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Sheila! I saw Keli’s passiflora and loved them. Here in Northern California we only get rain in the cool winter months, so there’s very little garden-going-wild unless irrigation is involved :)
These are marvelous! :D I also like the modern art canvas your work blotter has become.
So glad you like them, Brae! This is a new piece of scrap cardstock blotter. I’ve saved the first, heavily marked one and intend to photograph and “do something“ with it… like I need yet another piece of collected paper :)
I would be a happy buyer if you ever got a laser cutter and decided to go plant crazy!
They look wonderful.
Thanks, Kat. Your encouragement means the world to me :)
Very creative, how did you come up with this idea? The plant looks so natural, great job!
Bennie, thank you! I learned the basic technique from Annie Christensen at http://weloveminiatures.com/
I made hundreds of them to landscape my latest build. I love succulents, and grow a lot of different varieties in my garden. I just kept fooling around with different punches, paints, markers… You know how it goes :)