Hen and chicks are one of the first succulents I fell in love with, so this design is dear to my heart. And I felt like a right genius because I figured out how to get the machine to cut a hole in each center. It is not an automatic process and involves what Cricut calls “attaching” layers. (The above holes are three points in diameter; I’ve since upped it to four.)
This is the fun part. Removing the waste from the sticky mat makes a musical plinking sound that is very satisfying. And as I soon learned and as Nora suggested, it’s far easier to remove the cut shapes after the mat has been “de-sticked” a bit — which seems to happen with use.
Color test and shaping. The little point on the end of each leaf adds such sweet realism. My inspiration:
These guys are in a bit more shade now in my early winter backyard, so they’ve lost most of their edge-leaf color.
Prototype hen. Next up is to draft a smaller-leaved pattern set for the chicks, so we can build happy succulent families. This one is about 5/8-inch (16 mm) across.
And this is how I’m keeping all the very many parts organized and identified. I’ve long kept a stash of these useful little containers from takeout food, but ran out quickly. Dollar store to the rescue! Ten cups with lids/$1. I should probably cost them out in greater quantities :(
nancyland.com 
I buy those cups with lids at Gordon Food Service by the thousand.
I like the prototype :)
Thanks, Keli! I’m looking forward to making them by the tens, which will probably require part pots in the 1000s :)
Wow! that’s amazing… I love how they look so far.
Thanks, Sheila! Succulents are easy and satisfying to do, and they look great potted or planted in the ground!
So beautifully detailed. That was my favourite plant when I was little and living further south. Alas, it is only pines (and snow) here as far as the eye can see.
BW, I’m sure you could propagate these indoors in pots. Oh wait, I think I see what you’re saying. I will do my best to make these new kits fulfill all our succulent dreams :)