When most of us think about a cactus, there are typically three main things that will spring to mind: dry, dusty deserts, sharp spines – and, of course, sombreros! In the next few steps, we will learn not only how to bring your cactus to life, but to inject a little personality and fun – let’s get started!
Tutorial Video
Step-By-Step Images and Instructions
1.

Start with a slightly curved line at the top of your page, curving each end up towards the top of the page.
2.

Connect these two ends together with another straight line.
3.

Grab a brown pen, and add a “zigzag” design all the way across the shape you have created.
4.

Now, use an orange pen to fill in the space around the design.
5.

Add a curved triangular shape, almost like the top half of a lemon, to the top of the strip, and fill this in with the orange pen – the sombrero is starting to take shape!
6.

Now switch to a green pen, and bring a line downwards, roughly in line with the curve at the top of the sombrero, around one inch in length – this should be slightly curved. Then, bring another line down on the other side, curving this across and up to the top of the page, and adding a curve at the top before bringing it back down and in – this is the arm of your cactus!
7.

Repeat this shape on the other side, adding an arm on the left – this should be slightly lower than the one on the right. Continue the lines downwards beneath both arms.
8.

Switch to a brown pen. At the bottom of the page, add a rough rectangle shape, and have the green lines disappear into this.
9.

Now, use the brown pen to add a “zigzag” design to the top of the pot, and fill in the space.
10.

Continue to add zigzags all down the length of the pot. Leave the spaces in between white, and fill in the space at the bottom.
11.

Now grab a pink pen, and fill in the second to top and second to bottom strips with the shade.
12.

Switch to a yellow, and add the color to the center of the pot.
13.

Now grab a green pen, and add two circles to the top of your cactus.
14.

Use a thin black liner to add two smaller circles inside these larger ones.
15.

Add two smaller circles to the top of these inner ones, and use the black liner to fill in the space – leave these tiny circles white.
16.

Now grab the green pen, and draw a series of vertical lines heading up the arm of the cactus, making them very close together to give the whole shape a green shade.
17.

Go back to the black liner, and add two “comma” shapes below the eyes to give your cactus that perfect Mexican mustache!
18.

Then use the black to add a small curve underneath the mustache – this is a happy cactus.
19.

Grab a bright yellow pen, and add vertical lines to the body, the left-hand arm, and the spaces between the green on the right-hand arm.
20.

Grab the green pen again, and finish by filling in the spaces between the yellow lines with a bold green to complete the look.
And just like that, you are in the mood to say “Ole!” Now, whereabouts did you leave that salsa…