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| Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup | |
 Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup |
 Topic: fake cacti( Topic Closed) |
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smileon3
Player 
Joined: 1/19/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13 |
 Topic: fake cactiPosted: 1/26/09 at 5:19pm |
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Hi everyone,
I've searched the site and haven't found my answer... Does anyone know how to make or where to get fake cacti? Thanks for the help |
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KEB54
Celebrity 
Joined: 7/24/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 227 |
Posted: 1/27/09 at 11:44am |
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What kind -- little potted cactus or big sororo cactus? We made one dimensional sororos cut out of foam and painted. If you need 3D I guess you build a frame, cover and shape with chicken wire, cover with foam, maybe add some needles, and paint. |
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KEB
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vickifrank
Celebrity
Joined: 9/21/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 332 |
Posted: 1/27/09 at 1:08pm |
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You can make an easy and cheap cactus out of discarded pantihose.
1.)Simply stuff pantihose with with fiberfill (available at fabric stores); Don't' worry about runs in stocking, it will just add to character of the piece.
2.) Tie excess panty part of pantihose into a knot that you put through a hole or slot in to cardboard circle base;
3.)Add fake thorns (small cones made of paper or toothpicks ); Curly thorns can be made from hot glue.
4.)spray paint entire thing green, with a few flecks of brown/tan paint for texture and flaws.
5.) If you want a potted cactus, hot glue cardboard base in a pot. If you need a stand alone floor cactus, then hot glue cardboard to a plywood or weighted base and stage decorate to hide the base.
If you want stiffer, add cardboard inside. Cardboard allows you to make a big paddle shape, or to make round/barrel cactus etc.. This is an easy throw away project for a volunteer. You can make several small cactii or one large cactii out of a pair of hose, because they stretch. The whole thing will cost about $5 (if you have to buy the fiberfill and paint) and look surprisingly realistic.
All in all a better and more comfortable use of panty hose than the actual real use.
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http://www.studio-productions-inc.com 1-800-359-2964 The theater scrim people |
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smileon3
Player
Joined: 1/19/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13 |
Posted: 1/27/09 at 2:56pm |
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wow! thank you so much for the replies!
I'm directing "Cactus Pass Jamboree" this summer, and was at a loss as to how to fake the cacti. The entire show takes place in the main town square, and the script calls for "several large cacti."
I'll definitely need having a cacti crew of volunteers, I'm thinking.
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Coconut
Walk-On 
Joined: 8/09/07 Location: Virgin Islands Online Status: Offline Posts: 0 |
Posted: 1/27/09 at 8:33pm |
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I once made reasonable ones out of 4" pvc pipe and fittings.
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smileon3
Player
Joined: 1/19/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13 |
Posted: 1/27/09 at 9:16pm |
Do you have pictures or a design you would care to share? I'd really appreciate it! |
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Coconut
Walk-On
Joined: 8/09/07 Location: Virgin Islands Online Status: Offline Posts: 0 |
Posted: 1/27/09 at 10:07pm |
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Well, let me try to describe them, at least. From a floor flange the pipe went up 4' or so, then a tee on it's side went right, thru a foot or so of pipe to an elbow pointed up, then 3' or so of pipe went up to a cap. Back at the center, a short bit of pipe went into the top of the tee-on-it's-side, to another tee-on-it's-side this time going off left, again with a foot or so of pipe to an elbow pointed up, again 3' of pipe going up to a cap. Then, finally, 3+' of pipe with a cap went up from the center to finish it off. Make sure your center stem is tallest and your sides are not exactly the same height. We painted ours green.
Good luck. I may be able to find them and snap a pic if the above description leaves you bald from scratching your head. |
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smileon3
Player
Joined: 1/19/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 13 |
Posted: 1/27/09 at 10:19pm |
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thanks for the description. I think I understood. possibly. lol I'd love to see pics if you get a chance.
thanks again! |
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SavTD
Walk-On
Joined: 9/05/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 6 |
Posted: 2/17/09 at 3:51pm |
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I've made cacti out of 1' square columns of foam... I shaped them with a hot knife, scored grooves down the sides, painted them green, and then used toothpicks to make thorns.
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whitebat
Celebrity
Joined: 8/05/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 137 |
Posted: 2/23/09 at 11:19pm |
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If you decide to use the nylon idea, you might consider dyeing the nylons green with Rit dye before shaping the cacti. It might work out cheaper and would be easier than spray paint.
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