Here it is again, my Paperclay Mushroom Tutorial.  I do advocate the making of mushrooms as there’s something very meditative about it.  The shaping is fairly easy and mindless.

For this year’s holiday season I made some in pink with sugary tops. (I simply dusted hem with clear glitter right after I applied the clear acrylic varnish to the caps.)  Oh, and while you are waiting for them to dry, you could be making something in the crock-pot, perhaps a stew with mushrooms in it.  Or a mushroom salad.  OR a mushroom loaf!  Now THAT would be fun.

(If you don’t believe how fun this is, check out this crafty gal’s mushrooms for more inspiration!)

Here’s the tutorial I was talking about a few days ago.  A little late, I know, but that’s how it goes this time of year for me. But, never fear, you can make them for next Christmas or for fun, because cute little mushrooms aren’t just for the holidays!

These aren’t cotton but paperclay. They look just like those vintage cotton mushrooms you see for sale, only you make these yourself which means you can customize them however you like: size, color, shape, etc. (Yes, I know, that why we crafters are so crafty!)

Skill Level: Beginner

*This project takes 2-4 days because of drying time.*

Here’s what you’ll need (you can find most/all of these supplies at Michaels):

• Paperclay, preferably Delight because it’s white and very lightweight
• Floral wire
• Red and white acrylic paint (or desired colors)
• Acrylic varnish (I used matte, indoor/outdoor)
• 1 small flat and 1 small round paintbrush
• Small wire cutters
• Something to protect surface
• Cup of water
• Paper towels
• Optional: Alligator clips

The follow pictures are kind of crappy because I didn’t have good light in my work area, but I think you’ll get the idea!

Cut a 6″ piece of floral wire. At one end, twist or curl the wire to form an anchor. Then, take some paperclay (approx. the size of a golfball to start) and form it around the anchored end, leaving about 3-4″ of wire at the bottom:

Wrap paperclay around the wire and sculpt into a vague mushroom shape:

Continue to work the paperclay into desired shape. You may wet your hands a little to help smooth out the clay. Here are 3 slightly different examples:

Let forms dry for 1-3 days. (One day should be fine since these objects are small.)

When ready, use the flat paintbrush and paint the tops red. Apply 2 coats. (According to manufacturer’s directions.) Paint stems white if you used non-white paperclay. Dry.

With round paintbrush, add white dots. I hung mine up to dry in the laundry room, away from a certain cat:

When paint is completely dry, coat mushrooms with varnish. I choose to coat the entire mushroom, but I suppose you can coat just the top. (Painted area.)

Position your mushroom on top of the end of a branch and wrap the wire around it.

****Optional: Wrap wires from bottom of mushrooms around alligator clips. This may extend the life of your mushrooms as the wires will probably eventually break from bending.

You can also try making the wire stick up from the top of the mushroom, or using a loop of heavy thread or string at the top so the mushroom will hang like most other ornaments. OR, skip the wire altogether and glue the mushrooms into your decorative arrangements.

Enjoy!