Skill Level
Beginner. Adult supervision needed
Time to Make
1.5 hours + drying time
Adult Supervision Needed
Yes
How to Make
- Line the inside of a round mixing bowl with a sheet of cling film. Add another sheet of cling film if you need to, covering the whole bowl up to the top.
- Tear up some strips of tissue paper. Brush glue onto the tissue then press the strips inside the bowl, adding more pieces until you have 3 or 4 layers. Brush over each layer with glue so the tissue sticks together.
- Scrunch 3 or 4 sheets of tissue paper into balls, then press them inside the bowl to fill the middle, or you could use newspaper to do this. Add some glue around the paper balls so they stick together. Depending on the size of your bowl, press more scrunched tissue until the middle of the bowl is firmly packed to about ½ – ¾ full, depending on the depth of shape you prefer for the mushroom.
- Cut a card circle to cover the middle of the bowl. A cardboard plate is an easy way to do this, trim it down so its fits inside the bowl.
- To make the mushroom stalk, cut around one end of a cardboard tube to a depth of about 3cm all the way round. Fold out the ends of the tube then glue it in the middle the card circle. Leave the mushroom to dry for a couple of hours.
- Use the cling film to help pull the mushroom out of the bowl then carefully peel it off so the tissue paper can dry out. If the tissue surface feels too sticky to handle, allow it to dry for while before continuing.
- Tear some more tissue strips and paste them to cover the card circle, cover the edge under the mushroom cap and cover the stalk. Glue small pieces of tissue over the mushroom cap for the spots. Leave to dry thoroughly overnight standing upright.
- Glue dried moss around the base of the mushroom stalk.
Top Tip
To help bigger-sized mushrooms stand up, partially fill the cardboard tube with dried beans rice or beans to make the base heavier. Seal the end of the tube with masking tape.
