3 weeks into July and I hadn't started on a single new Halloween prop making me quite obviously, ghastly behind. Well cue testing positive for COVID and I suddenly had more than enough time on my hands. Hoarding enough craft supplies to stock a small Michael's proved very wise on my part as I had no problem tackling an idea I'd been bouncing around for a bit - mushrooms.
There's a picture in my head of a witch, walking around her lair plucking ingredients for her next potion from jars and pots, scooping up bones and plucking feathers from birds, and snapping off bits of plants growing right out of the walls and floor. There's a single post so I thought it would be grand if a creepy vine twisted it's way up with glowing gorgeous, and poisonous, mushroom sprouting. I'd seen a few videos on making mushrooms from fairy lights using hot glue so I was halfway there.
There are some nice vine options available but I settled on using fake plants one would place in a terrarium as I thought they might stand up to being outside for 30 days. They're also quite easy to bend into just the shape you want.
What you'll need:
- Fairy Lights (I like these from Harbor Freight)
- Terrarium Plants
- Hot Glue Gun (preferably one with Hi/Lo setting)
- Glue Sticks (I prefer the glue that dries somewhat opaque)
- Wax Paper
- Outdoor Acrylic Paint: Daisy Cream, Marigold, Tiger Lily Orange, and assorted Greens
I googled images of "beautiful poisonous mushrooms" because you know how I like authenticity. We all love the classic bright read with white spots look but worried they would potentially come across cartoonish. I liked the look of the conocybe filaris but there's some other wonderful options for inspiration.
Start by stretching out one of the vines and positioning it into your desired shape. You'll still be able to adjust it somewhat afterwards but best to get it as close to what you want to start.
Begin wrapping the end of the string lights around the vine and create stems by pinching together sections of the wire and giving it a twist to keep it in place. Best to have a light bulb at the end/top of each so that each mushroom cap glows. I did a few that didn't and while they're still pretty, they're just a touch less cool. You've got some creative freedom here - you can make clumps or spread them out, make rows or rings. Whatever feels right. The string can be long so you can always work you way back up if you get to the end. This is what it'll look like:
With you glue gun set on low, begin adding glue to the stems. It doesn't have to be perfect! I worked my way top to bottom on one side and then turned and did it again on the other side to get decent glue coverage. The low setting prevents drips and allows more control. Here's what it looks like now:
Quick note: on the small/short stems I added extra glue to the top to create small caps. The process for making the caps makes these smaller ones a bit tricky so it's easier to just build it up directly on the stem.
Caps! Now this had a learning curve for me, the timing has to be just right to work properly. Using the Hi setting, make disks of glue on the wax paper, different sizes and only a few at a time. One the glue has cooled enough to peel up from the paper but not too much that it can't be manipulated, peel up the disk and using your finger or the end of a pen, press on the center and mold the disk into a cap. Like I said, there's a curve here - sometimes you'll peel it up too soon and it'll be too sticky and other times you're too late and you can't shape it. Hold onto these! They can be used later to figure out your paint.
After making a few caps of various sizes, let them dry fully and reset your glue gun to Lo. If the glue is too hot for this next step it can melt your cap. Either add a drop of glue to the inside of the cap or to the stem and position the cap. You don't need too much glue and again if it's too hot, you run the risk of the stem piercing the cap.
Repeat the cap making and placing process until all stems have caps. It should look something like this:
Time to paint! Start with the stems and similar to applying the hot glue, do a pass from one side and then again from the other. No need to be perfect here or worry about complete coverage, I focused mostly on hiding the copper wire. After that dries it's time to apply the first coat of paint to the caps. Starting with the lighter color, work your way from the center out to the edges of each cap. It's hard to hide the brush strokes so might as well make them work for you. Here's some close-ups of the first coat:
Once the first coat is dry, go back with the darker color again starting in the middle but cutting the strokes short so there's a lighter edge. Add layers as desired, it's beneficial to paint with the lights on to get an idea of the ultimate effect. I was happy with just 2 coats of the darker color:
And there you go! I couldn't be happier with the result and look forward to scaling up for a floor to ceiling post that inspired this to begin with. I think these would be great for centerpieces and mantels or even wedding centerpieces. And as for realism, check out this comparison to a shot from CBS Sunday Morning my husband found hauntingly familiar.
Where do you imagine these spores popping up at your haunt?
101 days till Halloween...
