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How to Make Charming Mushroom Ornaments

Paper Mache Mushroom Ornaments for Christmas

Finished paper mache mushroom ornaments for ChristmasWe will show you how to use newspaper with paper mache to create perfect little mushroom ornaments for Christmas.
These mushrooms are easy to make even if you've never worked with papier-mâché before and best of all mushrooms come in all shapes and sizes.

 Video link: https://youtu.be/QrOLM2szqEM

Quick List
Recycled Newspaper
Masking Tape
Cardboard
Paper Mache Paste
Paints and Paint Brushes
Paper Clay (Optional)
H20 and Rags




Steps to Make Mushroom Ornaments

1 Build Your Armature
Mush Stem
mushroom armature exampleBegin by rolling up an empty toilet paper tube, leaving one end wider than the other, use masking tape to hold your tube stem into place. Lay aside to create your mush top.


Mush Top
Wad up newspaper into a flat circular top and hold together with masking tape. Hot glue your mushroom top to the tube stem. Now place your mushroom armature into a plastic bag.

mushroom armature example

Add any features that you would like to see on your mushroom at this stage, whatever makes you happy you put that in your world.

Once you have your Mushroom armature ready you are going to cover in paper mache paste and paper.

2  Paper Mache Your Mushrooms
Quick Link to Paper Mache Paste Recipe: http://goo.gl/BH5lgM

paper mache your mushroom armature1st Session
Cover the Mushrooms with 3 to 4 layers of newspaper soaked in paper mache paste. Lay your paper flat onto your Mushroom armature and work out all air bubbles. As you continue to apply layers of paper your Mushroom will begin to take shape before your eyes.

Once you have covered your Mushroom with paper mache they must completely dry before adding more wet paper mache.

Tip: At this point check your mushroom for weak spots if you do not find any then you can begin painting but if the mushroom is not sturdy add more paper mache paper and paste.

Paper Clay or Paper Mache
You Choose

2nd Session
For this session you have two choices; paper clay or paper mache. Both mediums are wonderful and will render a perfect mushroom sculpture. The 2 best benefits to using the paper clay vs. paper mache are time and toughness. Both recipes are on the channel; please do check them out.

Paper Mache: Cover with 3 to 4 more layers of paper mache all at one time. Let it completely dry before moving on. Awesome, guys are you getting excited to see your mushroom take shape?

Quick Link to Paper Mache Paste Recipe: http://goo.gl/BH5lgM

putting paper clay on mushroom armaturePaper Clay: Cover the entire mushroom with about 1/4 to 1/2 inch layer of paper clay, and letting that completely dry. Apply the #paperclay with your hands and smooth with paper mache paste, butter knife, etc.

The size of your mushroom will determine how long it will take to dry. A large mushroom will take 3 to 4 days to dry. You can use a fan, the sun, and the oven on the lowest temperature it will allow.

Our oven can go as low as 145 degrees Celsius, which is a perfect temperature for slowly drying your paper clay. If you heat your clay to fast it can turn dark brown but this will be cover with paint.

If you need once the mushroom has dried you can lightly sand with sandpaper and wipe off before painting.

Paper Clay Recipe: http://goo.gl/xoTFbJ
Question: Can I skip the paper mache and put paper clay directly onto my armature?
Answer: Yes, if your armature can support the weight of the paper clay without the support of the paper mache strips and paste.

painting your mushroom ornaments
3. Paint Your Mushroom
Paint a white coat of primer paint on your mushroom to give a white canvas for painting onto. We use flat white interior house paint to prime our paper sculptures.

Once the base coat as dried paint with acrylics anyway you like. Let all you painting completely dry before sealing with varnish.

4. Varnish and Protect
You must seal your paper mache pieces with varnish for protection. Varnish comes in a can in gloss or stain to apply with a brush or spray can apply 3 to 4 coats and let it dry.
Follow the instructions on your varnish to apply. We use Polycrylic Minwax at the studio to seal all our art.

5. Hanger and Ribbon
Once your lovely mushrooms are dried screw a hanger onto and slide a ribbon through to hang on your Christmas tree this year.

Mushroom Wrap Up



This is just one way to make a Mushroom ornaments; we would love to hear your thoughts and see your paper mache mushrooms hanging on your Christmas tree this year.
Thank you for stopping by the studio please subscribe before you leave, have a Merry Christmas.

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