Making Mushrooms!

Some of the large terrain pieces you can make with the Enchanted Forest set are giant mushrooms! 

To make these I used a number of really easy steps and they came out great!

Materials Used:

● Air dry clay

● Filler

● Empty toilet roll 

● Expanding foam

● Piece of string

● Clingfilm

● Aluminium foil 

● Masking tape 

● Glue 

● Cocktail stick/toothpick.

Step1: Find a bowl that is roughly the size of mushroom you want to make and add a layer of clingfilm over it. Make sure it is stretching down into the bowl but not all the way. Squirt expanding foam into the clingfilm bowl and use gloves and a piece of paper to smooth it so that it fills the shape as best you can.

Step 2: Wait around 2-4 hours for the expanding foam to dry on top then turn it over and gently pull the clingfilm away at the edges of it to allow some air to each the rest of the foam and leave for another 2-4 hours to set. Check it is fully set before removing the plastic by pressing it gently. Once it is set remove the  plastic and use a bread knife to cut it in two halves. This will give you 2 mushroom tops. Use the Knife again to sculpt out any imperfections to the shape.

Step 3: Measure the flat side of the mushroom top and then roll out some clay to that width. Use the Mushroom Bottom stamp and apply even pressure all round it. Remove the stamp and cut the clay to be a close fit. Cut a small hole in the middle and of the clay cover the bottom of the mushroom in filler. Take a cocktail stick/toothpick and push it into the bottom middle of the mushroom top. Use this stick to guide the clay onto the bottom and press gently into the filler. Turn upside down and cut round the mushroom top.

Step 4: Take a toilet roll and add a thin rolled up layer of tinfoil round the bottom of it. Use masking tape to secure in place. Use string to measure the circumference of the stem. Roll out clay and add the mushroom stem texture roller. Use the string to have the right length of clay then cut the clay and apply to the toilet roll to check it is long enough. Cover the toilet roll with filler and apply the clay, using scissors to remove any overlap and gently seal together (The seam may come apart slightly while it dries, don't worry about this and just use a small amount of filler to fill the cap once it is totally dry). Here you can add stamps for windows and door to the mushroom stem if you so with. Press the stem into the bottom of the mushroom top then attach with PVA or hot glue.

Step 5: Measure the top of the mushroom top using string and roll out clay to that width. Here you may need to attach two of the mushroom top rollers using the connection rods depending on the size of mushroom you are making. Then use the mushroom top rollers to apply the texture. Cut roughly around the sides of the clay using the string length as a guide then peel up the clay and place it on the mushroom to see if the size is correct. Next, use filler again to cover the top of the mushroom before placing the clay on top. Gently press down on it to ensure it is well stuck and then use scissors to cut around the edge of the clay to the mushroom size. 

Step 6: roll out a circle of clay and apply the forest floor roller. Then take the mushroom and press it into the clay. This makes a base for the Mushroom. If you want it to be a bot thicker and harder use a sheet of foam under this base once it is dry and cut round. Wait 8+ hours to ensure all the clay is dry.

Step 7: Here you can add details such as the droplets under the edge of the mushroom and smaller mushrooms and rocks onto the bases. The final step is to paint to your liking and you now have a giant mushroom!

Have fun making your Mushrooms and being really fun-guys!

Many thanks,

Simon and Justin