A Fanciful Twist

Giant Papier Mâché Mushroom {A Tutorial}

Is there anything funner than preparing for a Mad Tea Party in summer?  I can't be sure.  But maybe, quite possibly, there isn't?

For the past few Mad Tea Parties I have had visions of giant homemade mushrooms.

I am the type of person who works things out vividly in her brain, and then, jumps in and tries to make something out of the thoughts.  Whipping ideas up like a mad woman, without a care if things work out or not.

Alas, time creeps up, and mushroom making loses out, year after year.

I have some costly, red and white spotted, prop-store bought mushrooms that fall apart all the time, as the tops are not attached to the bases.

Dare I say...

 This one is even better, and bonus, you get to make it yourself.

Hello, Alice calling...

I wasn't sure this would work out when I began.

It was night time, and I pulled out my camera to snap some photos, just in case it was shareable material.

Thankfully, the results were merry, and now, you can use my steps to make some too, if you'd like.

So, here we go....

I began with two sheets of 18" x 24" watercolor paper.

I took one piece, and closed it up end to end, sealing with blue tape.

This will become the mushroom stem.

I also had two large-ish pieces of cardboard at the ready.

They would serve as a top and bottom.

To create the bottom, I drew a rough circle about an inch away from the bottom of the stem, using the paper base as a guide.

I then cut out the cardboard circle.

The circle is not perfect, and this is okay.

Now we must adhere the cardboard to the stem.

I first put the stem back on top of the cardboard circle, and drew the outline of the stem shape on my cut-out cardboard.

I used this pen circle as my guide, as to where to place hot glue.

I then ran a bead of hot glue around the circle, and place the stem on it.

Once this dried, I reinforced the glue, by running more hot glue around where the paper base meets the cardboard, as you see below.

Before working on the top, I decided I wanted to add a little weight into the vacant stem area.

I stuffed the stem with crumpled newspaper (blurry pic, eeks), and...

A half bowl of sand from the driveway.

You can use anything you'd like really.

Beans, junk you don't want.

Haha!

Anything enough to add a tiny bit of weight so it doesn't blow or fall over easily.

I didn't even put my sand in a baggie, I just dumped it in.

Such a wild child :)

The next step is to cut out your mushroom top from cardboard.

The top of your mushroom can be any size you wish.

Any shape you wish.

My top is about 20" in diameter.

I drew a very rough circle, not perfect at all. 

Then cut it out.

Next step, you will want to trace the stem opening onto the center of your mushroom top.  Just place your cut out circle top onto the stem, and trace from underneath.

  You are doing this in order to know where to place your glue, to attach the top to the stem.

Keep in mind, you are tracing the stem shape from underneath, so just kneel down or sit down to be able to see what you are doing.

After you have the stem shape drawn onto the center of your top, run some glue around it, and attach it to the top of them stem.

Let it dry.

Then, cut a strip of cardboard out that will fit across your top as seen in the image below, and tape it on.

This will help you create a domed shape on your mushroom top.

At this stage you can make the top of your mushroom top as domed or as flat as you wish.

Mine has a small curve in it.

Next take some newspapers, and crumple them up tightly, then begin by stuffing them under your cardboard dome strip.

You will keep doing this, crumpling paper and adding it all the way to the cardboard edge.  Use tape strips going across the length of the mushroom, to hold your crumpled newspaper in place.

Once you have the entire top covered in newspaper and tape, turn it over onto your second piece of watercolor paper (turn mushroom over carefully since your stem might be stuffed with sand or beans etc).

Next, on your watercolor paper draw a rough circle about 2 inches away from your mushroom top edge, going all the way around, as seen below.

Cut out that piece of watercolor paper and place it over your top which is covered in newspaper and tape.

Then secure it with strips of tape, all the way across and around, as seen below...

Look underneath to fix any loose tape and press it down securely..

Now, your mushroom base is complete, and you will begin the papier mâché process.

We are not going to use traditional flour as our glue this time around, we'll keep it simple with craft glue instead :)

You can use wall paper glue or white craft glue, and newspaper strips.

I have tried both glues in the past for papier mâché crafts.

They both work, but for this project I am using everyday white craft glue.

I put white craft glue in a dish and add a little bit of water for ease of spreading.

Make sure you stir the water and glue up real good.

You don't need much water, just a drizzle enough to make the glue easier to paint onto your mushroom.

Make sure you have your newspaper strips ready also.

I make mine about 3" wide and 12" long.

You can work with whatever size strips you desire.

Using a brush or your hands, smear some glue onto the top of your mushroom, and add strips of newspaper as you go.  I also like to add glue to the tops of the added newspaper as I go.  This is so that, if any pieces overlap, they will stick.

I use my hands, smearing glue around as I add each piece of paper, and smoothing out bit by bit...

Once the top is complete, I let it dry.

I let mine sit overnight because I started the project in the evening.

The next morning the top was dry, so I turned the mushroom upside down, and papier mâchéd the rest of the mushroom.

I then put it outside and let it dry completely.

This took about an hour in the summer heat.

Once it was all dry it was time to paint.

At this point, you can paint the top of your mushroom as you wish.

Or, you can be super detailed and use modeling paste for texture.  The options are endless in the detail department.

I kept mine simple and headed straight for red and off-white paint.

Once you are done painting, let the entire piece dry completely.

Also note that when painting over dry glue, you will almost always get a faint crackle effect.

I personally do not mind this, and quite like it.

See below?

I especially like the crackling on the stem.

Once all your paint has dried, paint white circles onto the red top, and if you'd like, hot glue some moss to the bottom of the stem...

And then, jump around happily!

You can add some extra painted details as I have below...

I put a matte/satin varnish on the top of my mushroom, as you can see below, but did not do this to the stem.

Also, as a side note, you can get as detailed as you want with your piece early on.  Adding ribs and such to the stem before you papier mâché.

But, since this was a trial for me, I kept it simple.

Since I know it works now, I will know that I can add more details if I make more.

Although, I am pleased as punch with the piece as it is, what do you think?

I also like that my dome top is not very pointy.

This allows me to use the mushroom as an end table, as well as a prop.

Oh, I love it.

I need more!

Perfect for your Mad Tea Party, indeed.

Remember that, you can make your mushrooms as pointy, as detailed, as textured as you wish.

Any shape, any size.

Fun fun!!

I hope you liked this, and that you might make one!

;)

Okay, off to finish my second one...

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

ps:  I am working on my second mushroom, and using oatmeal packaging that was headed for the trash as the stem base. YAY!

This one will have a pointier mushroom head.

Appley and...

The grandest gifts hung from my gates in the bright early sun yesterday...

A wonderful distraction from a super exciting project I have been working on.

(meant to share yesterday, but life got wacky)

Two bags full, waiting for me to spot them.

I opened them up, and then, that scent.

That real apple scent.

That sort of scent that reminds you of being 6 years old and picking the most delicious apples from your grannies tree.

The kind of apples you haven't had since.

One of my dearest neighbors from down the lane, who is also a friend, came upon such a tree you see.

A tree covered in little green apples.

Ripe apples filling a tree in June.

How curious.

How marvelous.

The owner said, please, take as many as you can.

She took some for herself.

Then told me, and of course, I said I would love to have some.

And so, the next day, voila.

Thank you Bru!!

Boy, are they delicious.

Crunchy.

Sweet.

A tiny bit tart.

They stole me away from my project.

A project I can't wait to share, editing photos now.

Oh, it's fun.

It's for the mad tea party.

It's for you to do too, if you want.

If you'd like.

But you must ;)

My assistants yawn and nap whilst I work feverishly away.

My sis is here.

The a/c broke at her house.

So, she came here for some reprieve, while waiting for the air fixer upper.

She is grading papers in the other room, and watching Chocolat.

I can hear Johnny Depp now.

Lovely distractions have found me.

Apples, a sister, plus her tiny furry baby - Douglas.

Pure dog's world madness here today.

Miles LOVES other Male dogs.

He follows them around like a puppy.

No matter the size.

I am not sure what my sis is doing in the above photo.

She says it's a tribute to the movie Legend, where the girl puts her hand out to touch the Unicorn.

:)

As for the skies.

It's a bit cloudy.

A chance for rain, but no cigar.

Darn.

Pleeeease mother nature, send me some rain.

I beg.

Will you ask her for me?

Oh and, let's not forget the distractions of sleeping babes.

On his back, that Miles sleeps.

Legs outstretched in the air, for hours and hours and hours...

I think we might have to start a circus.

If I could only train the endless ants in the yard.

Yes.

Ant hypnosis maybe?

We'll see.

Will he levitate, that Furtunato?

Guess who is the best behaved pup so far today?

Yep, Matty.

He hasn't tried to tackle anyone, and he is under my feet sleeping.

Hooray!

Okay, off to finish the last part of this secret project, then edit photos, and then, bring some ideas back here to share.

Deal?

 

Love, V

 

Okay, before I go...

Guess what?

Today is random song sharing day.

I didn't know that, did you?

;)

Whatever song, whatever the first song is, that pops into your head right now - you must, must share it with us.

Leave a You Tube link, or lyrics or what the song reminds you of even.

Don't fib now, what song is it?

This is what first came to my mind.

Random.

I know.

Reminds me of teenage summer.

 

But, I also have a little Siouxsie and the Banshees runnin' round the brain...

Remember that? Fun!

Okay so...

See you beyond sooooon, with making ideas!

 

 

Summer Harvest Feast, Treat Tales, Sponsorship & Hot June Days...

Those hot marshmallow days are upon us.  Heat that makes you feel like each step you take is in a sticky melted marshmallow hole.  Slow steps in thick air.  The air feels the same way it does when you open a hot oven to put a cake in to bake.

It's brutal and delicious in its own way. 

Especially if you have a huge tree and a hose to hide under...

It is in this very heat, that there has been a mad tea party every summer for the last few years.

I am so so so so excited that so many of you are looking forward to the Mad Tea Party this year.  It is so inspiring to have people around you all hyped up for some fun, isn't it?

Makes things squeal worthy!

 

Also, thank you so much for the positive feedback on us now accepting sponsors.  It was a HUGE decision that kept me up at night off and on for years.  I finally plunged into the adventure, and it has been lovely.  I am extra excited to get to share the first 4 sponsors in the right hand sidebar.  Fun fun!  If you are interested in sponsorship info, please don't hesitate to e-mail me.

 

I hope I gave folks enough time to find out about the Mady Tea Party?  There is still oodles of time to sign up.

I originally started the summer Mad Tea Party because I found myself longing for that sort of flurry of activity that surrounds fall and winter.  And, it sure filled the void, and more.  I am so looking forward to it!

 

In other summer news around here, I felt we needed to have a proper harvest feast to share some of our edibles, which we have worked ever so hard to grow.

(Mister Lovee made this table in the 80's.  He recently repaired it here and there, and it makes me so happy to use something with love, that he made.)

And so, we planned our summer harvest feast for Sunday evening.

I can't lie, the work load we have around here is slap me crazy.

But I have learned so much about how to better take on a huge vegetable garden, and what we can handle.  Improvements for next year, for sure.

Now that the bounty is showing its face, and we get to enjoy what we have worked so ridiculously hard at, it all feels so worth it.  Me almost dying included :)  (maybe)

  I am certain that the lack of rain and excessive heat has made it much harder than if we lived in a rain laden place.  But, without the heat, would things grow so dinosaur size?  I don't know?

So, we accept what it is, and learn so much about working with it.

Then, we indulge with loved ones...

But first we collect.

And collect some more, depending on the number of mouths we will feed.

Giant carrots.

My tip.

Thin thin thin them out.

Then, with lots of water and sunshine, they will grow bigger and bigger.

I wash, and wash, and trim and wash.

And run out and harvest more red onions.

Oh and, mint collecting ensues as well...

I sit at one of the mint patches, snipping.

Then I bring my big bowl inside, listen to the radio, and pick the leaves off.

(you can take mint leaves off of stalks just like rosemary, in on fell swoop, top to bottom)

Half go into a big bag in the fridge, for mint jam or syrup in the near future.

And the rest (about 4 cups of leaves), go into a big pot of cold water for mint tea.

I turn up the heat, let it boil for 15 minutes, add 3/4 cups of sugar (stir), turn off heat, and let steep for 2 hours.  Or, serve right away, your choice.  Hot or iced.

(you don't have to let it steep the 2 extra hours, I just do it to let it steep more and cool a little, all at once)

Then, I pour the tea through a sieve into two big pitchers, and get a lot of ice ready.

We set the table.

Flowers cut from the garden sit in jars here and there.

We welcome friends.

Then...

Hug, chat, laugh.

I run around, multi tasking.

Grilling.

All my trays set to take everything outside.

Days of prep.

Organization ahead of time leads to a hostess getting to enjoy as well...

And I did!

It was great.

I sat and wilted, but enjoyed, I did.

I put the carrots in balsamic vinegar and olive oil and garlic salt before putting them on the grill.  I read to cook them about 10 mins per side.  You can do less time, depending on size, then transfer them to the top rack.  Just taste test.

I then put the remainder of the balsamic mixture in a little gravy pitcher, and everyone loved it on their kebabs too.

There was french bread for...

Pesto.

Mmmmm Pesto.

I had made it the night before.  The basil is growing like weeds.

For me, it's not summer without the scent of basil.

The tomatoes and avocados also had the same balsamic mixture, but with 1/4 cup of sugar mixed in.

We also had roasted corn.

The corn, carrots, onions, basil & mint all came from the garden.

I made the kebabs to have mushrooms, chicken, red bell peppers and onions.

I chop the chicken into chunks and put it in a bowl with garlic salt, lemon pepper and olive oil.

I do the same with the veggies in a different bowl.

Then I assemble them onto the metal skewers.

I make them quite often.  We love them.

The grilled carrots were soooooo goood!

Oh, I also made some garlic rice with peas.

I love peas.

I love peas in my rice.

(I use frozen peas rather than canned, if I dont have fresh)

We ate and chatted, and sweated.

And drank lots of iced mint tea.

The ice would melt quicker than we could bring it out.

Ahhh, summer in Arizona.....

After the sun went down I assembled dessert.

Strawberries that sat in the fridge in raspberry jam for 5 hours.

Angel food cake, and some cool whip for good measure.

Loveliest of summer evenings.

If I could bottle it up, I would.

The boys played guitar, we smacked a couple of mosquitoes away and sang, and played with the pups.

And laughed some more.

The fear I had acquired of the garden, from the scare a few weeks ago, is almost totally gone.

Or maybe even totally.

My friend told me that I should test the tomato vines and parsley on my skin.

I had thought about it, but was leery.

Really leery.

This morning, I did it.

First I mashed up some parsley and put it on my right arm for 5 minutes, nothing happened.

Then I did a tomato leaf on my left arm.  Mashed, waited, nothing.

Everyone is convinced that the extra soap on the sunflower leaves and me scrubbing them bare handed for hours is what did me in.  The soap extracting the oils out of the leaves, and going into my skin may have done it.  A sort of poison?  (Jill, I think your hubby is right!)

Or, a bug bite.

Either way.

Who knows?

I didn't get any hives or reaction from the parsley or the tomatoes today.

Bliss sigh.

I will still be extra careful though.

So.

That's the thing about fear.

If you can find a way to face it, you can free yourself.

I have always been like this.

If I fear something, I hem and haw about it for hours or days, and then I plunge head first.

Like the time it took me 2 weeks as a little girl, to get the courage to jump off the highest diving board at the public pool.

I finally got up there.

It was sooooooo high.

My legs wobbled, my knees shook.

My stomach had roller-coasters in it as I walked to the flimsy edge.

I wanted to cry and turn back.

Everyone was watching me.

I gulped.

I freaked out inside.

Then...

I jumped.

I will never forget that belly flop for as long as I live.

Smacked the fear right outta me.

OUCH!

 

:)

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

 

ps:  I then went on to dive perfectly and give swimming and diving lessons, but that's a whole other story ;)

Mad Tea Party 2012 {An Invitation}

One can only guess what is to come, when a certain mad man is found roaming the summer garden for the 5th year in a row!!

Is it him?

Through the flowers??

I spy that hat!

Really truly?

Could it mean that the 5th annual Mad Tea Party is around the corner???

A whisper in the wind.

Followed by -

A slurp of curious flower tea!

A yessssssssssss whips through breezes...

He clinks tea cups and chats up a storm...

With who? With whom?

Oh yes, it's true!!

1865 beckons.

The pen of Lewis Carroll brings us back...

The Mad Hatter sings as he plays!

It's a hauntingly beautiful tune, can you hear it?

It speaks of having consulted with the sunflower king about our next tea party!

Come for tea, oh do please, says he!!

Bring your friends!

Your loved ones!

Oh, anyone you'd like, he exclaims!

But most importantly, bring yourself!!

Notice how yourself, ends in elf?

:)

All of a sudden, he jumps out of his seat, and dances!

We chase him about, deep into the garden...

As he invites us to the

5th annual

Mad Tea Party!!!

Follow me, he sings out loud...

Ratatat, ratatat!

Can you believe it is our 5th annual Mad Tea Party???

This is so exciting!!!

Save the date for

Saturday

July 28th, 2012

A huge celebration must ensue, don't you think???

Get out your fancy schmancy pretties!!

Serve treats!!

Put on your extra ruffled bloomers and super fluffy skirts!

Get out your best trousers, and a coat with tails!

I can't wait to see you through the looking glass...

Sweet Treats Galore!!!

 

Here is the flyer to use on your blog:

(Click on image, then simply save it, and use)

 

 

Below is the button to use in your sidebar:

 

Wondering what to do if you sign up?

If you are signing up to participate in the Mad Tea Party all you have to do is leave me a comment, with your blog link, stating that you wish to join in...

Then follow these 7 bits of advice (err, rules)...

1)  Share the flyer and/or the button on your blog as soon as possible and link back to me.  I will then add your name to the "Mad Tea Partiers" list in my LEFT hand side bar, and link back to you. 

2)  On the day of the party, Saturday July 28th 2012, please make sure to post a Mad Tea Party post of your own, on your blog, linking to me.  Other partiers will be visiting you on that date. 

3)  IMPORTANT - On the day of the party, after you have your own Mad Tea Party blog post up and running, please leave a comment at my Mad Tea Party post, including your "Actual Party Link."  It will serve as an archive of all partier links. 

4)  Blog hop with the other partiers on the day of the event and have a mad blast!

5)  The party usually lasts two days or more.  Leave your blog post up for a couple of days if you can.  It will take folks several days to make visits.

 6)  For a more enjoyable and easy visit for your guests, please consider removing word verification for comments during the party.  This will make things so much easier for everyone.

7)  Double check the list to make sure your name is on it, if you want it to be :)

Note:  If you sign up, please make sure you post a party post on your blog for Saturday July 28th.  If you sign up and later find that you can't make the event, please let me know as soon as possible, and I will remove your name from the list.

 

 You have lots of time to sign up, right up until the very last moment if need be, we are flexible.

 

If you don't have a blog it's okay, you are invited to visit with us here and at participating blogs on the day of the event.

Can't wait!!

I hope you can make it!

I am so happy to be able to host this event for a 5th year!!

Let's make is a mad blast!

I am giddy wacky excited!!

Thanks for being so great!!

If you'd like, you can visit past Mad Tea Parties here.

 

Love, Vanessa

 

(Don't forget to sign up by leaving a comment with your link, fun fun!!)

 

 

 

ps:  

Big News!

  For the first time ever, after years of folks asking, and years of us thinking about it, A Fanciful Twist is accepting sponsors!!  We have freed up a huge space in the right hand side bar -->

(and have just added our first sponsor)

Exciting adventures, with grand hopes and plans for continued blogging fun!!

Advertising info can be found here...

 ♥