a new sweet sweater 'shroom for spring!

last fall, i created some Sweet Sweater 'Shrooms,
using ceramic bowls and vases covered with sweater scraps.

then i found something that caused me to create a new 'take' on the 'shroom idea,
with a nod to spring...
i am really happy with the results, and the process isn't hard at all.
I hope it inspires you to give it a try!


continue reading to see how it started, and how it ends up!

in January, i found a fuzzy little blue mushroom tree ornament in the clearance bin at Target.
blue is NOT my thing. but i knew i could embellish it to make it my thing,
and as usual, that involves sweater scraps!

the materials for my project are shown above - plus a glue gun. 
i didn't photograph my hot glue gun because
it is OLD and has been through.the.wars. (crafting wars)
and is not at all photogenic - but it works like a dream!

let me show you how i changed that little blue shroom:

under the blue fuzzy fabric, the shroom is rigid foam. 
 i shoved a short thick bamboo skewer into the stem as a handle to hold as i worked.

then i wrapped a thick sweater scrap around the top of the shroom,
hot glued it into place, and cut off the fringed edges of the sweater.
but i saved them, for another step...

i have some really beautiful French pleated georgette trim
(also used by Rami Kashou on Project Runway years ago - we have the same source!)
and decided that it would create the effect i wanted under the cap of the mushroom,
looking a bit like the fluted gills on a real one.

i tucked the pleated trim as tightly as i could under the cap and against the stem,
using another pointed wood skewer to shove it in...
then folded the trim upward and added a bead of hot glue along the tucked edge.
before that glue dried, i used the stick to shove the fuzzy sweater scraps into it.
this fuzzy yarn created the effect of the ring part of a mushroom. sort of!

it's not perfect. the pleated trim is wider than the cap, so it sticks out too far.
then i realized that the stem is completely out of proportion to the cap,

so i quickly extended it:

i cut a small rectangular piece of white sweater scrap, folded it in half,
then wrapped it around the tiny stem, creating a longer cylinder stem.
i hot glued the top of that just under the fuzzy yarn ring part.
then i stuffed the inside of the new longer stem with polyfil stuffing,
and finished it off by gluing more fuzzy yarn at the bottom to hold the stuffing in.

if you don't have a foam mushroom to begin with,
one could easily be assembled using a half-circle and a column-like piece of foam
before you begin covering it with sweaters.

one note: i did NOT glue the sweater stem extension or the stuffing to the wood skewer,
because i wanted to be able to 'scrunch' the stem when i placed it in its holder.

let me show you how i created that part:

the white square container you see on the top row is plastic, and came from Dollar Tree - 
it held faux succulents. i just pull them out for use, and save the foam-filled containers.

i made sure that container would fit into my daffodil teacup - it did - 
and then i hot glued on some scraps of artificial grass (i have SO MUCH left from our backyard!)
i simply glued thin strips of the grass to the outside of the white container,
placing them so that the grass protruded in an upward direction
to show up better once placed inside the cup.
a piece of double stick tape holds the square container to the bottom of the cup.

the mushroom's wood skewer was inserted into the foam-filled square container,
which placed the stem right on the top of the fake grass.
once inserted in place, i twisted the mushroom slightly,
creating a bit of a wrinkled effect on the stem that looks more interesting.

some very tiny white pom poms glued onto the top of the mushroom as spores
were the finishing touch:

the yellow fuzzy yarn on the bottom of the stem *just* shows a little,

giving the effect of it being rooted into the grass.

the cup i used has a matching saucer and plate, which i included in these photos.
btw, it doesn't have to be a teacup!
any kind of container - flower pot, coffee mug, actual floral vase - would work.

this is a fun little project that cost me just one dollar at Target,
and i can already think of ways to use the mushroom next fall!

(you know... i could even attach a loop of twine at the top
and hang it as a tree ornament next Christmas! LOL)

links to previous related content:

sweet sweater 'shrooms

stamped plate art

shared online:

creatively beth | creative crafts linky party #90 

funky junk interiors | new upcycled projects to make #624



spring,flowers,sweaters,Sweet Sweater Originals,Sweet Sweater 'Shrooms,DIY,diy decorating,decorating,trash to treasure,re-purposed,up-cycling,tutorial,seasonal,boho style,sweater mushroom,mushrooms,spring florals,spring home decor,home decor.