'Shroomkins, Take 2!

how many times have you stared into a seasonal decor storage bin
and thought "This stuff just isn't ME anymore"?? it happens to all of us!
preferences and style change over time,
but that doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune on new decor.

this year, i'm giving some of my existing fall decor elements
a new look that fits my current style - without spending any money.
i'm calling this approach 'Take 2'!

i first made these fun " 'shroomkins" back in 2022
by cutting styro pumpkins in half and adding stems made from pool noodles.
and of course, i painted them yellow back then:

then i used my photo editing program to show them in other hues:

now, two years later and in my 'green era' (Deb's Version ;) ) 
i wanted to give them a new look. enter 'Take 2'!

continue reading for details of the new version...

after re-painting them in green tones,
my vintage green lunchbox was the perfect choice of vessel
to 'plant' them in for display.

some close-ups of the details:

...and a peek at the existing detail under the 'shroom caps:

all i did in this re-do was repaint everything that was yellow green,
and re-plant them into a new container.
but they look completely different to me - AND they fit my current style.

friends, if you have pumpkins or containers that bore you,
grab some paint and transform your existing decor elements
into something that fits YOUR style this fall!

i'll link the original 2022 FULL tutorial for making these below,
but here's a quick rundown of my recent process:

i don't use paint 'recipes'. i play with colors, mixing them
and diluting them with water to create thinner layers when needed.
i put several green tones of paint on my palette, and mix them as i work -
using a few green pumpkin photos as color references.

i work from dark to light, so i painted the grooves between the ridges first
then lighter colors added to the ridges to make them pop.
finally, the spores were simply added with dots of white paint.

the stems got a bit of detail with dark green paint, to cover old yellow tones.

then i moved on to the container...

my cute lil' lunchbox is broken... the lid falls off.
but in this case, it's perfect for using as a 'planter'.

i pulled the styrofoam scraps out of the old container (a vintage chamber pot)
and packed them firmly into the lunch box base. 

placing the stems (without tops) began with the largest ones,
then the medium size, and finally the smallest. 
they all have toothpicks in their base to hold them in the styro base.

after those were in place, i added real preserved green moss
by simply pushing it into every crevice and space around the stems.

once done, i placed the pumpkin tops onto the stems - 
they are held together with more toothpicks that pierce both stem and top.
note: the tops don't sit level on the stems by design - 
i wanted them to lean a little, so the detail underneath them was visible.

i really love these, and they'll remain on display in my studio
through the autumn months.

the 're-do' of this past project took me one hour, start to finish.
that's not bad for getting more use out of something old!

what home decor could YOU re-do this fall
to help you create a home you love to live in?

find my full original 2022 'Shroomkin tutorial here

shared online:

funky junk interiors | new upcycle ideas #744

thank you for including my project in your feature, Donna!

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