Ten minute toadstools!

Ten minute toadstools

When producing Alice in Wonderland we came up with a clever little design for giant mushrooms or toadstools. We later reused them for The Wizard of Oz and I included them in a design for Charlie and the chocolate factory. They are made from readily available materials and are very quick and easy to put together.

First gather your materials. You will need:
1. Sonotube or equivalent cardboard concrete form in a 6 inch size.
1. Circle of chicken wire about 18 inches across
1. Circle of 1” upholstery foam approx. 20-22 inches across.
1. Strip of 1” upholstery foam about 8-10 inches wide and long enough to wrap around the bottom of the tube.
Enough muslin or bedsheet material to cover the toadstool
White and bright colored latex paint
Staplegun and staples

1. Cut the tube to desired height. This can easily be done on a large miter or chop saw. It can also be done , very carefully on a table saw, or using a circular saw. The one in the picture is about 18 inches.

2. Wrap the strip of foam around the base of the tube and staple in place. This will give your ‘shroom a tapered look, thicker at the bottom.

3. Shape the chicken wire to roughly form the top of the toadstool and lay it across the top of the tube.

4. Cover the chicken wire with the foam circle. You can now staple through the foam in three or four places to attach the foam and wire to the tube. Be careful not to crush the wire along the outer edge of your mushroom.

5. Cut a round piece of muslin large enough to cover the top of the toadstool and wrap underneath to the tube. Start on one side tucking it up under the wire, staple it to the tube. Pull the muslin over the top of the mushroom and fasten on the opposite side of the tube. Now working your way around, tuck and staple the fabric to the tube.

6. Cover the tube with the remaining muslin and paint to taste. Voila your caterpillar or munchkins will be right at home! They also make cute decorations around the theatre!

Propmaster toolbox 101

The Prop Master’s Toolbox

This is the prop tool box of Family Theatre Warehouse.

Because props are so varied the methods and materials for making and maintaining them are just as varied. It takes some time for a beginning props master to learn the tricks of the trade. Here are few tips that will give you a “quantum leap” in the right direction.

Tools you WILL use:

Scissors: two or three good sharp pairs.

Tape: masking, electrical, duct, scotch and gaffers or flat black cloth duct tape, you can order this here, or you can get it from your local heat and air supply and it will cost half of what they charge for gaffer’s tape.

Box knife: a plain ordinary one will do but I suggest one of the new heavy duty lock back models shown here. They cost a little more but try it, you’ll like it!

Exacto type modeling knife: Your local harbor freight tools or other discount tool house will sell a good set of these with different blades and handles for about half the cost of the hobby shop. This is different from the box knife, it is for precision cutting.

Hot glue gun: get the cool temp and the hot temp or get a gun that does both. Spend a little extra to get one with a good cord and a heavy duty trigger. You will thank me for that later.

3M super 77 sprayglue: this stuff sticks to almost anything with a strong bond and its instant. Perfect for gluing up documents, pasting patches on scarecrows, joining poly foam andmany other uses.

Boxes of buttons, bangles and beads: I’ve used everything from lamp parts to cheesy stick on jewels to dress up props and give them a more detailed look. Also fabric trims such as upholsterers gimp, braid and fringe will come in handy from time to time.

Gold spray paint: the cheap brand at Walmart for about a buck is the best. It provides a great finish especially if put on over flat black spray paint. Please save yourself the trouble and get the cheap stuff. The “good” stuff is too shiny to look right under stage lights. I usually try to keep several colors of spray paint on hand including white, black, gold silver and red. It will go on most anything (wood, metal, plastic, and fabrics to name a few, but don’t use it on vinyl, it will never dry!) and provides a great streak free finish with a little practice.

Wire, heavy string, and rope: All of these can be used to tie things together or as decorative details.

Paper clips, safety pins, wooden clothes pins, and bobby pins all serve multiple purposes.

Paint brushes: Small to medium. I prefer them with long handles. You will use them for paint and adhesives from time to time.

Marks a lot magic markers in black: for everything: You will use them a lot!

If you can afford it a Dremel rotary tool is a good addition to any toolbox but especially helpful in prop making.

Once you have assembled as much of it as you can find a good place to store it. Your tools will help you if you take care of them and keep them organized.