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!
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!
