Homemade Christmas Ornaments

"Christmas Mushroom"
Submitted by Michele of Astoria, Oregon
I love crafting, especially at Christmas, and these whimsical
little mushrooms are just so much fun to make! They bring a
fairy-tale quality to any Christmas tree.
To make these you will need the following supplies which can be found at any
craft store: A small styrofoam ball, white felt, red sequins, white
sequins, sequin pins, red craft paint, floral wire, and either hot glue or tacky
glue.
Take the styrofoam ball and cut it in half (I like to use a serrated knife to do
this). Set one half aside.
Take the other half, which will be used as the mushroom "cap" and
paint the rounded side with the red craft paint. While it is drying, take
the other half and cut off each curved side leaving a rectangular piece.
This will be the "stem" of the mushroom. Using your fingers,
gently round the rectangular piece into a stem shape and then set it aside.
When the "cap" is dry, start covering the painted area with red
sequins using the sequin pins to attach. When it is completely covered in
red sequins, attach white sequin "spots" using the sequin pins.
Turn the cap over to the flat side and make an indentation in the center with
your finger. Attach more white sequins with sequin pins to the flat
underside of the cap, leaving the indentation uncovered.
Cut a piece of white felt approximately 1/8" longer than the stem and wide
enough to wrap around the stem. Line it up with the top edge of the stem,
leaving the 1/8" overlap at the bottom and attach to the stem with glue.
Insert a 6 to 8 inch piece of floral wire through the entire length of the stem
so that approximately 1/4" to 1/2" inch comes out the top. Position
the stem into the indentation in the cap and attach using glue.
Dab a small amount of glue inside the overlapping felt at the bottom of the stem
and use your fingers to pinch it in around the wire.
Use the wire to attach the mushroom onto your Christmas tree branches or push
down in a potted plant.
Have fun and enjoy!
Homemade Christmas
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