Introduction: How to Make a Ceramic Mushroom

By

Since mushrooms have been getting very popular, I've been spending my spare time making mini clay mushrooms. I quite enjoy making different kinds of mushrooms, and I am planning on using the mushrooms for an upcoming project! But in the meantime, I wanted to make a quick tutorial of how to make one!


In this tutorial I am using white ceramic clay. Depending on what kind of clay you are using and the size of the mushroom you intend to make, some techniques may need to be adjusted. Also I am using various clay and silicone tools in this tutorial, however a mini manicure set can be a great alternative for these tools.

Supplies

  • Ceramic clay
  • Clay tools
  • Paint
  • Water
  • Kiln

Step 1: Stem

First, make a small ball about an inch in diameter. Then start rolling the ball out and pinch one end to make sort of a wonky teardrop shape. This shape does not need to be perfect since it will be adjusted later.

Step 2: Mushroom Cap

Roll out another small ball that is about an inch in diameter. Then start to flatten the ball out, making one side slightly conclave, and the other side slightly convex. Next, gently pinch out the edges until you get the desired mushroom cap look. If the clay begins to crack, use water to smooth it out.

Step 3: Add Some More Clay

Grab a little bit more clay and flatten it out to the inside of the mushroom cap. Then use water to smooth it out. It doesn’t have to be perfectly blended into the mushroom cap.

Step 4: Create a Hole

Using a clay tool, carve out a hole on the bottom of the mushroom cap that is big enough to fit the stem. It’s ok if it does not fit perfectly.

Step 5: Fix the Stem

Adjust the stem to your liking by cutting off clay and reshaping until you are happy with how it looks.

Step 6: Add Details to the Mushroom Cap

First I like to take a dull clay tool and make ridges along the bottom of the mushroom cap, and then I take a pin tool and make tinier ridges.

Step 7: Connect the Stem

Place the stem into the mushroom cap, then roll out a small ribbon of clay. Next use a tool to flatten the clay where the stem and mushroom cap connect. Once flattened, smooth it out using water to fully connect the two pieces.

Step 8: Re-detail

Using the same techniques in step 6 re apply any detailing that might’ve been erased.

Step 9: More Details

Roll out another small ribbon of clay that is long enough to fit around the stem. Lay the ribbon in the position you desire and then flatten only one side of the clay to the stem. Then smooth out only the side that you just flattened.

Step 10: Repeat

Repeat step 9 but with shorter clay ribbons, and placing them above the first ribbon you applied.

Step 11: Details

Using a pin tool, make small circles around the raw edges of the clay ribbons. Then add lines around the stem, and remove small bits and triangles of the clay ribbon to make it look a bit more realistic.

Step 12: Dots

Take small pinches of clay and place them randomly on top of the mushroom. This doesn’t step doesn't need to look perfect. Then dab some water across the dots to soften the clay. And finally use a pin tool and add detail by making tiny circles along each dot.

Step 13: Bake

Send your clay piece to the kiln or oven depending on what type of clay you’re using and bake according to the instructions.

Step 14: Paint

Once your clay is fully baked, you are ready to paint. I probably could’ve done a little better at painting this if I had used a reference and hadn’t rushed it. However it is better than store bought quality, and that is good enough for me.

Step 15: Display

Congratulations! You are now done with your ceramic mushroom! There are so many different ways you could use this as decoration, such as what I did, which is just putting it in a dollar store display dome with some moss that I hot glued in place. No matter what you do with your mushroom, I hope you had fun and enjoyed making your own mushroom!