Introduction: Super Mario Brother's Mushrooms

About: I started my own account after helping my boyfriend with a few of his own projects on instructables. I love making jewelry and paper mache. My kitchen and I don't always get along but sometimes we try to spend…

I thought it would be really cute to also make the mushrooms from Super Mario Brothers. The main form of the mushroom will be a bowl and a cylinder type object (like oatmeal container). Here we go again!

Supplies Needed:

Glue
Water
Large Bowl
Cylinder Shape Object such as oatmeal container or paint can
Paper
Cardboard
Acrylic Paint (green or red, white, and black)
Razor Blade Knife
Container for Glue such as Cool Whip container
Masking Tape

Step 1: Prep Materials & Bowl

First you want to prep your materials:

Put out a piece of Cardboard for a working area. 

Tear your paper into pieces.

Prepare your glue by adding water to it to get a good consistancy.

Take your bowl and wrap it with plastic wrap. Use masking tape to hold the plastic wrap on the inside of the bowl.  If you decide to use a paint can, then also prep that with plastic wrap. If you want to use a oatmeal box you don't have to prep it.

Step 2: First Paper Mache

Begin the paper mache process. Dip your pieces of paper into the glue and remove extra glue by running it through your fingers.  Then apply it to the bowl. Competely cover the bowl.  Then when you are done with the bowl, cover the oatmeal container with the paper and glue. Let both objects dry. 

To save my glue between the processes, I typically add extra water so it won't dry out as quickly.

Step 3: Repeat!

Paper Mache the bowl atleast two more times.  Let the pieces dry in between the different layers. You want to make the top as sturdy as possible.

Step 4: Remove Bowl

To remove the bowl from the paper mache, first take off the tape attaching the plastic wrap to the bowl.  Then try to slide the bowl away from the paper mache.  This may take a little patience but it will eventual separate. Also if you used a container (that you want to save for later) for the base, separate the paper mache.  Remove any plastic wrap still attached to the inside of the paper mache.

Step 5: Create Base for Top of Mushroom

To create the base for the top, take the bowl you used as a form for the paper mache and trace it on a piece of cardboard.  Then cut it out with a razor blade knife.  If you use a oatmeal container, you will want to trace it the oatmeal container on the center of the round piece of cardboard.  Cut this shape out with a razorblade knife. If you use choose to use something like a paint can, then it won't be long enough to set the bowl on top so do not cut the middle out of the cardboard.   

Attach the cardboard to the paper mache bowl with masking tape.  Also either slide your oatmeal box in the hole in the cardboard or attach your base to the cardboard with tape. 

Step 6: Paper Mache Again!

Paper Mache the bottom of the top portion of the mushroom and where it connects to the bottom part of the mushroom.  Let it dry.

Step 7: Paint & Seal

Paint your mushroom with acrylic paint. The first one I did I used a red top with white circles for the typical mushroom.  If you want to do a 1up then change it to green with white circles.  Paint the base white and don't forget the black oval eyes!  It will probably take atleast 2 coats of paint.   I used a glossy spray can sealant  to finish them up.