Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

My Giant Illuminated Mushrooms Brighten Up Every Place They Go
User submission
1.4K
25.4K

My Giant Illuminated Mushrooms Brighten Up Every Place They Go

ADVERTISEMENT

I originally built these Giant Mushrooms for my annual Halloween walk-through but they also serve as wonderful decor pieces at music festivals, weddings and a variety of special events.

They range in a variety of sizes from 5ft to 10ft tall. They are made of wood, chicken wire, electrical conduit, 2 part spray foam, spandex and l.e.d. lighting.

More info: stopandeattheroses.com | Facebook

ADVERTISEMENT

Photos by HeadAboveHeart Photography at The Haunted Garden, Nightmare Festival.

RELATED:

    I knew I wanted to replicate the traditional mushroom

    ADVERTISEMENT

    I also knew these would need to be lightweight, weather resistant, transportable and storable.

    I started with the stem, using 2x4s, plywood and lag screws

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Once upright, I stapled chicken wire all the way around to create a surface for cheesecloth

    The caps were built so I could separate them from the stems for transportation

    Using a 4×4, electrical conduit, pvc tubing and chicken wire, I got that mushroom shape just the way I wanted

    I screwed the caps to the stems through their wooden bases and they were ready for their skin

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The skin is a layer of cheesecloth or cotton scrim material that creates a surface for the foam

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Using spray adhesive, I simply sprayed the chicken wire and attached the cheesecloth

    Once everything was covered, I prepared for the spray foam

    Spray Foam comes in a 2 part tank system. It is traditionally used for insulation but works wonderfully when building large props

    ADVERTISEMENT

    It requires safety gear including a full body suit, respirator, gloves, and goggles

    The foam cures quickly, rising up and hardening within minutes of application

    I let the foam cure for 24 hours

    Using a paint sprayer to get all the little nooks and crannies, I got painting

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Using many gallons of paint, I sprayed and sprayed and sprayed

    Creating the gills was a tedious and long process that involved pleating, pinning and hot glueing

    Using 10 yards of 120″ white spandex, I first pleated and stapled the fabric to the perimeter inside of the cap

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Allowing for some drape in the fabric, I then pleated and pinned to the outside edge

    I cut the excess fabric off

    It was time to glue

    I finished it off with hot glue and a couple skin burns along the way *ouch!*

    I was quite happy with my build so I made many more and have been improving them along the way by adding Velcro, different paint colors, moss and lighting

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Big Dub Festival

    ADVERTISEMENT

    25Kviews

    Share on Facebook
    RaniaPeet

    RaniaPeet

    Author, Community member

    Read more »

    I am Rania Peet, 39, Freelance Event Designer & Decorator, Creative Director, EDM Festival Installation Artist, Photographer and Aspiring Haunted House owner - www.TheHauntedGarden.com

    Read less »
    RaniaPeet

    RaniaPeet

    Author, Community member

    I am Rania Peet, 39, Freelance Event Designer & Decorator, Creative Director, EDM Festival Installation Artist, Photographer and Aspiring Haunted House owner - www.TheHauntedGarden.com

    What do you think ?
    You May Like
    Related on Bored Panda
    Related on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda