Christmas Craft #1: Toadstool Ornaments

(via Martha Stewart)

I'm so excited to share with you all my first Christmas craft of the season!

Last December, those Martha Stewart geniuses concocted a project that I've been excited to try all year (yes, all year long). Now that December has arrived once more, it's finally time to create my own toadstool ornaments for my Christmas tree. 

Toadstools and other elements like acorns, pinecones, or walnuts reinforce the natural aspect of the forest and harvest season. Toadstools, mushrooms, or champignons (whatever you call them), are a recurrent theme in German holiday ornaments and decor, and I thought that I would infuse our Christmas tree with these toadstool ornaments that give a nod to nature.

(via Wikipedia)

To create my own toadstool ornaments for this year's tree, I needed a few special supplies:

1. metal clip-on candle holders, $9 from Ebay (where I bought mine)

2. papier mache toadstools, $10 from Pier 1 (no longer available)

3. fine white glitter (I used "Carrera" by Martha Stewart), $5

4. small flat-sided paint brush, $3

5. red and pearlized white craft paints (I used colors from Martha's line in "Cayenne" and "Pearl"), $2/each

Note: 

You will also need to have some white glue and hot glue on hand for this project, but you probably already have that lying around! While I purchased my papier mache toadstools from Pier 1, I've found some options that would also work for this project:

Find these options here:

1. Moose-r-Us craft toadstools

2. Tom Floral toadstools

3. Create your own with this tutorial from Folksy

Once you have your papier mache forms, follow these easy steps.

Step #1:
Paint the toadstools in the vibrant red-and-white combination.
My toadstool forms were orange, yellow, and green (which don't exactly scream "Christmas"), so I used colors from Martha Stewart's line of craft paint. Allow enough time for all of your painted mushrooms to dry.

Don't forget the dots atop your toadstool caps!

Step #2:
Clean your paintbrush and use it to cover the caps of your mushrooms in a thin film of white glue.

Step #3:
While your mushroom caps are still tacky with glue, take your glitter and sprinkle the tops with lots and lots of sparkle. Allow time for your glitter and glue to dry before proceeding to the next step. Use a cup or plate to gather excess glitter for reuse.

Step #4:
Next, you want to begin transforming your toadstools into ornaments. Dab a generous amount of hot glue on your candle holder clips (right in the center where the stem of the mushroom will go). Take your first toadstool and hold it to the clip until the glue has adhered. Repeat for all of the mushroom forms you have.

 

And, like that, you are done! 
This project took me the better part of an afternoon, with enough time factored in for drying paint and drying glue. But, let me tell you, the rewards of waiting are worth it: just check out my completed ornaments:

Very Anthropologie, no?
I had a lot of fun working on these ornaments and know I'll love bringing them out each year.
Hope you like my first Christmas craft of the season!