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

BoredPanda 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.

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