These egg carton mushrooms are such a fun way to turn something headed for the recycling bin into an adorable little craft! They’re easy to make, surprisingly sturdy, and perfect for adding a whimsical woodland touch to your fall decor, fairy garden, or nature-inspired craft display.
This simple egg carton craft is a great project for both kids and adults, and it’s easy to customize with different colours and patterns. If you’re looking for a cute mushroom craft, recycled craft idea, or easy fall craft, these little toadstools are a great choice. It’s a creative project that’s inexpensive, fun to paint, and even more fun to display!
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How to Make Egg Carton Mushrooms
Materials:
- Egg carton
- Multi-surface acrylic paint (red and white)
See the craft in action:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Cut out the egg carton pieces
- Begin by using a craft knife to cut out a “cone” from an egg carton. This is the tall piece between the egg cups.You can use scissors, as well — we just find the craft knife allows us to cut them out more accurately.
- Here’s what the cone looks like when cut from the carton.
- Use scissors to trim the bottom of the cone so it’s nice and even. This will be the mushroom stem.
- Repeat with an egg cup (the part where the egg sits). This will be the mushroom cap.
Step 3: Paint the mushroom pieces
- Paint the mushroom cap red. Cover the bottom edge with paint as well.
- Paint the mushroom stem white. Allow both pieces to dry.
Step 4: Put the mushroom together
- Add hot glue to the top of the stem.
- Center the cup and press it onto the stem, connecting the two parts.
Step 4: Add spots
- Paint white spots randomly across the red mushroom cap. Allow to dry.
- Your egg carton mushroom is complete!
- Then have fun making mushrooms in different colours.You can also cut the cone pieces to different heights to create egg carton mushrooms in a variety of sizes.
Helpful Tips:
- Sharp scissors or detail scissors will help you cut the egg carton edges more cleanly. A craft knife is also helpful for getting into the curves of the carton and cutting out the pieces you need.
- There are lots of cute ways to display your finished egg carton mushrooms! Set them on a shelf, add them to an indoor fairy garden, or attach a hanger to turn one into a Christmas ornament.
Do I have to paint the spots on my egg carton mushroom?
No, you can leave the mushroom cap a solid colour if you prefer. Or you can use a paint marker to add the spots instead of using a paintbrush. A paint marker, or adding paint with a dotting tool, gives you more control and makes it easier to create neat circles.
What egg carton pieces do I need to make egg carton mushrooms?
You’ll need one egg cup (the section where the egg sits) for the mushroom cap and one cone (the raised section between the egg cups) for the stem.
What paint is best for making egg carton crafts?
Regular acrylic craft paint works well for painting egg cartons, although you may need two coats for good coverage. Multi-surface acrylic paint tends to cover better, so you can often get an even colour with just one coat.
Washable or tempera paint is another option for younger kids, but it doesn’t cover quite as well and may not be available in as many colours.
What’s the best glue for making egg carton mushrooms?
We like using hot glue because it dries almost immediately and holds the pieces together really well. A low-temp or dual-temperature glue gun can be a good option for crafting with kids with appropriate adult supervision.
Tacky glue or school glue will also work, but they take longer to dry. Tacky glue works especially well for this craft because the mushroom can stand on its own while the glue dries, so you don’t have to hold the pieces together.
These egg carton mushrooms are a simple project with such a charming finished look! It’s fun to paint and decorate a few small pieces of cardboard and see them come together into something adorable.
Make just one little mushroom or create a whole collection in different colours, patterns, and sizes. However you decorate them, these whimsical mushrooms are an easy craft that’s just as fun to make as they are to display.
Here’s even more mushroom craft ideas:
Now available
Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
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