By Libbie Summers
Assisted by David Dempsey

Handmade papier mache bunnies painted lavender, pink and orange are the perfect centerpiece for an Easter luncheon table because actual bunnies hopping is typically never a good decision.

Ingredients:
Scissors
Cardboard
Masking Tape
White Glue
Water
Joint-Compound
Latex Glove
Paint
Paintbrush
Newspaper ( Half the paper cut into 1″x5″ strips, half left for filling)
Marker

What to do:

Bunny Body
Step 01: Create a form

With your cardboard, use a marker to sketch out your bunny’s body. You’ll want to draw the main body, cutting slits about half way down the top of the head, up the front legs, and down the middle back. Create three more forms to fit in those slits creating a 3-D bunny form.

Make sure to trace these forms before assembly if planning on making more than one!

Use masking tape to seal the form in place and to add extra support. Your bunny should stand on its own, if not add more masking tape to level her up!

Step 02: Fill in form

Using one half of the newspaper, bunch up and tape onto your form. Once you see the form looking more like a bunny, use the masking tape to completely cover the newspaper and round off any hard edges.

Step 03: Paper Mache Time!

In a large mixing bowl; mix equal parts white glue, joint compound, and water. Make sure to wear gloves and mix together. Once fully mixed, take your newspaper strips and dip into the mixture and place onto your form. Continue until entirely covered. Let dry overnight and repeat.

Your mixture may need to be mixed up a few times as the joint compound will settle on the bottom of the bowl.

Bunny Ears
Step 1: Create a form

Take any extra cardboard and draw out an ear for your bunny. Create a line a crease up the middle and a small triangle at the bottom. This will help your bunny ear look realistic with a curve and also fit onto her head!

Using your masking tape, fix your ears to the bunny body. Use extra tape to ensure they’re firm and won’t move. Tape around the entire ear.

Step 2: Paper Mache Time!

Using the same mixture as with the body, cover your ears completely. I also took advantage of the dry body to add another layer of paper mache to the whole body.

Step 3: Finishing Touches!
When you’re satisfied with the bunny’s look and she is completely dry, mix up some paint and give her at least two coats. I painted mine three times, added some handmade pom poms for a nose and tail and paper whiskers for the perfect finish!

By Libbie Summers
Assisted by David Dempsey

I am OBSESSED with these hand painted wooden psychedelic mushrooms! They are the perfect conversation starter centerpiece and would make a fun luncheon craft for your guests…no ingestion required. 

Learn how to make the psychedelic mushrooms HERE.
Now let’s make them a centerpiece! I liked the idea of treating them like they were just foraged in some kind of trippy forest and cooked up in a chic copper pan with all the colorful woodland animals looking on. All you need is a skillet and some deer moss (I picked up at Home Depot).

Now let’s set the table!

You’re not on a crazy trip, we used some purple gels to make the room more psychedelic! I only wish I had a black light!

Now let’s serve up some soup!

Get the recipe for my REAL Mushroom Soup with Matcha Cream HERE.

By Libbie Summers
Assisted by David Dempsey

A psychedelic mushroom of the cute kind…no trip required.

Psychedelic Mushroom Craft

What you need: 
Wooden Mushrooms (I purchased mine HERE)
Craft Paints
Paint brushes (flat and fine)
Pencil
Spray matte sealer

What to do: 

1. Paint the mushroom a solid color (I painted mine orange).
2. Draw your “psychedelic artwork” (I googled psychedelic artwork and got loads of ideas)
3. Using a fine brush, paint in your artwork.
4. Use a spray sealer to seal.

How stinkin’ cute are these! And how cute would they be as the centerpiece of a lunch table! Check it out HERE.
 

By Libbie Summers
Assisted by David Dempsey

One night, I had a dream about a giant orange mushroom that grew just outside the door of my gnome house (yes, I was a gnome in the dream) in the woods. So in honor of this week of celebrating the mushroom…we brought my dream to life. Here’s how we made the mushroom.

What you need:
Newspaper
White Glue
Water
36″ Latex Balloon
Masking Tape
4-6′ Cardboard Roll/Tube
Large Cardboard Box
Paint
Paintbrush
Sheets of 8×11 White Paper
Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

What to do:
Step 01:
Mix your white glue and water (equal parts). Inflate your balloon and lay on its side. Cut long 1″ wide strips of newspaper and dip into glue mixture. Remove excess glue and apply to balloon. Repeat until desired shape is achieved. Let dry overnight, then carefully pop your ballon. Sides may curl in which will add more realistic shape to the mushroom head.

Step 02:
Lay your cardboard roll or tube on its side. With your newspaper and masking tape, form balls of paper and apply to the bottom and top of the tube to create a ‘stem structure’. Next, with long 1″ wide strips of newspaper, dip into the glue mixture and apply to both the tube and the ball forms. Continue until you achieve a desired ‘stem’ look. This may take a while but you want to make sure its formed well and can stand up. Remember to keep the opening of the tube open.

Step 03:
Once dry, place the mushroom head onto the stem structure. If satisfied with the result, remove and paint everything a base white.

Step 04:
Paint your mushroom however you desire, I made mine orange with blue dots! Flip over and stuff with loose newspaper. Use this opportunity to fix any last minute forming issues you may have run into while glueing or painting.

Step 05:
Trace the shape of the mushroom head onto a large cardboard box then cut out. Create a whole in the middle big enough to fit the top of your stem.

Step 06:
Use your sheets of paper and tightly roll. One by one, hogtie them to the cardboard in a circle. Repeat until all cardboard has been covered. Once finished carefully fit the cardboard into the bottom of your mushroom head. Attach the head to the stem by inserting the stem into the opening you created in your cardboard.

For best results, ‘plant’ your mushroom outside by a tree with a lot of moss. Hopefully a friendly Gnome will come visit you soon!

by Libbie Summers
Assisted by David Dempsey

Here’s the deal, you can’t be a fancy gnome unless you sport a fancy gnome hat.

What you need:
Measuring tape
Chalk
Pair of scissors
Colored felt
Batting for stuffing
Flower patches (I purchased mine from Oui Fresh)
Needle and thread
Sewing machine (optional)

Step 01:
Measure around your head, add 2″ and divide that total number by 2.
For example, my head was 22″ around. 22+2=24″, 24÷2=12″
Lay two pieces of felt together and use this measurement as the base of your gnome hat.
Use chalk to draw a straight line the length of the measurement you came up with for your head.
Draw two chalk lines up from the ends of the base about 15″ to 18″ to a point.
Cut out the two pieces of the hat.

Step 02:
Using a sewing machine (or hand sewing), sew the two sides together. You can also turn up the ends and sew to make a nice finish to the bottom of your hat.

Step 03:
Now is where your personal flair comes in. Cut out pieces of felt in the shapes of leaves and flower petals and sew onto the hat. Sew on your flower patches or any other patches you love too!

Step 04:
Stuff the hat with a batting (I used the end of a spatula to push into the point), but don’t fill all the way…just until about 4″ from the end. You have to get your head into this thing.

Wear it around the house! (WATCH VIDEO HERE)