Thread: Need ideas on making giant leaves and mushrooms

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This year, we are planning an "Alice in Wonderland" theme for our Halloween party. It will be a mix of Disney's Alice in Wonderland and McGee's Twisted Alice.
I'm trying to figure out how to make giant leaves and 2-5' tall mushrooms. I suppose I can just take posterboard, cut out leaves and paint them green and use metal coat hanges to support them.
Any other thoughts on this?

What about mushrooms? I have no idea where to start with this project.

I was just thinking about giant mushrooms the other day. I think I was watching a southpark movie. My idea involved using a patio umbrella for the main frame then make the frame of the stalk out of chiken wire. The cap could also be shaped with chicken wire...thats as far as I got on that idea. My mind started thinking about giant spiders...damn ADD!!!

OMG!! I can't answer the questions on the props, but might I suggest you play "White Rabbit" in the back ground!! Love your theme! I love the twisted phsycadelic Alice in Wonder Land!!

The chicken wire sounds doable shape and coat with great stuff

When we did our twisted fairy-tale theme, I wanted giant mushrooms in blacklight-reacive neon colors. I used...okay bear with me 'cause I can't remember their proper names...those large cardboard tubes for pouring cement in. You know, the ones for deck foundations and the like? Well, I used them for stems, cut to various lenghts and in varous diameters (depending on the size of my cap), then painted white for a base, then in the neon color over top.
For the "lids" I used anyting I could find in a round shape, covered in paper mache. We did VERY large bowls (I'm talking industrial sized punch bowls here), umbrellas, beach balls, punching balloons, a childs inflatable pool...you get the idea. Paper mached them all, then painted. We just pretty much sat the tops on the stems and they stayed as long as they were relatively centered. For the largest ones, I put holes in the tops and in the stems and wired them together.
Unfortunatley I don't have any pictures to share and I only have the four smallest ones left (they are a BUGGER to store).

Sonotubes, thats what they're called. Very useful. You could use MonsterMud over chickenwire.

If you want fallen leaves, here's an idea. Get some butcher paper, cut your leaves, water color paint them. Allow to dry and then crinkle and throw on the ground. I do this in regular size for indoor graveyards. When you step on them the crinkle nicely. For big stiff leaves....I'll have to think on that.

Originally Posted by voodoo willy

I was just thinking about giant mushrooms the other day. I think I was watching a southpark movie. My idea involved using a patio umbrella for the main frame then make the frame of the stalk out of chiken wire. The cap could also be shaped with chicken wire...thats as far as I got on that idea. My mind started thinking about giant spiders...damn ADD!!!

Patio umbrella huh? That's an excellent frame design idea. Build out a wood frame, and wrap chicken wire around it, then either go with cloth or paper mache. I was thinking for the mushroom head, to go with a beige or neutral single color blanket or comforter and staple it down underneath.

I also found this link for making mushrooms: The Prop Shop: Ten minute toadstools! and it does look like they also recommend sonotubes. Think that's something I can get from Home Depot or the like?

Only thing is that they appear to only be a couple feet across, which may work for some smaller mushrooms, but I'm gonna need a super duper giant one for the caterpillar to sit on.

Additionally, we will be retrofitting a fog machine to blow fog out of it's mouth and out of the hookah too.

Originally Posted by BWarriner

I also found this link for making mushrooms: The Prop Shop: Ten minute toadstools! and it does look like they also recommend sonotubes. Think that's something I can get from Home Depot or the like?

Only thing is that they appear to only be a couple feet across, which may work for some smaller mushrooms, but I'm gonna need a super duper giant one for the caterpillar to sit on.

Additionally, we will be retrofitting a fog machine to blow fog out of it's mouth and out of the hookah too.

I hope you will take lots of pictures!!