Mushroom and Feather Cone

Diane Flowers teaches us how to make this stylish mushroom and feather cone that would look great on your wall near the doorway entrance. It's a bit of a futuristic look.

Materials:

• STYROFOAM Brand Foam:
  • Cone, 18" x 5"
• Dried naturals: mushrooms w/stems, six;
• green or natural okra, five;
• poppy pods, five
• Pheasant feathers, ten
• Green reindeer moss, one bag each: light; dark
• Lichen moss, one small bag
• Twigs, 8" long, seven
• Fine-gauge floral wire
• Floral pins, two
• Serrated knife
• Candle stub or paraffin
• Ruler
• Wire cutters
• Low-temp glue gun and glue sticks
• Thick, white craft glue

Steps:

1. Wax serrated knife with candle stub or paraffin. Cut narrow slice from one side of cone so it will rest flat against wall when hung. Begin at cone base and continue cutting 10" to 12" toward cone tip.
    
2. Use glue gun or craft glue to cover entire cone with reindeer moss. Let dry.
    
3. With flat back of cone on work surface, glue and insert three pieces of dried mushroom into cone base. Position center mushroom slightly higher than side mushrooms; insert side mushrooms at angle to form fan shape.
    
4. Glue and insert pheasant feathers in front of mushroom pieces, forming fan shape.
    
5. Glue and insert okra into cone base in front of feathers, allowing pieces to form horizontal "S" shape from left to right. Glue and insert poppy pods into spaces between okra.
    
6. Glue and insert remaining mushroom pieces into front of cone, pushing firmly to hide stems. Insert two pieces side-by-side below okra and poppy pods, hiding stems. Insert third mushroom piece below first two.
   
7. Glue and randomly insert twigs into both sides of cone as shown, allowing some to extend beyond tip of cone if desired. Glue small pieces of lichen moss to cone front.
    
8. For hanger, cut 10" length from wire. Fold wire in half and twist ends together to secure. Insert wire ends into top back of cone. Secure each wire end to cone with floral pin. Glue small pieces of reindeer moss to any exposed pins or stems. Let cone dry completely before hanging.

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