alright, I have to credit TIKTOK yet again!
when I find the creator, I will tag her for credit! this is a SUPER easy craft you can do with any age of kids! it takes little to no supplies and creates beautiful art!
the science behind this phenomenon is actually pretty cool to discuss too. you can read about how the mushrooms “make wind” with moisture HERE.
essentially, what happens is the mushrooms absorb the moisture within the bowl, and create it into air, expelling it through its gills leaving a perfect print made of spores onto your paper. if you do it JUST right, you can create an almost perfect replica of the gills beneath the shroom! just like tree stumps and fingerprints, no two mushrooms are alike! you will get a unique print from the gills every time!
some helpful hints:
- LESS IS MORE! we tried this a few times, the more water we sprayed, the more the paper became damp and make the print all blotchy and faded with no gill detail.
- do not touch the print after removing the shroom. the spores are like powder, so touching it will smudge your work!
- I’ve read you can spray a thin layer of hairspray over your art to preserve + protect it. I have not tried this myself!
all that being said, it’s time for you to give it a go yourself!
Supplies:
- a basic mushroom, one with gills like a field mushroom. {the bigger the better!}
- spray bottle of water
- paper
- bowl
Directions:
- remove the stem as low as possible so your shroom can lay gill side down flush with the paper
- lay them gill-side down and sprits the top of the mushroom with a LIGHT sprits {remember, less is more!}
- cover the mushroom with a bowl.
- let sit for 4-6 hours or longer! the longer you wait, the darker the print will be!
- gently remove the bowl, then the mushroom musroom, lifitng straight upward as to not smudge the spore print!
voila! your little Picasso mushroom should’ve left its’ mark on your paper!
happy printing! {PS- you can do this multiple times with your shroom!}
