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Fungi Grow by Maria Gianferrari and illustrated by Diana Sudyka is a delightful homage to the funny, fantastic world of mushrooms. Maria’s winsome rhymes and fascinating factoids, matched with Diana’s dreamy, mulchy paintings are as delightful as a walk in the woods and as surprising as spotting a Red Chanterelle!

Inspired by Fungi Grow, this Mushroom House craft uses all of my favorite ingredients: whimsy, simplicity and recyclables! I pilfered the recycling bin for a mix of cardboard textures, and that classic craft mainstay–the cardboard toilet paper roll (no one ever runs out of these.)
MATERIALS:
- Cardboard toilet paper roll
- Cardstock paper (or cereal box-cardboard)
- Scissors
- Hot-glue gun or glue stick
- Paint
Optional: cupcake liners, coffee filters, corks, whole-punched paper, origami paper, textured cardboard odds and ends–get silly and creative!
DIRECTIONS:
- With scissors, cut a curved “door” at the base of your toilet paper roll (leaving one side attached to serve as the “hinge.”
- For the mushroom cap, cut out a circle of your card stock or cereal box cardboard (or any paper of your choice). Circles can be lopsided and imperfect. Start big and trim smaller as desired.
- Cut one slit to the center of your circle. This will allow you to overlap the paper and create your cap.
- If you are using card stock or cardboard, use hot glue to adhere (adults only). Thinner paper will hold with glue stick. Confused about this bit? Watch the video below:
5. Glue the mushroom cap to its stem.
6. Now is the time to paint! Let it get messy. Add bits of paper, buttons, beads–bedazzle!
7. Finally, invite little critters to move inside. . .
Which mushrooms are real?











What an amazing creation! And beautiful photography!!
Love this! Using different textures of cardboard is such a great touch!
What a great creation! And such beautiful photography!
Maria is one of my favorite picture book authors. I can’t wait to read this book and learn more about fungi.
Thanks, Danielle 🙂
Mushrooms are so magical! What a lovely idea for a children’s book and an adorable crafting project. 🙂
As a mushroom lover, I think this is wonderful. What a great gift book.
Can’t wait to get this book, AND to try this craft!
Thanks, Jennie!
Adorable project and the book looks great!
Gracias, Sara!
Love this so much, Margaret! You always come up with the cutest and most creative crafts. Thank you!!
Such a charming and engaging concept – love the photos!
Thank you, Susan! I miss you 🙂
Yay, mushrooms! I can’t wait to add this to my collection of mushroom books! And as soon as I get a cardboard tube I will try my hand at one of those crafty toadstools!
Thank you, Rebecca!
This book couldn’t be more timely– with this very rainy summer I have seen so many new and really strange looking mushrooms in my yard! Can’t wait to read the book. Mushroom craft is soooo cute– love the ones with the little doors — how magical!
Thank you, janet!