Crafting a Mushroom Amulet Necklace

See more of Alexandria Corne’s work on Instagram @alexandriacornephotography.

Craft your own mushroom amulet as a reminder that the magic of an old familiar never truly passes. It transforms, like a mushroom in the forest—always offering a little bit of enchantment for those willing to look closely enough.

Materials Needed:

• Foam clay (I use Modelite), 4 to 8 ounces
• A toothpick or other small sculpting tool
• Acrylic paint
• Clear craft sealer (I use Mod Podge spray concealer)
• Hot glue and a glue gun
• An eye pin
• A 24-inch length of cording of your choice
• A crystal of your choice (optional)

To form the mushroom cap, start with a ball of foam clay.

Roll it between your palms until the ball is nice and round. Then flatten it slightly on bottom. You can press the edges of the cap gently with your fingers to create a subtle, curled edge that mimics the natural look.

To form the stem, roll a smaller portion of clay into a cylindrical shape. Don’t worry about making it perfectly smooth; uneven texture and imperfections will add character. Keep the stem proportional to the size of the cap.

Using a dab of hot glue, gently press the bottom of the cap onto the top of the stem and hold for several seconds to fuse the two together.

If you’re adding a crystal to the stem’s bottom, press it into the bottom of the stem to create a tailor-made space. Remove it when you let the mushroom dry.

Use a toothpick or sculpting tool to add natural texture to the cap and stem. You might want to make little indentations on the cap to resemble the tiny scales or grooves that mushrooms often have. You can also add small dots of white clay for classic “spots.”

Allow your mushroom to dry for up to 72 hours, depending on thickness. Use the directions on the clay package as a guide.

Paint your mushroom in any way you wish with acrylic paint. Once it’s dry, give it a coat of sealer for protection.

If making a corded amulet, push an eye pin through the top of the cap and add a small drop of glue to hold it in place.

When the glue is dry, string with cording of your choice. Glue in your crystal and allow to dry.

Note: You can always push stiff wire into the bottom of the stem after painting and then seal your mushroom again if you want to use it for a yard or garden project. A group of these shrooms will stand up perfectly and add a bit of magic to any garden party or event. They might even attract a familiar!