DIY Carnivorous Plant and Mushrooms

 Who doesn't love a cute carnivorous plant???

You can DIY this cute little fella, he's easy and not expensive to make.

Supplies

Small terracotta pot

Aluminum foil

Masking tape

Pipe cleaners

Plaster bandage (aka gauze) - I bought mine from Officeworks but it's usually available in any craft store.

Acrylic paint- I used red, green, white, purple and yellow

Paint brushes

Glue gun with glue sticks

Thin cardboard - I used an old cereal box

Pattern pieces (you can make your own but I sketched some out to help)- Download Here

Cut two mouth pieces and tape together at the back

Cut out the tongue and tape in place

Squish two ovals out of aluminum foil for the bottom and top of the head.

Attach the foil clumps with masking tape. It makes a smoother service if you completely cover the foil with tape. The plaster also sticks easier.   

Cut out one large leaf for the back of the head and two small leaves, one for each side. Curl the pipe cleaner into "vines".

Cut your plaster bandage into small strips. Wet each strip and cover the whole head and tongue. If you rub the bandage a bit along the way, it spreads the plaster and makes for a smoother surface.

Cover each leaf and pipe cleaner in plaster bandage as well.

Once everything is completely dry, paint each piece of you plant. (Sorry my workspace got messier and messier)

Paint the leaves and vines.

Here's a little close up of one of the leaves.

Use the glue gun to stick the plant head into the pot. Attach the big leaf to the back of the head and the small leaves to each side of the head with the glue gun and the vines to the inside of the pop.

Your Carnivorous Plant is Hungry for some Halloween Fun!!!

For Little artists, I found mushrooms are one of the easiest to make and great fun to decorate.

You can even skip the Glue Gun step and just tape the stem to the top if you prefer to keep hot glue away from little hands.

My kids love laying on the plaster strips because it's a bit messy. It also dries relatively fast and very hard. Of course painting and covering with glitter is the most fun!

You can make anything you can manage to shape out of the aluminum foil. I made a spotted sheep with a friend the other day so sky is the limit.

Whatever you make, I sure hope you have fun!!

Halloween Stitch-a-Long 2023

Welcome Spooky Stitchers and Hallozween Readers!!!

Please follow along on instagram and Facebook 

@elliottsplayground 

 You can screenshot the pattern or download the PDF below.

Download Pattern Here

If you have any issues accessing the pattern just shoot me an email elliottsplayground@gmail.com or leave me a comment and I can email the pattern to you.

There are no hard and fast rules! This is just the order I am going to stitch in. There are 23 steps over 31 days so go as quick or leisurely as you like. 

I CAN'T WAIT to see everyone's stitches!!

Please don't forget to hashtag your pictures on social media #boostich2023

and tag me in @elliottsplayground so I can share you work in my stories. 

Feel Good Art Prize and Australian Fibre Art Award

20223 has been a pretty exciting year for me art-wise. 

I had two pieces selected as finalists for art prizes.

 A Bird in the Hand

Highly Commended

Feel Good Art Prize

"A bird in the hand" - an old saying emphasizing contentment in the things we have. A Bird in the Heart is a play on that saying, a small reminder to be grateful for those we love, find happiness with the people you cherish and never take them for granted." 

Yowie

Australian Fibre Art Award

"My house is  safe space for monsters, especially cryptids. I've spent many hours hiking the Australian bush with my husband, kids and dog searching for Yowies. On the rare occasion, we have spotted a footprint or heard a Yowie call way off in the distance. With the help of my dog, who lent me her fur after a groom and my kids who gave great descriptions of the Yowie, this little fellow was created."