Let’s be honest — I might have a slight mushroom obsession. Every season they sneak into my decor somehow. Summer? They’re in the garden. Fall? On my shelves. Winter? Boom — they’re hanging from the Christmas tree like they own the place. I’ve accepted it. Mushrooms are my personality now.
But this time, I took it up a notch — I made a glowing mushroom lamp. Yep, a nightlight. Because when life gets dark, you might as well have a mushroom that literally lights up the room.
What You’ll Need
- 1 empty glass juice bottle (preferably one you forgot to recycle)
- 1 small bowl that you won’t miss afterward
- Plaster or gypsum — the miracle goo of DIY world
- Water (obviously)
- A bit of soapy water (trust me, this saves you later)
- Glue (preferably the kind that can survive your impatience)
- Macrame cord in red and white
- White paint + sponge
- Masking tape or decorative tape (we’re getting fancy)
- A battery-powered fairy light — the twinklier, the better
How To Make These Mushrooms
Grab that small bowl and coat the inside with some soapy water — otherwise, your plaster will cling to it like it’s in a toxic relationship. Mix your plaster until it’s the texture of thick sour cream (not yogurt, not concrete, sour cream).
Pour it into the bowl and give it a few taps to pop out those sneaky air bubbles.
Then drop the bottle cap in the center and gently press it down. Just don’t push too far or you’ll be chiseling it out later — I learned that the hard way. Leave it alone to dry. And yes, that means actually leave it alone. No poking, no touching. I know it’s hard.
While your plaster is doing its thing, grab the glass bottle and slap on a stripe of masking tape around it. That’s your “do not paint above this line” sign. Take a sponge and dab white paint on the bottom half. You’re aiming for that frosted mushroom stem in a winter forest vibe. Also, fun fact — this layer will hide the battery pack later. So technically, this is both aesthetic and functional. (Look at me being responsible.) Peel off the tape and let it dry like a professional artist who totally knows what they’re doing.
Once the plaster hardens, pop it out of the bowl. It might resist a little — think of it as your bowl saying goodbye to a friend. Now you’ve got yourself a mushroom top, smooth and satisfyingly solid. Feel free to admire it and pretend you’re a sculptor for a moment.
Fit the cap onto the bottle and bask in that “oh wow, it actually looks like a mushroom” moment. But plain plaster? No way. We’re going full fairy-tale here. Grab that red macrame cord, squeeze out some glue, and start spiraling it from the center outwards. It’s like icing a cake, except with rope and mild existential dread.
Once the red part is done, make tiny white circles by rolling up pieces of white cord. Glue them on randomly — imperfection makes it charming, or at least that’s what I tell myself.
Here comes the grand finale. Take your fairy lights (the cheap ones from last Christmas will do), twist them up, and shove them inside the bottle like a true artist at work. The white paint diffuses the light perfectly, giving that soft, cozy glow that says, “I definitely didn’t just glue string to plaster for three hours.” Pop the mushroom cap on top — and BOOM. You’ve got yourself a glowing mushroom lamp.
Enjoy!.
The Result: A Mushroom That Outshines My Life Decisions
And there it is. Your little glowing forest friend. It looks adorable by the fireplace, on a shelf, or anywhere that needs a dose of whimsy (which, let’s be real, is everywhere).
I made two — one red and one white — because moderation clearly isn’t my thing. They look like something straight out of a fairytale… if that fairytale involved glue fumes and a lot of trial and error. Don’t overthink it. If your plaster cracks a little or your rope goes crooked — congrats, you just made it rustic.