Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms

08 April
I think every yard needs some interesting landscaping and whimsical touches… especially if you like a cottage garden feel like I do!


Today I’m sharing how to make some whimsical mushrooms from repurposed and recycled materials.

Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms



Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms

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They are very easy to make, here is what you’ll need:


Supplies Needed:

Step 1 - gather your supplies



You can find wooden bowls in all shapes and sizes at thrift stores. I picked up three for just $1.75! It looks best to have a group of mushrooms in varying sizes and heights together, that is how they grow in nature 😊🍄


With that in mind, choose two or three that you want to use. I am showing two of mine here. They are quite large (about 10" to 12" in diameter) and have different shapes.


Choose some logs or large tree branches that are long enough that you can bury them in the ground several inches and still have enough sticking up to create the mushroom. I've chosen two logs and one large branch leftover from a large cherry tree that I had cut down that will work with the sizes of bowls I've chosen. It's nice if they have been cut at an angle too for a more natural look.

Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms

Step 2 - Prep and paint the bowls


Give the bowls a light sanding, just enough to rough up the surface so the paint has a surface to bond to.


Then paint with glossy red spray paint.


Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms


If painting feels a little foreign to you, be sure to pick up my ebook, The Upcycler's Ultimate Guide to Painting! It covers EVERYTHING you need to know about paint and how to paint ANY surface 😃



Painting ebook


Once the red paint has fully dried, add the white polka dots. 


I used white craft paint and free-handed the polka dots with a sponge brush but you can make a template and either stencil them or trace a circle and fill them in with paint if you prefer. Allow them to fully dry.


Since these will be outside, spray the bowls with a glossy protective sealer. I recommend this even if yours will be in a sheltered area to get the most life out of them. I have had mine for nine years now and I have only had to touch up the paint once!



Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms

Step 3 - Attach the logs and branches



Make sure you have selected logs and branches that are a little longer than needed to allow for a few inches to be buried in the ground.


Pre-drill holes into the bowls to prevent cracking.



Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms


Step 4 - Find a place your mushrooms



Select a spot that doesn’t get hit hard by sprinklers. Next to a tree or shrub is an excellent place since that is where Mother Nature's mushrooms grow 😊


Dig down into the dirt a little bit and stick the end of the stump into the ground. (You could concrete them in but I wanted to be able to put mine away for the winter to help them last a little longer).


Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms


Eek! Aren't they so cute!?





TIP:  If you don’t have access to tree branches and logs of your own, perhaps a neighbor has some lying around or you can call a local tree trimming company and ask where they’ll be working next. Then go there and ask for a couple of logs! They should be more than willing to give them to you, they have to dispose of them anyway!


Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms

Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms


I love these… look at the little tiny one!!!! Please tell me I'm not the only one that grins from ear to ear over these 😁


Get my eBook, 7 Easy Projects to Help Jumpstart Spring for more cute projects like a repurposed bowling ball ladybug, a recycled garden hose wreath, DIY concrete garden spheres, a terracotta flower pot man, and more!




I'll share some other things I've added to create an interesting outdoor space, like the little boardwalk I created. You can see that post here: Landscaping with Boulders and Pallets.


Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms


I created this area next to a small garden shed. Read about that here: How to Organize a Garden Shed.


Here is what this area looked like before.


Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms


During...


After some much-needed weeding, tilling, transplanting, and clearing out the dead stuff and leftover landscaping bricks, I arranged the rocks around a tree stump. 

Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms


and after...


Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms


Vinca vines have started growing behind the stump and my hope is that they will completely cover it at some point. There is hope because they have started sprouting up in the center too!


Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms


I found the small park bench at the dump. Click here for a video field trip to the dump. My mom made the larger birdhouse with found junk.


Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms


I added a small birdbath and a bird feeder on the fence post.


Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms

Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms



This little concrete bunny is swinging from my lilac bush...  isn't she cute?!



Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms



And I added a birdhouse to the ugly part of the lilac.



Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms



I hope that you enjoyed this Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushroom tutorial and the garden tour. I'd love it if you would share!


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Repurposed Wooden Bowl Mushrooms


Here are some more garden-related posts you may like:



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