Mushroom Sculpture

After writing Invisible Lines, I became enchanted with mushrooms. My friends began to send me images of mushrooms. Here’s a mushroom craft idea. Software developer and game designer Zach Barth, in Bellevue, WA, realized that screws resemble mushrooms and created this whimsical sculpture.

First find some large screws and paint them however you like. Although it may scratch off, Barth suggests using standard, hobby-grade acrylic paint. Next, find a fallen tree branch, thick enough to hold the “mushrooms” you’ve made. If the branch is too long, you can use it as an opportunity to give an impromptu and safe lesson on woodworking. Ask very young children to “work” alongside you with their pretend tools, but if your kids are old enough, you may want to teach them how to use real tools safely. Saw off the ends to make your branch the size you want. Then, drill a hole for each “mushroom.” You can still buy simple, hand-held manual drills, which are great for projects with kids. When my kids were young, I’d have them put their hands on top of mine, so that they could “help.” –Mary Amato