Chanterelle Earrings

The chanterelle is one of the most popular mushrooms, and with its characteristic color and shape, it lends itself perfectly to be replicated in polymer clay.

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to make these fun chanterelle earrings. But these little clay mushrooms can have other uses as well. How about putting them on a piece of moss in a floral arrangement?

• Polymer Clay
  • Premo - White
  • Premo - “Cadmium” Yellow Hue
  • Premo - Ecru
• Acrylic Craft Paint
  • White
  • Dark Brown
• V-shaped Linuleum Cutters
• Clay Piercing Tool
• Bead Piercing Needles
• 400 grit sandpaper
• ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR EARRINGS:
  • 2” Head Pins
  • 1” Fish Hook Wires
  • Round Nose Pliers

As any lover of chanterelles knows, the color of these mushrooms can vary greatly. For the example in this tutorial, we used a mixture of three Premo clays in the follow proportions: 1 part White, 1 part “Cadmium” Yellow Hue, and 2 parts Ecru.  However, you can use any color from darker brownish-orange to pale yellow to make a realistic looking chanterelle.

After blending the different clay together, and properly conditioning them, start by forming a ball of the clay. For this project we want to make the mushrooms the right size for earrings, and so we start out with a clay ball that is approximately 1/2” diameter. Start by shaping the stem of the chanterelle. Keep in mind that unlike most other mushrooms, the chanterelle stem is actually widest at the top and tapers down to a wide tip at the base.

Next shape the cap of the mushroom. There is no need to be too precise, as small irregularities enhance the realism.

 

 

 

By pushing down on the edge of the cap, you will achieve a slighly rounded edge that will mimic the look of most smaller chanterelles.

 

 

 

If you are planning on making earrings, the next step is to make a hole through the whole mushroom from the tip of the stem through the center of the cap. Twisting the needle back and forth while you press it through helps it from getting stuck and keeps the mushroom from becoming deformed.

 

There are two alternatives way of making the gills: 1 - use a piercing tool to press lines into the raw clay. Then bake according to manufacturers instructions. 2 - Bake the clay first, then use your v-shaped linoleum cutters to create the gills. Finish by sanding with a 400 grit sandpaper.

 

 

Next paint the stem with your craft paint. Start with a wash of water and white paint in a gradient down along the stem, and then add a little dark brown for dirt at the very base of the mushroom.

 

 

 

Make the earrings by pushing the headpin through from the base. Cut it to appropriate length and make a loop at the top using your round-nose pliers. Connect to the fish hook wire, and you're done!