How to Make a Toadstool for an Enchanted Garden

Bend a rectangular piece of cardboard to create a hollow tube. This tube becomes the form or mold for the stem of the toadstool. Corrugated cardboard, up to 1/4 inch thick, works best, especially if you plan on making a large-size toadstool. Use a utility knife to trim or cut the cardboard to make the desired tube form size.

Tape the cardboard tube with duct tape to create a sturdy form. Place the tape pieces perpendicular to to the seam, with the top and bottom pieces completely encircling the tube's circumference. Avoid parallel tape pieces over the seam, as they aren't strong and will fail later.

Mix a batch of concrete mix in a trough or bucket, following the directions for proportion of mix with water. Wear latex gloves to protect your hands. Add water and slowly but thoroughly mix with a trowel or small shovel. You will want a concrete mortar or "batter" that is evenly moist about the consistency of toothpaste.

Upright the cardboard tube form on a level surface covered with a piece of cardboard or other barrier to prevent the concrete to fuse to the floor/ground surface. Scoop concrete batter into the tube form to fill it up. Work the trowel blade down into the concrete batter as you fill the tube to help spread the batter and eliminate air pockets. Once the form is full, scrap the top with the trowel to create a flat, even surface.

Spray non-stick cooking spray in the inside of a bowl -- plastic or metal -- that is the form for the domed, caplike head of the toadstool. Douse all parts of the inside curved surface, as this allows the dry concrete to slide out of the form later.

Mix additional concrete to provide enough batter to fill the bowl.

Fill the bowl with concrete, gently tamping it down to spread it and remove air pockets. Once the bowl is full, scrape and grade the top to create a smooth, level surface.

Let the cardboard form and bowl mold set for at least 24 hours in a location that is out of sun and wind. Slower-curing concrete is stronger and more durable than concrete that quickly dries in a baking sun or hot room.

Invert the bowl on the ground to release the concrete toadstool head. Tap the inverted bowl several times to help the concrete drop from the bowl mold. Cut off the cardboard form and duct tape from the concrete toadstool stem.

Squeeze several ribbons of heavy-duty construction adhesive atop the concrete toadstool stem. Place the flat side of the concrete toadstool head -- the upside-down bowl -- atop the stem. Let the adhesive thoroughly set and dry before again moving it.