It isn't pretty.... but..... here's how I do it

October 8, 2012
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I started the base for the lighthouse.... it doesn't look like much at the moment, but I've had several people ask me what I do for the landscape and using frames... so I thought I'd show this unattractive picture.

This is a 16x16 frame.... I removed the glass and back since this one just had a cardboard back. My Dad cut me a piece of plywood on his table saw, and I used a pin nailer to nail the plywood to the frame.

I then coated the whole thing with a thin layer of glue and let it dry. The round "mound" that looks like a pile of bread dough will be a rock the lighthouse sits on. It is made of sculpting plaster by Woodland Scenics. This is the first time I have used this... I was hoping it would be cheaper and lighter than paperclay.... it's not... LOL... but it does make a nice base to work off of without using a whole lot of paperclay. I will paint and sculpt this and add paperclay rocks, plants, and bits of grass to this....

The entire edge of the frame is coated with glue and paperclay to "seal" the gaps.... I added more paperclay where the sand will be... and then dumped a bunch of glue where the ocean will be. Now the whole thing is drying.....

sooooo... like I said... it's not pretty... LOL... but it will be