Forest Bases
In 2019, I made a bunch of different "forest" bases for use in making photo and show scenes.
I gathered a bunch of interesting sticks on my walks and cut some wood scraps into irregular shapes.
After plotting out the placement of the tree, I put down a big glob of hot glue and propped the trees in place until the glue cooled.
After all the trees were in place I started adding rocks and other foresty items.
Once I was satified with all of the items, I started adding more glue to form the "earth" by first making a ring of hot glue around the edge of the base.
I then started roughly filling the rest of the base with glue.
It doesn't have to be particularly even.
After the first layer had mostly cooled, I started with the second layer, using it to make roots or hillocks.
When the glue had fully cooled, I began painting it with the base colour, really glooping on the glue.
The next step requires some PVA glue.
Just pour a big puddle on somewhere.
Using a paintbrush, spread the glue thickly all over the base.
For the first layer of ground covering, I like to use old tea.
Sprinkle it thickly over the base.
Leave it to dry completely.
Once dry, tap off the excess over a piece of paper to salvage the extra scatter.
A nice soil covering.
Using the gluey paintbrush, daub random patches of glue all over the base and add your next layer of scatter.
Do this for several more layers; I like to end with dried herbs for dead leaves.
For the grass layer I used static grass and this inexpensive applicator. Just daub glue where you want grass, and scatter away.
Then it's time for the slow and painful part, adding the greenery. I use a jar lid to hold a small pool of glue and dip my bush clumps into it before applying to the base.
Building up greenery on my bush twigs.
Mostly finished bases. I later added some flowers and hand sculpted birds to some of them. Other bases have puddles or tiny streams made with water effects paste.