I got an email from Frank who has a really spectacular technique for making mountain terrain using craft paper.

Will: As you know, Christmas wrapping paper comes with a hollow tube insert.  Some, however, I find has a large sheet of extra-heavy brown wrapping paper, bordering on light cardboard in texture.

I found that, by crumbling this paper, opening it out, revealing many creases, then soaking it in water and allow to dry, it makes excellent mountain paper which can be modeled to various mountain and hill shapes.  Painted, it becomes a mountain miniature.

Here Frank tells us how to do this, step by step:

A word of CAUTION when forming the mountains.   The heavy duty cartridge paper used in the cores of the wrapping paper has particularly sharp edges!!!  Care to be used when handling. As to the method,  

Step 1: Soak the paper.
Step 2: While wet, crumble into a ball, squeeze tightly to get many creases.
Step 3: Open out to form the mountain shape you wish, use boxes, etc to support it.  Let it dry.

After thoroughly dry, it should be self standing.  A spray fixative can be used if desired.   Apply (dry brush) any color acrylic lightly using horizontal and vertical strokes. 

The holiday paper I used came from Walgreen's.  Most of the higher priced wrappings come with a tubular cardboard core.

Hope this helps.  

Using old wooden picture frame to make a wonderful diorama base

You can pick up some wonderful picture frames from the dollar store or used item store and turn them into some really elegant dioramas. Here glen shows us how to do it with a machine gun and mortar team. Picture frame diorama bases

Little Red Riding Hood Diorama - You have got to see this diorama. It was made by a web visitor. And she uses a lot of standard diorama making techniques like trees, terrain, rocks and waterfall. The Little Red Riding Hood Diorama.

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