Tips and Techniques

Planet Making Tip

To make the roundest planet possible, roll the clay lightly between your palms.

Suspension Technique

Use Project Wire, included in the Sculpting Kit, to suspend planets and add labels to your diorama or display.

Lens Tip

Special materials, like the Clear Plastic used for the lens, are included in the Building & Structure Kit.

Muscles and Nerves

Sculpt the inside layers of the eye with Sculpting Clay. Paint the tiny nerves with Project Paints.

Cell Parts

Paint the cell pieces bright colors with the Project Paints.

See-Through Tip

Use Clear Plastic, included in the Building & Structure Kit, to make see-through layers.

Building Tip

Cut Side Panels, included in the Water Diorama Kit, and build terrain with newspaper wads and Plaster Cloth. This creates a hard shell that you can paint and landscape.

Rock Making Tip

The Mountain Diorama Kit includes a Rock Mold, Casting Plaster and Rock Colors for making and coloring your own rocks.

Lava Flow Technique

Use Casting Plaster, included in the Mountain Diorama Kit, to make a lava flow. Lava cools from the top, so paint the top gray and the bottom red and orange. Watch the following Scene-A-Rama video for more information.

Clear Plastic

Create effects, like this layer of rain, by etching or painting Clear Plastic, included in the Building & Structure Kit.

Puffy Clouds

Make clouds for any weather diorama or display with Puffy Clouds, included in the Horizon & Detail Kit.

Special Effects

Use the Building & Structure Kit to add signs and labels to your diorama.

Stalactites & Stalagmites

To create stalactites, roll wet Plaster Cloth and attach it to the cave ceiling. Allow it to dry and apply Casting Plaster around the Plaster Cloth. Let the Plaster drip to make stalagmites.

Water Technique

Add Realistic Water, available in the Ripplin Water Kit, to the cave floor, walls and other surfaces to give it a damp, cave atmosphere.

Submerged Dinosaur

Sculpt and paint your dinosaur without legs. Pour a thin layer of Realistic Water around the dinosaur and allow it to dry.

Flying Creatures

Make flying creatures with the Clay in the Sculpting Kit. Use the Project Wire in the kit to suspend your animals.

Water Effects

Make long or short waterfalls, waves and ripples using the materials in the Water Diorama Kit.

Suspension Tip

Suspend a bird, fish, sign or other item with the Project Wire, included in the Sculpting Kit.

Backdrop Tip

Paint your backdrop to create an environment. The Horizon & Detail Kit has a variety of paint colors to choose from.

Water Technique for ReadyGrass Sheet

To make water areas on ReadyGrass Sheets, wet the area and scrape off the turf, creating a flat area to add water.

Faux Fur Technique

Sprinkle Fun Fur on your animals to give them a fuzzy, furry look. Watch the following Scene-A-Rama video for more information.

Conifer Trees

Use trees and other scenery that is specific to the animal habitat.

Snowdrifts

Mix Snow Flakes and Snow Base, included in Winter Effects, to create a mixture perfect for snowdrifts.

Texture Technique

Use Plaster Cloth on the backdrop to make rock textures or icebergs.

Labels

The Project Base & Backdrop and the ShowBox include labels with adhesive on the back. Make your label simple, or get creative.

Sculpting Plant Life

Sculpt plant life with Sculpting Clay. Push Clay through a screen to make coral tubes.

Making Waves

Apply Water Effects to any surface like clear Plexiglas“ and use a Stir Stick to make waves by patting gently, up and down. It dries clear.

Out of Water Tip

Sculpt a dolphin and cut it in half. Glue each half to opposite sides of a clear surface. It will look like the dolphin is half in the water and half out. Watch the following Scene-A-Rama video for more information.

ReadyGrass Rocks

Wrap Desert Sand ReadyGrass Sheets around newspaper wads to create large rocks.

Waterfalls & Rapids

Use Water Effects and Realistic Water, included in the Water Diorama Kit, to make realistic still or moving water effects.

Autumn Trees

Add Autumn Trees to any diorama to establish a seasonal setting.

Structures

The Project Sticks and Project Glue, included in the Building & Structure Kit, are great for building any structure.

Frosty Tree Tip

Take a small branch, brush on Sticky Bond^® and sprinkle with Snow Flakes (included in Winter Effects).

Winter Technique

Use Snow Flakes and Snow Base, included in Winter Effects, to make snowdrifts or a light dusting on your diorama.

Stained Glass

Use paints and markers to color Clear Plastic (included in the Building & Structure Kit), to make stained glass.

Stucco Texture

Apply Plaster Cloth and paint it for a stucco effect on your buildings.

Building Details

You can make a tiled roof or floor using texture techniques and the Project Board, included in the Building & Structure Kit. Watch the following Scene-A-Rama video for more information.

Flowering Details

Make a pot and fill it with Foliage Fiber and Red and Yellow Flowers, included in the Foliage & Grasses Kit.

Water Fountain

Mold Water Effects, included in the Ripplin’ Water Kit, to form moving water in a fountain.

Flowering Cacti

Glue Red and Yellow Flowers, included in Desert Plants, to the tips of cacti to create flowering cactus. Watch the following Scene-A-Rama video for more information.

Covered Wagons

There were several types of covered wagons used by settlers. To make a specific type use Project Board, Project Cloth and Project Sticks, included in the Building & Structure Kit.

Constructing Sails

Project Cloth is great for making the sails on a ship. Paint your sails to replicate a specific ship.

Figure Tip

Sculpt your military figures with Sculpting Clay and then paint them. You can also paint figures that you already have to fit a specific scene.

Hills & Bunkers

Wad newspapers and stack them to form a hill or bunker. Cover with Plaster Cloth, paint and add foliage. Watch the following Scene-A-Rama video for more information.

More Figure Tips

Photocopy, color and cut out figures for your diorama. Glue them to flat pieces of Sculpting Clay to add dimension.

ReadyGrass

Sticky Bond^® is great for attaching a ReadyGrass Sheet to the Project Base.

Timeline Idea

You can use the Backdrop as a timeline for your diorama, displaying important dates or chronological events.

Brick Texture

Project Board becomes flexible after it is scored and makes a great rounded tower for a castle. Watch the following Scene-A-Rama video for more information.

Thatched Roof

Lay Wild Grass, included in the Basic Diorama Kit, in rows across your roof to make a thatched roof. Wild Grass is also great for bogs, haystacks and grassy meadows!

ReadyGrass Road Technique

Draw the road on your ReadyGrass Sheet. Wet the turf you want to remove and scrape it away. Paint the road and add details like gravel and weeds.

Plaster Cloth Tip

Cover your pyramid with wet Plaster Cloth to give it a hard shell for the exterior. This will also give it some texture. Paint the Plaster Cloth after it dries.

Pyramidion Tip

The cap on any pyramid is called a pyramidion. The Khufu pyramid was painted red and topped with a golden pyramidion.

The Mummy

Make a mummy using Sculpting Clay and Plaster Cloth strips. Dip the strips in water and start wrapping your mummy.

Egyptian Canoe

Make a canoe using Sculpting Clay from the Sculpting Kit. Paint authentic details on the side.

Backdrop Tip

Use the Backdrop to display more information. Show what Stonehenge looks like today!

ReadyGrass Tip

Glue a ReadyGrass Sheet to the base using Sticky Bond^®.

Floor Plan Pattern

Draw a pattern of the floor plan and use it as a guide when cutting and gluing your walls and doors.

Landscaping

The Water Diorama Kit includes a variety of landscaping products that are easy and fun to use, including Foliage Fiber, Green Grass, Shrubs and Evergreen and Forest Green Accents.

Architecture

Pick a famous architect and build a model of his or her structure using the Water Diorama Kit as a base.

Map Tip

You can resize a map on a copier or a computer and display it on the Project Base and Backdrop. Build hills and mountains with Plaster Cloth and paint it when you are finished.

Water Technique

To give your lakes, ponds, rivers and streams a realistic look, add Realistic Water over the Water Undercoat. Both are included in the Ripplin Water Kit.

Pattern Technique

Draw a pattern of your bridge before you start to build. Lay the Project Sticks on the pattern and glue them in place to make sure all of the beams are in the right place.

Creative Displays

Use creative ways to display information, such as this chalkboard.

Visual Aid Tip

Start with a simple equation and use the Building & Structure Kit to create visual aids that will demonstrate the equation.

Combining Scenes

You can blend two scenes from the book together to make your diorama. Look how the soccer field and locker room scenes combine.

Game Construction

Use the materials in the Building & Structure Kit to make a spinner, movable pieces, buildings, bridges, tunnels and more!

Backdrop Technique

Use the Backdrop to create walls. Paint or draw lockers and bricks. Backdrop Technique Watch the following Scene-A-Rama video for more information.

Construction Tip

Use the materials in the Building & Structure Kit to create floors, walls, stairs, windows and figures.

Important Details

Don’t forget to add small, important details to your diorama to give it character. Show the grandfather clock just before the stroke of midnight and the carriage waiting in the background.

Glass Effects

You can make a glass slipper, the grandfather clock, windows and more with Clear Plastic from the Building & Structure Kit.

Preserving Leaves

Preserve leaves by breaking off a branch with leaves, then soaking the branch in a mixture of one part glycerin (available in most drug stores) and one part water. Leave the branch in the mixture for one week. Have an adult help you with this.

Found Objects

When doing projects with plants or trees, gather leaves, branches, fruits and seeds from nature to add to your project.

Visual Aid Tip

Use pictures from magazines, take your own photos or draw a picture for visual aids.

Display Tip

Use frames, angles and other devices to add interest to your diorama, display or project.

Mask Mold

Be sure to cover the object with a plastic bag to keep it clean while using Plaster Cloth.

Special Touches

Add your own special touches, like yarn, sequins, feathers, beads and glitter to make your mask stand out.

Easy Balloon Mask

Cut strips of Plaster Cloth. Dip them in water and apply over the balloon. Watch the following Scene-A-Rama video for more information.

Snowflakes

Finish your snowman by covering the wet, white paint with Snow Flakes, included in Winter Effects.

Jack-O' Lantern

Cut the top section off with a hobby knife and pull out the newspaper wads, like pumpkin seeds and pulp.

Wild Grass

Use the Wild Grass, included in Foliage & Grasses, as the hay in the manger and Foliage Fiber for the roofing material.

Rainbow

Use the Project Paints, included in the Horizon & Detail Kit to paint your rainbow background and other details. Use the acronym, ROY G BIV, to put your rainbow colors in order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet!

The Ark

Build the hull of Noah’s Ark with the Project Board from the Building & Structure Kit.

Saving Materials

Use the scraps from the cut Backdrop to make pedastals, frames and other decorative items for your display.

Make An Easel

Make an easel to prop up your Shadowbox using the Project Base & Backdrop.