Let's talk about cardboard Christmas houses and accessories

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PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 1:36 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2013 8:17 pm
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Location: Portland OR
Thanks Paul, no problem!!! :D

Howard, I don't have a formula so much, everything is pretty much right out of the bag or can. After I prime the house, I liberally paint on the Aleene's tacky glue(you can mix it with paint too), then I got one of these big glass bowls from Ikea. I hold my house over the bowl, then sprinkle on the sand. Then once the glue drys, if its a different color than white, I paint it with acrylic paint. I think I like Apple Barrel brand the best. I have a few other types, like Ceramcoat, but it is very runny so I usually only use it for mixing colors.
The sand I use is called Scenic Sand by Activa. It is almost spot on match for the white gravel sand used on the old green spot houses. I forgot, I did mix in a tiny bit of mica powder for a little extra sparkle, when doing an all white house, white goes quicker too, because you don't have to paint over the sand. But normally I just use it right out of the bag. I got the mica powder on ebay years ago, and I got a ziplock bag full...I don't think I'll ever run out. :shock:
I got the Scenic Sand from a pet store several years ago, they sold it with the Hermit Crabs...for the bottom of their tanks. It comes in several colors.
http://www.activaproducts.com/products/sand/scenic-sand
They have changed their packaging since I bought mine, but here is a pic of a new bag I have sitting around. I need to buy some black so I can do some Salt and Pepper houses.
Thanks
-B
P.S. I now use Aleene's for everything I do. I use the "original" for flocking, and I use the "Fast Grab" for assembly and everything else.


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PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 1:59 pm 
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Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:46 pm
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brian...

our techniques are just about identical...product brands may vary...but the look of the end result is similar...

but i'm going to check out the "scenic sand" brand...

it looks like it has a larger variety shapes of grains than the craft sand i have been using...

i need to get some more "bird cage gravel" too...if i can find without the black charcoal flakes and other large particles...

howard...

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PostPosted: Sun Sep 08, 2013 5:17 pm 
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Location: Portland OR
Howard,

I was unfamiliar with the Bird Cage Gravel so I had to look it up. Do you like it because it has a flatter shinner side?
I took a close up pic of the senic sand unpainted on the side of my little bead house...that still has no beads on it :roll: :)
WARNING...before you order senic sand, I just held up my unopened bag compaired it to the open bag, and I think my unopened bag may be a finer grit than what I've been using. I'm going to have to investigate this. I bought it back in 2007 or 08 but I'll dig in my box and see if I can find the label for the opened bag.

I have to tell you, I have been eyeballing your mounting method for applying the sand. I love the way you use the clips to hold the sticks the pieces are mounted on while they dry. I going to adopt that! I always hold mine by the tips of my fingers and almost always end up with some amout of paint/glue or sand stuck to me. I'm definitely getting some of those clips for drying the trees...I never know where to stick them. THANKS for the tips!!
-B


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