| Chris Palmer | 10 Feb 2016 4:12 p.m. PST |
I had this old shrubbery root sitting around the workshop for a long time. And while I always knew I wanted to make some sort of tree out of it, I was never sure exactly how I wanted to put it to use. Then I recently had the idea to use it a a piece of Frostgrave terrain, inspired by the Tree of the King that grew in Minas Tirith from the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
It didn't take long to glue it to a base, build up a little mound around it, and add some gravel, to complete the project.
I can see running a scenario where the tree is the Frostgrave Tree of Magical Wisdom, with a single bloom growing at the very top (sprouted now that the city has started to thaw); and which ever wizard can get the flower gets an extra roll on the treasure tables.
I finished up another quick and easy terrain piece today. I was in the local A.C. Moore craft store this past weekend, and noticed bags of "Beach Glass" on a clearance rack for $1.00 USD. I was immediately taken by how they looked like ice. So I bought a bag. I cut an old CD into an irregular shape and then sprayed the CD with some flat white spray paint, and when it was dry, I glued an arrangement of the beach glass on to the CD using Tacky glue. I then drybrushed the glass lightly with a little white paint. Next, I painted the CD with white glue, and then sprinkled it with flocking.
For a dollar investment and less than an hour's work I'm pleased with how it turned out. I think it will make a good addition to my Frostgrave Harbor.
More at: link |
| Choctaw | 10 Feb 2016 4:13 p.m. PST |
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 Editor in Chief Bill   | 10 Feb 2016 4:17 p.m. PST |
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| dBerczerk | 10 Feb 2016 4:23 p.m. PST |
What did you use to cut the old CD into the irregular shape for your ice mound? Usually they fracture on me rather than submit to smooth cuts. |
| 53Punisher | 10 Feb 2016 5:06 p.m. PST |
Great work there! Good ideas that turned out really well. 👍🏼 |
79thPA  | 10 Feb 2016 6:47 p.m. PST |
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| Winston Smith | 10 Feb 2016 6:52 p.m. PST |
Chris, you are a master alchemist.
I have never met anyone more adept at spinning gold from dross. 
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| kallman | 10 Feb 2016 8:26 p.m. PST |
Nice stuff and great find with the root/branch for a wind blasted old tree. |
| John Treadaway | 11 Feb 2016 2:45 a.m. PST |
All good and very inspiring. I've used natural tree stuff myself in the past but the beach glass is a real find. Well done! John T |
| Chris Palmer | 11 Feb 2016 3:15 a.m. PST |
Thank you all for the kind remarks! dBerczerk- I used a pair of heavy duty sissors I have. I cut very slowly and in thin strips around the edge. I do get some slight shattering along the edges, but not so bad that a little filing, and some paint can't hide it. And I find some CDs worse than others. Winston- Thank you for the glowing appraisal of my skills! :) |
 Doms Decals  | 11 Feb 2016 5:58 a.m. PST |
+1 to the praise there – the beach glass in particular works brilliantly. |
| Coyotepunc and Hatshepsuut | 11 Feb 2016 7:19 a.m. PST |
A fabulous job… I am totally stealing your ideas. |
| Rogues1 | 11 Feb 2016 8:31 a.m. PST |
Chris, I can see somebody using that for a Game of Thrones scenario as well. Great Stuff |
| Ivan DBA | 12 Feb 2016 4:38 p.m. PST |
The beach glass terrain is great! And the tree is very evocative too. |
| Chris Palmer | 13 Feb 2016 4:10 a.m. PST |
Thanks for the continued comments! I'm glad you all enjoyed these pieces. Feel free to steal the ideas! :) |
| Marshal Mark | 13 Feb 2016 5:35 a.m. PST |
Both very nice ideas. I've made trees from real branches before but the root works really well. I'm going to have a look in the garden this week to see if there any suitable roots I can use. I would copy the ice idea as well if I could find some similar glass. |
