[dnstehly]

I am interested in creating a pond-like habitat and am looking for materials on carving rocks and creating simulated water with polyester casting resin.

[Claude]

Here's a good one:

http://outwestwoodcarving.blogspot.c...ing-canoe.html

Claude

[BobD]

Hi David,
Welcome aboard! It's an honor to have you here!!!

For anyone who may not know, David is a world-class cane carver. We're working on an article with him on carving a snake right now. Visit his website if you don't believe me!

www.artsticks.com

Here's a good link from the archives, David.

recessed base with sand and water

If you do a search, I'm sure you'll find some others!

Again, David...Welcome!!!!

Bob Duncan
Technical Editor

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Look up envirotex.....thats what I used for the water on the base of my great blue heron (a picture in the picturetrail site)

[dnstehly]

Thanks for the helpful suggestions. The canoe project was really quite interesting. Bob, thanks for the nice introduction.

[Donna_T]

Welcome David,
In addition to the other suggestions, one thing I've learned is a good way to make reeds and cattail leaves. Go to a basket weaver's shop and load up on their bits and pieces of leftover reed. I bought a whole grocery bag for $2.00 several years ago. It's flat, can be split to make narrower leaves. IF you have a lighted candle, you can hold the reed over the flame (not too close!!) and it will singe off the little hairs AND if you twist the reed while passing it back and forth over the flame, you can put some movement into it that will stay after it cools. You can taper the end and even bend it over by using the flame method while holding the tip with a pair of pliers.

Because there's little lines in the reed, it makes a very life-like cattail leaf. You can sand it smoother if you like.

When painting, you can edge some of them in deep burgandy, some in very dark green and you can even highlight some with shades of yellow (it looks like they're thin and the sun is shining through.)

The cat tails are fun to make. You can use heavy wire and dowel rods. Or heavy wire and thread wound around and around to make the seed end. If you use little chunks of dowels, be sure to rough it up, One way is to roll the little seed end in super glue then shaking a bit of saw dust onto it.

Anyway, these are just some suggestions that I've tried over the years.

Donna T

[dnstehly]

Thanks Donna, those are some helpful ideas.

David