Curling paper leaves: Use a big (1/8 - 3/16-inch in diameter) double-ball stylus (DBS). If you can't find a big thing (check w/embossing supplies, sometimes also in clay or ceramic supplies), I've noticed that a bodkin, which is in the sewing section and is used to turn bias tubing, is about the right size too. Put the leaf on a mouse pad or a piece of fun foam, and make circular motions to curl up the leaf.

Trish Billard

Although I know that Paperclay makes excellent trees, here is another way to go. At a landscape nursery, I found a wide paper tape, crinkled sort of like crepe paper which is for wrapping real trees, looks just like bark! It is called "tree wrap".

Alice Zinn

Drying flowers: I found a tiny pansy in my yard last week. I picked it and carefully put salt around, under and over it and left it for a few days. I carefully poured the salt off and the flower, leaves and stem dried beautifully with all the color intact. So much cheaper that silica.

Sandy Heldt

Cryspia, or any other dried plant, can be sprayed with a paint specially made for dried plants. Check at the same craft store that carries the cryspia. (Michael's or another large craft store usually carries the paint, which you can find with the dried plants.)

Which, by the way, are getting harder to come by! It seems that stores are leaning quite heavily toward 'silk' or plastic plants now. In fact, remembering all the dried plants I have made into arrangements over the years, and the way they start to shed after a while, it would seem best to spray them in the first place. Might preserve them better then just leaving them with no protection.

Kaye Meldrum

Spraying Caspia: Florists have cans of spray paint that are so delicate it can be used on flowers- if it won't kill a carnation it shouldn't kill the natural dried plant. I'm sure they'd sell you a can or order it next time they order flower supplies.

Gail Spector

Acorn caps make wonderful bases for knitting and sewing baskets. They would also make good tams (those little hats the Scots wear.)

Billie

Acorn caps: I used acorn caps as dishes for the mice living in my gourd mouse-house, also for the pole lamp inside the gourd house.

Christi Walton

Water: I use "Castin Resin" brand resin for my water gardens, etc....it smells nasty, and is not recommended for those with respiratory difficulties. But, it WORKS. It typically begins to set up in about 5-10 minutes. You can speed the process by adding more catalyst than needed for the amount of resin. It's about $12-13 for a 16-ounce can (the cans look like the metal ones used for charcoal lighter fluid ) and the Catalyst comes in 1-ounce bottles.

Laura in OKC

I've been driving myself crazy making an ivy plant (a Jeanetta Kendall kit.) This is going to look great when/if I get it done...it's the painting of the individual leaves that is going to take forever, because, of course, I don't want just plain ivy! Oh no, I have to have variegated ivy.

One of the things that I did do is take some dark green embroidery floss, divide it into six strands, drag each strand though white tacky glue, and curl up in whorls on a piece of plastic to dry. This way the stems dry kind of curvy and look more realistic.

Kaye in L.A.

Ivy: I have done a lot of ivy plants for friends and my own boxes and I have a couple of easy tips that I will share with you, if you don't mind.

You spoke of making the vines from thread and soaking them in glue etc. An easier way, that is more realistic is this: I take floral tape in dark green or in twig green (whichever color is best for the project) and cut off about five or six inches. Cut down the center of it to within about 1/2-3/4" of the end so that it is split in half but still joined at the end. Cut down the center of the two halves again to within an inch or so of the end of the first cut. Now you have four strips still joined at the end. Cut the center of these four strips down (they will be very very thin now)about an inch, on the first, a little more on the second, a little less on the third and whatever on the fourth. Use your judgment. After you make the first one you will understand. By making the ends different lengths, you will make each vine different from the others.

Now starting at the tip of the first strip, twist the tape till it is very firm and reaches the end of the cut. Leave that one and start twisting the second the same way, then the next------you get the picture. When they are all twisted (always twist the whole vine in the same direction, this is very important) start twisting each one below the "v" formed by the pairs of twists. Twist down to the end of the cut on each one, then twist down to the base from there. Voila!! An ivy vine that can be shaped in any direction. If you want extra branches, all you have to do is twist in more twisted ones wherever you want them. The tape will stick to itself and you can make it as full as you want.

I make the variegated ivy with my punched green paper. I paint the paper first with watered down acrylic in the color I want. Sometimes I sponge-mottle the paper and when I cut them out they are sort of shaded already. To paint the white, I use either off white or white acrylic and paint the edges only. To do it the easy way (and very quickly,) I dip my finger in the paint and sort of run my finger (with paint) around the edges of the leaves.The edges come out sort of unevenly white and look quite natural that way.I have sold several of my ivy plants and people seem to really like them.

Do you have an ivy punch?? Where do you get the leaves from if you don't? I have two sizes of the punches from Ruth Hanks. I used to order the leaves precut from her until I started selling the plants and then invested in the punches. I can give you the link to her web site if you want it.

Norieta in Hawaii

Tubing: You can buy several different tube sizes in a store that sells things for an aquarium. I also buy my tubing for my water fountain there.

Elizabeth

Ivy: The ivy was very easy; I started with a couple greeting card envelopes in different shades of green. I then scribbled both sides of each with broad-tip markers, also different shades of green. I covered most of the paper, with some of the original paper color still showing. I was not picky about the colors, as long as there was some variation. I punched the scribbled paper with a tiny maple leaf punch and creased each one with the back (blunt edge) of an X-acto blade. The stems are fine cloth-covered floral wire painted dark green, cut into various lengths. I glued each leaf in place, let them dry, bent them into approximate shapes and glued them to the gourd. Since then I have made some more ivy in hanging flower pots, and I sponge painted the paper with various shades instead of using the markers. I liked the results better because I had better control over the color combos.

Chris in Minnesota

I stumbled onto a "gold" mine for my 1/4 mini water (ocean) scene. I wanted to make the shore line look real; in 1/4 scale no less. Made my sand dunes and dune grass but something was missing. The shells one usually finds along the shore. I went to the beach here (South Florida) but nothing was small enough. I was looking out the patio doors this AM and, since we are in a new development, I noticed that some of the instant landscaping was not put in as of yet. Now, South Florida is made of sand. This sand was deposited millennia ago. I took my little kiddy pail and went out the patio door. Got down on my hands and knees to examine the small bits of shell, etc., and lo and behold, there were my 1/4 scale shells. The neighbor came to the final conclusion that I was nuts because I was picking things out of the sand with a long tweezers while on my hands and knees, and depositing the things I picked up in this pink kiddy beach pail. The little clam shells and "drills" are now firmly glued to my shore line.. Moral "Seek and ye shall find."

Dr. Bob...Delray Beach, FL.

Ocean waves: I was making an ocean roombox and used GE Silicone Clear Sealant. IT is NOT CLEAR - it is opaque. So if you want to use it for ocean like I did, you can paint the surface it will be on and the color diffuses through the opacity of the "caulking"

What I found so nice is that you can "work" the silicone by dipping your finger in plain, cheap isopropyl rubbing alcohol and smooth or spread or form the silicone as I did to make waves, or ripples. The alcohol also gives you plenty of time before the silicone starts to "cure".

The clean up is simple as the alcohol wipes off any silicone that gets on yourself or tools. I do not know about how it cleans if you get the silicone on fabric. This is not as clear as the DAP Clear Caulking. I think that one can be finger worked with liquid detergent like Wisk or Joy. I have not used the liquid detergent with the DAP Clear Caulking.

Back to the GE Silicone; If this stuff is soluble in alcohol, what are the possibilities of coloring it by mixing some color into the alcohol and then mixing the alcohol with the silicone? Just a thought. I gotta try that and let you people know what happens. Of course, if I blow up he house and me, its been a lot of fun knowing you all. Until next time;- )

Dr Bob...Delray Beach, FL

Old man cactus: Not wishing to waste the green stems from plastic flowers, I made an old man cactus as follows: In a mini clay painted wooden pot, I put a piece of stem and then filled the pot with a mix of white glue and salt, centering the stem which was 1/2 inch above the salt line. After it dried, I pulled apart some cotton ball to make a thready drape, which I glued to the top of the stem, giving it the appearance of the hairy old man cactus.

Jane in Arkansas

Cactus needles: I once made some cacti and used bristles from a child's toothbrush. Worked great. I put them in the clay before I baked it and they didn't melt or turn and off-color.

Marjorie in CA

Cactus needles: That nylon thread which is so annoying in your clothes makes good cactus needles. Just think how it sticks into your neck! It comes in clear, and smoky colors, but can be colored with permanent magic markers.

Alice Zinn

Lilacs: I have seen lovely lilacs created from millet (the stuff you hang in your canary cage) sprayed with light purple Design Master spray. They look very realistic. Just remembered this with all the talk of plants.

Bonnie Gibson

Rocks, landscaping and bases - I was asked about how I construct the bases that my houses sit on. As a sub-base, I use 2" Rigid Foam Insulation Board which comes in 4' x 8' sheets. You can get it at Home Depot, Lowes, Home Base or any of the home improvement places. It costs about $20 a sheet and you'll have enough for a few houses. I generally shape each layer with a sharp knife and glue them down with Liquid Nails Construction Adhesive. I also use bamboo skewers to hold everything together until it dries. This lets me continue working without waiting for the glue to dry. After the basic shapes are glued up, I then make any changes necessary.

Now using Celluclay or ClayMache II, I put on a thin coat covering everything. This stuff dries hard as a rock, making a very stable foundation for the landscaping. Next, using Creative Paper Clay, I do the detailing on the rocks and ground. Landscaping consists of AMSI landscaping materials; ground foam for grass and small bushes. Plant and flower selection is up to you. I personally use various paper punches for vines and flowers along with restructured silk plants.

Celluclay and ClayMache II can be found at Michael's and I imagine other craft stores. AMSI's # is 1-800-227-2760, Creative PaperClay's web site is; http://www.paperclay.com

Gazing Ball: I don't know the origin of gazing balls. What I do know is that they are nice ornaments for the garden, pretty to look at and all of that, but they do have a practical purpose as well. They can be placed strategically in the garden to help reflect sunlight into shady patches. Under trees for example, in order to help the plants grow.

Kellie in Omaha