I am working on mine now and I swear by my the foam cutter tools that make it so much easier to sculpt mountains without the mess and all sorts of village pieces rock walls, walkways, benches and numerous other pieces. Thanks for sharing your process with us.
I am really looking forward to getting the carving tool, as I hope to make cobblestones for walkways and bridges etc. The look is so authentic! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! I’m helping my daughter with a diorama for a 2nd grade school project, I agreed to do the mountains if she put it all together, and this helped tremendously!
@@TheasChristmasVillages My pleasure! I have been trying blue foam as an alternative to using plaster rock castings (on a model railroad) the only problem I am having is the foam seems to absorb the paint differently than plaster so a little hard to match colors of my plaster castings. I thought maybe I should find something to seal the foam and perhaps (hoping) it will be better for painting and matching colors. Any suggestions are welcome.... Philip NYC / Jersey Shore area
@@uptownphotography Hello again Philip: I've found by experience that plain styrofoam or extruded polystyrene is much too porous to paint directly. I have used a polyfilla/spackling layer or even plaster/plaster cloth to apply, dry completely and then painted. Any way that would seal the polystyrene before applying paint will work. Seems like a lot of work, but definitely worth it in the end. Hope that helps!
Hello Thea, these mountains are beautiful, just gorgeous. 'Do you take custom orders for making the backdrop mountains? I have been looking for some but they are too thick and I'm not able to make anything anymore with my arthritis. Your videos are an inspiration wish I had seen these years ago. please let me know if you can make some of those mountains for me. thank you
Hello V! I guess that would depend on a number of things, such as where you are located and how many you need. Please private message me at theaschristmasvillages@gmail.com. We can discuss it there.
Hi Thea! I’m a new subscriber, thoroughly enjoying your channel. Thanks for generously sharing your techniques. Would you mind doing a segment specifically on the bas-relief carving of your mountains? I’ve done a small “practice range” on scrap styrofoam, but I have performance anxiety about attacking the big board 😂 Would love to hear your stream of consciousness as you translate the sketch into bad-relief. Have your tools arrived yet? Do you prefer them to your handy box cutter? Pros and cons of each? If there is already a video addressing my question, can you let me know which one? Thanks from North Carolina
Hello Ring! Welcome to my channel! I would love to do a video exclusively on the bas relief carving. I've had a few requests so it's probably a process I should explain. Don't have anxiety, you can' really make mistakes. A key step is the spackling as it adds greatly to the texture. I can't do the video right away, I'm involved in a community project as a consultant at the moment and that will be for several more days. For the bas relief I prefer the box cutter, it does a better job at making the styrofoam look like rock, but does make an awful mess. It's probably because I haven't had enough practice with the carving tools from Hot Foam Factory. The pro of the carving tools is the lack of mess, but the con is you really need to wear a mask because they do emit some vapours. Check out th-cam.com/video/OHvlpZ3BgGQ/w-d-xo.html. Thanks for your interest!
@@TheasChristmasVillages I completely understand the time crunch … Thanksgiving and Christmas are just too close together, lol. Could you send me a still photo of the mountain range post carving but before spackle? I need to look at it close up to determine where to take it back or bring it forward, and I’m not quick enough to snag a still from the video. For example, which areas do you recess? The shaded areas? I would think the back range is recessed while leaving the front range prominent? Just trying to get an understanding of the general principals 😁 I’m carving in my garage, so mess is not a problem, and I bought respirator mask today for using the hot wire which DOES produce some noxious fumes 😖
@@ringnc email me at theaschristmasvillages@gmail.com and I will try send a closeup of the first mountain I carved. I dig out fissures and generally follow the contours that show on the drawing. Did you print off a drawing from the mountain illustration website I used? yandex.ru/images/search?text=горы%20графика%20рисунок&stype=image&lr=35&source=wiz&p=1&pos=39&rpt=simage&img_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpaintingvalley.com%2Fdrawings%2Fblack-and-white-mountain-drawing-6.jpg
Welcome to my channel, Des! Yes, I watered the burnt lumber down as well, otherwise the paint becomes very heavy and opaque and covers the styrofoam much too well. I used to paint with full paint but have really re-thought that strategy. Hope that helps!
It was a regular polyfilla by LePage, can buy it in any hardware store or Home Depot. Here is a link if you happen to be in Canada: www.amazon.ca/LePage-Filla-Spackling-Repair-1256103/dp/B00Q75KB5Q/ref=asc_df_B00Q75KB5Q/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341612481966&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5112723664289561988&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061009&hvtargid=pla-839721335401&psc=1 Hope that helps!
This is lovely
Thank you!! 👍🏻
Thank you so much for taking the time to show us how to make these crafts. You're so talented. God bless you!
Thank you back! God bless you too !
This is exactly what I was looking for. Simple to follow instructions!
hello Thea ,you are so good , and you are very smart lady . 10/10 FROM BELGIUM. this is great !
Thank you Franky, you are my cheering section!!
I am working on mine now and I swear by my the foam cutter tools that make it so much easier to sculpt mountains without the mess and all sorts of village pieces rock walls, walkways, benches and numerous other pieces. Thanks for sharing your process with us.
I am really looking forward to getting the carving tool, as I hope to make cobblestones for walkways and bridges etc. The look is so authentic! Thanks for sharing!
You are so sweet. Bless you. Sending you so much love...
@@tamaratrotman9766 Thank you, Tamara!! Love accepted with much gratitude! ❤️
Thank you! I’m helping my daughter with a diorama for a 2nd grade school project, I agreed to do the mountains if she put it all together, and this helped tremendously!
You are welcome!! Hope it all comes together amazingly.
I have a project and this came in handy, thank you! 💐
You are more than welcome! 👍
This is SO helpful, thank you! God bless!
Hi from the UK, looking forward to part 2
Coming soon!
Outstanding...
Thank you!
[thank, you for you're great video]👍
[you are welcome!!]
Well done. Nice detailed video...
Philip
Thank you Philip!!
@@TheasChristmasVillages My pleasure!
I have been trying blue foam as an alternative to using plaster rock castings (on a model railroad) the only problem I am having is the foam seems to absorb the paint differently than plaster so a little hard to match colors of my plaster castings.
I thought maybe I should find something to seal the foam and perhaps (hoping) it will be better for painting and matching colors. Any suggestions are welcome....
Philip
NYC / Jersey Shore area
@@uptownphotography Hello again Philip: I've found by experience that plain styrofoam or extruded polystyrene is much too porous to paint directly. I have used a polyfilla/spackling layer or even plaster/plaster cloth to apply, dry completely and then painted. Any way that would seal the polystyrene before applying paint will work. Seems like a lot of work, but definitely worth it in the end. Hope that helps!
Love it
Thank you! A whole new series coming this fall and winter,
Hello Thea, these mountains are beautiful, just gorgeous. 'Do you take custom orders for making the backdrop mountains? I have been looking for some but they are too thick and I'm not able to make anything anymore with my arthritis. Your videos are an inspiration wish I had seen these years ago. please let me know if you can make some of those mountains for me. thank you
Hello V! I guess that would depend on a number of things, such as where you are located and how many you need. Please private message me at theaschristmasvillages@gmail.com. We can discuss it there.
Hi Thea! I’m a new subscriber, thoroughly enjoying your channel. Thanks for generously sharing your techniques.
Would you mind doing a segment specifically on the bas-relief carving of your mountains? I’ve done a small “practice range” on scrap styrofoam, but I have performance anxiety about attacking the big board 😂
Would love to hear your stream of consciousness as you translate the sketch into bad-relief. Have your tools arrived yet? Do you prefer them to your handy box cutter? Pros and cons of each?
If there is already a video addressing my question, can you let me know which one? Thanks from North Carolina
Hello Ring! Welcome to my channel! I would love to do a video exclusively on the bas relief carving. I've had a few requests so it's probably a process I should explain. Don't have anxiety, you can' really make mistakes. A key step is the spackling as it adds greatly to the texture.
I can't do the video right away, I'm involved in a community project as a consultant at the moment and that will be for several more days.
For the bas relief I prefer the box cutter, it does a better job at making the styrofoam look like rock, but does make an awful mess. It's probably because I haven't had enough practice with the carving tools from Hot Foam Factory. The pro of the carving tools is the lack of mess, but the con is you really need to wear a mask because they do emit some vapours.
Check out th-cam.com/video/OHvlpZ3BgGQ/w-d-xo.html. Thanks for your interest!
@@TheasChristmasVillages
I completely understand the time crunch … Thanksgiving and Christmas are just too close together, lol.
Could you send me a still photo of the mountain range post carving but before spackle? I need to look at it close up to determine where to take it back or bring it forward, and I’m not quick enough to snag a still from the video. For example, which areas do you recess? The shaded areas? I would think the back range is recessed while leaving the front range prominent? Just trying to get an understanding of the general principals 😁
I’m carving in my garage, so mess is not a problem, and I bought respirator mask today for using the hot wire which DOES produce some noxious fumes 😖
@@ringnc email me at theaschristmasvillages@gmail.com and I will try send a closeup of the first mountain I carved. I dig out fissures and generally follow the contours that show on the drawing. Did you print off a drawing from the mountain illustration website I used? yandex.ru/images/search?text=горы%20графика%20рисунок&stype=image&lr=35&source=wiz&p=1&pos=39&rpt=simage&img_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpaintingvalley.com%2Fdrawings%2Fblack-and-white-mountain-drawing-6.jpg
Hello from Ireland,Blessings to you, can i just ask about the burnt umber? Did you apply it as a wash as well?
Welcome to my channel, Des! Yes, I watered the burnt lumber down as well, otherwise the paint becomes very heavy and opaque and covers the styrofoam much too well. I used to paint with full paint but have really re-thought that strategy. Hope that helps!
Indeed very helpful,many thanks☘👍
Hello i was wondering what’s the name of the poly filler you used. it was not included in the link
It was a regular polyfilla by LePage, can buy it in any hardware store or Home Depot. Here is a link if you happen to be in Canada: www.amazon.ca/LePage-Filla-Spackling-Repair-1256103/dp/B00Q75KB5Q/ref=asc_df_B00Q75KB5Q/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=341612481966&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5112723664289561988&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061009&hvtargid=pla-839721335401&psc=1
Hope that helps!