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Post by Neyjour on Feb 24, 2017 21:25:51 GMT
* Post photos (or just tell us) of any organic/nature materials you've found for your crafting projects. * Show us any projects you've made using these types of materials. * Ask for suggestions/ideas on how to use the things you've found (and the best way to cure and prepare them). * Tell us what types of things you'd like to go hunting for, to use for future projects. Note: This thread is just for raw found materials, not something you've purchased in a store as a ready-to-use material (packaged moss, bark, stones, etc.). I'm really looking forward to seeing what others have found! ------------------------------ Here's a few things I've found and plan to use: The tip of an Angora buck horn, broken off this year, during rut. An Angora doe horn that fell off a couple years ago. I'm glad I saved it! A tortoise skeleton. Found it earlier this winter when we were taking the dogs for a walk. Only found this inner carapace piece (none of the other bones). Some polypores I pulled off of a fallen log this winter. Some paper wasp nests I collected last year. They love to make these on/under our house, and inside the compartment where our water heater is. They're very prolific, but thankfully we haven't been stung yet... Turtle eggs, courtesy of one of my Red-Eared Sliders. She had a lot of eggs this year, and I managed to save these (along with a few broken pieces) before she (and her mate) smashed them all into useless little bits. More eggs, courtesy of one of my Cockatiels. She laid these about a week ago, and today she's nesting again, so I may get a few more soon. Not sure yet what exactly I'm going to use all of this stuff for, though I do have a few vague ideas running through my head. Obviously, the eggs and wasp nests are a bit delicate and probably not a good idea for gaming terrain, but perhaps for some gaming-inspired display pieces that won't be handled too much.
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Post by margaret on Feb 25, 2017 5:39:50 GMT
I collect the tiny bracts from birch tree "cones" to use as leaves. The inflorescences [sorry, I'm a biologist] just come apart if you rub them a little once they dry and fall off the tree. They can be painted any color you like. I wouldn't do a whole tree with them - much too fiddly. But they are good for ivy leaves and can be glued here and there onto a mass of tree foliage to give a leafier effect.
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sotf
Advice Guru
Posts: 1,084
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Post by sotf on Feb 25, 2017 5:57:48 GMT
For the bird eggs, don't use them. The inside tends to go bad and the shell starts weakening...and when that happens, you really do not want to be near them when it happens.
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Post by tauster on Feb 25, 2017 8:15:41 GMT
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Post by Neyjour on Feb 25, 2017 19:51:02 GMT
margaret - I had no idea what "bracts" were (had to Google them). What a terrific idea to use them as ivy/tree leaves! I especially like the ivy leaf idea... I can just imagine how great they'd look on some "hot glue" vines, climbing up a tree or the side of some ruins. sotf - The eggs have been blown out, so there's no chance of rot. They seem to be much stronger than chicken eggs, but I still decided to strengthen them up a bit more by letting them soak in a layer of watered-down PVA glue, and then gave them a coat of varnish. tauster - I'm really enjoying the "Flotsam and Jetsam" thread! Since I found the forums, I've been slowly working my way though it (bookmarking as I go). I was considering just posting there, but eventually decided that I really wanted a thread that was organic/nature specific. A couple other things I'd like to start collecting are acorn caps and tree roots. I've seen the acorn caps used as mushrooms, and I had no idea how terrific roots would look for fallen/dead trees until I saw this awesome tutorial by Lukes Aps: Cheap and Easy Obstacles Terrain using tree roots (Dead Trees)
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Post by margaret on Feb 25, 2017 20:19:27 GMT
Should have said that the birch tree bracts for ivy leaves idea was not mine. Usually I flag everything I really like so that I can acknowledge the original if I pass the idea on. In this case, when I found the idea on someone's terrain website, I closed out my browser - which erases everything and clears the cache - as I rushed outside to see if I could salvage any "cones" from our birch trees.
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Post by margaret on Feb 25, 2017 20:21:27 GMT
Oh one other thing - acorn caps are great. Acorns you should bake a while on a low temperature if you want to use them. That's because live acorns are really, really determined to germinate. Just keeping them dry usually won't stop them.
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Post by tauster on Feb 25, 2017 21:01:23 GMT
acorn cap mushrooms... oh the shame! I'm considered something of a mushroom addict around here (I guess a terrain crafting forum is the only place you can say such things safely *g*), but I never, ever considered that those caps would make cool mushrooms. Guess what I'll try out tomorrow!
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Post by Sam on Feb 26, 2017 0:09:59 GMT
Have to put this in. I know you can buy them almost everywhere, but I found these while beach combing - shells.
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Post by Neyjour on Feb 26, 2017 21:56:34 GMT
margaret - If I find a use for the actual seed, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks! tauster - I love mushrooms too! Hehe. Good luck with your acorn shrooms! Sam - Nice use of those shells! I hadn't even considered using shells for mini terrain until I stumbled onto a YouTube vid by Commissar Gamza (Tyranid terrain tutorial). I don't live by the ocean anymore, so I'd have to buy mine, unfortunately... (store-bought are usually too shiny and perfect, and look a bit artificial to me).
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Post by nervisfr on Mar 9, 2017 12:23:57 GMT
hey guys (and girls) Found in the garden last year, on a dead animal Confused: i know, it's gore but the flies, ants and worms, have all do the job when i found it. Clean and ready to use Wink A real hedgehog jaw. Turn into a Barbarian throne in a few minutes Cheers Eric
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Post by deafnala on Mar 9, 2017 15:47:24 GMT
I use all sorts of natural things I find while strolling around. Pecan & Hazel nuts are plentiful around here. Branches & bark are main stays: ...I have a similar branch/tree in St. Lascivious' Graveyard. Reaper just came out with packs of vultures; SO these trees may soon have some tenants.: ...The Witches Isles sport quite a few repurposed branches, twigs, & bark: ...this is Live Oak with the bark on the left & sans bark on the right: ...another look a sans bark: ...then there are the skeletal remains of a Field Mouse from Long Island. I haven't found a spot for these or the heart to use them...yet: ...there are lots more photos that I'll retrain myself from inflicting on you...for now at least.
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Post by nervisfr on Mar 10, 2017 8:08:10 GMT
Perfect skeleton deafnala !
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Post by deafnala on Mar 10, 2017 13:12:02 GMT
Perfect skeleton deafnala ! ...glad you like it, nervisfr. I am surprised how well it stayed together. The hands a such delicate little things. I would like to use it on a fancy display base in tribute to the Mouse...it seems better than a burial.
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Post by nervisfr on Mar 24, 2017 17:28:45 GMT
Perfect skeleton deafnala ! ...glad you like it, nervisfr. I am surprised how well it stayed together. The hands a such delicate little things. I would like to use it on a fancy display base in tribute to the Mouse...it seems better than a burial. Good idea . here is the final step for my game of Bones : détails on my blog here : chti-reanimator59.blogspot.fr/2017/03/un-peu-de-tout-en-compagnie-du-re.htmlfrench text but google translator is your friend Cheers Eric
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Post by nervisfr on Jun 14, 2017 16:30:40 GMT
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Post by craftychance on Jul 13, 2017 1:05:39 GMT
Pumpkin stocks tend to work well.
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Post by thelibraryghost on Jun 13, 2019 0:15:12 GMT
I'm hoping to use this hacked-up tree root I found while digging a trench (long story):
I brushed most of the dirt off it...
...rinsed it and scrubbed with a toothbrush...
...and heated it in the oven at 250ºF/120ºC to dry it out. That should prevent any mold or mildew from growing on it. I plan to use it as a fallen log, maybe decorate it with some lichen or moss, as part of a forest set piece.
I'll be keeping an eye out for pumpkin stems as the year wears on :3c
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Post by Sam on Jun 16, 2019 16:07:09 GMT
Twig to treant.
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Post by lordkhadow on Jun 18, 2019 5:33:30 GMT
Pray, tell me what you make your grass. It looks verdant and luscious.
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