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Well I was out trimming the yew hedges in my yard when one piece fell off that looked a bit like a miniature tree.  So I thought it might look good on my Tombstone layout.  I'm pretty sure the "tree" would eventually dry up and look something like a piece from Halloween, so I sprayed the heck out of it with a dark green paint (couple of coats) and let it dry.  I knocked it around for a few days to see if the "leaves" would fall off, but they didn't so I "planted" it (drilled a hole and stuck it in) to see how it looked.  Looked pretty good, and it didn't cost anything except a bit of paint.  This inspired me to make a few more which I have since placed about my layout.  It's a bit of an experiment, but it seems like it might work.  I figure the paint will "freeze dry" the branch and maybe the leaves will hold on.  I've had them up a couple of weeks and no problems yet, but I'll let you know if I have any problems.  Thought some of you might like to try this, if it hasn't already been done, so I've included some pictures from my layout to see the results.

AB

Tree1

Tree2

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Images (2)
  • Tree1: Tree in front of the Lucky Cuss Mine
  • Tree2: Tree alongside the Lincoln train barn
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Al

I have used many clippings from my yard mostly Astilbe and Sedum both of which make great trees. One thing to consider is to let the natural material dry out, up to six months. Just keep an eye on that piece for rot as you basically sealed a fresh tree under all the paint. BTW the clipping you showed did have a nice shape to it.

Steve

Hair spray (the cheap stuff) also works. These have been on the layout for years. They were cuttings from when a member's neighbor trimmed a bush next to her house. A little hair spray and a little ground foam and "instant tree". The spray seals them up and they dry in a preserved state. A great project for kids, by the way just don't do it in a confined space because of the fumes..

 

20130130_194127_22163

HPIM0662

2015-06-20 14.32.47

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Images (3)
  • 2015-06-20 14.32.47
  • 20130130_194127_22163
  • HPIM0662
Last edited by AGHRMatt
Ha!  If you wan to add bees to your layout here's a fun way.
Old cell phones and vibrating tooth brushes have tiny motors with an off center fly wheel on the shaft. Experiment putting this on different plastic containers and you'll get a good and painless buzz.
 
Originally Posted by mwb:
Originally Posted by RichO:
 
 
Originally Posted by mwb:

Last I went out and trimmed the hedge I found a yellow-jacket nest the hard way......

 

Last year it was white faced paper hornets.....

 How did  you use those on your layout? Ha

Painfully...........

 

If at first you DO succeed,try hard to hide your astonishment.

 

In my area of expertise, if at first you do succeed, you take all the credit you can get, publish it at least twice, and file a patent or 3, and tell the world you knew it would work from day 1.

 

Another reason to retire...........

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
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