The Mossthread Museum: Something From Nothing

In this time of difficulty for some of us who may be struggling with making ends meet, and not really making our paychecks cover it all, I have created this part of my Blog to be a place where folks can see how to make something from nearly nothing. Some of these crafts require a trip to the dollar tree, or some basics like a hot glue gun and acrylic paint. Glue...and for this one toilet paper rolls and clay from the dollar tree.

Today we will be making an ENT. Like the talking trees from Lord of the Rings.

I will add this warning about the clay from the dollar tree, it requires working some water into it and it's a bit crumbly. It does dry to a good color for the Ent and the texture is quite bark like. Set yourself up with some newspaper and a dish of water. You need a toilet paper roll, the clay and some patience. Don't worry. Your Ent will look terrible before it looks great. It will take a day to dry.

Open the package up and work some water into the clay until it feels pasty. Pick a side for your face and place two bumps for your eyes. Do not make them perfect. do not worry about perfection.

You see? It looks kinda awful. This is the beauty about making things...participation in the process...like a gestalt!

cover the whole tube with clay, making a nose and mouth. I added shelf mushrooms on the side of the head.

They look kinda crumbly and terrible but hold on...

they dry, and when they do add a coat of white elmers glue. You can use a paint brush and a bit of water to work this in. I have a picture of this but my computer is not cooperating. Just remember that the glue dries clear and will help give you a decreased crumble factor.

with the glue mostly dry and you dont have to wait paint the area you wish for your face to be ivory. It will be like a map for you.

Looks Great!.

so at this point you begin to fill in the details. Make your eye sockets dark, dry and come in with light green or ivory and then black for the pupil. Dab green thats a bit watered down into the cracks of the clay. Use black here too, sparingly. What you don't like dab off with a paper towel..continue to add brown and green paint with some darker colors for the nose and lips.

you can add a little wash of green paint over the whole face or leave it how you like.

meanwhile as your ENT dries, have a walk in your yard or woods. You need twigs with leaves, moss, acorns, dried pods...viney bits...for the top of the Ent. If you have a wooden round to glue him too that is great, otherwise use cardboard for the base to add stability as we are going to make him top heavy. Glue him to the base. When he is dry...add your twigs to the top. Hot glue them into place. Add your moss or lichen to the bottom around the base to hide the hot glue seam.