[singfrograin]

I'm working on a GS background for my first build and I'm looking for some ideas. If anyone has bookmarked threads with GS backgrounds that looked awesome, I would love to see them for some reference. I've searched the forums and found some great ones already but just trying to see what others think.

Also, my exposure working GS has been quite limited (read: none at all) prior to this, so any pointers on how to manipulate it for BG purposes would be helpful too. I've already did one layer of GS last night and I'm not as happy as i want to be with it since i want it a bit thicker. Is it alright to layer on more if it's hardened already and then cut away as needed?

i'm also trying to figure out a good way to make the GS mimic a natural background, ie tree bark or stone. I'm assuming i'll have to do some cutting/sanding down vs molding it while its wet/tacky, or maybe building up layers? I've incorporated a really nice wood piece into the bg already and i want to add another, but i'm concerned cutting/sanding the GS around the wood will affect the integrity of how it holds. So far it seems pretty stable though even though i've already done some trimming around the base.

Any thoughts/links would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Shinosuke]

If you have major carving and artistic skills you can go for something like this, which is carved GS covered in coco fiber:
http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/members-frogs-vivariums/66904-benadicta-viv-build-journal.html
I did something more like these, a "cork mosaic":
http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/pa...-mosaic-living-drip-wall-pond-method-how.html
http://www.dendroboard.com/forum/members-frogs-vivariums/76581-pumilos-75-corner-viv.html

The cork mosaic worked well for me. I took some egg crate, covered it in a thin layer of GS, then mostly covered that with chunks of cork bark. After it dried I cut down the GS and stuffed sphagnum all around the cork bark. Pretty easy to do and looks really natural imho.

 

[B-NICE]

you can check out most of my threads.