Amoré's Foam and Grout Insert

[indyana]

Just wanted to post process pictures for the climbing rock insert I created for my leopard gecko, Amoré. Most of the credit for these techniques goes to Lizard-Landscapes.com.

1. Because I was building around existing cage furniture, I started out by tracing around the cage elements on a paper cage liner to get the floor plan. I then blocked in the shapes I wanted with both styrofoam and floral foam. At one point, I brought out one of the hides I wanted to build around to be certain I had the cuts right. I used toothpicks and glue to hold everything together.
   
   
2. Next step was carving and detailing the structure. I used sculpting tools and my hands to create rock shapes. I also added some small accent pieces.
   
   
3. Next step was grouting. First coat thin, next coat a little thicker, third coat thinner again, then I added texture and filling in gaps using a paste consistency. When it was all dried, I smoothed some areas with sandpaper to give it a wind-weathered look.
   Note: I'd just started painting here when I remembered to photograph the grout stage. ^_^;
   
4. And now, the painting! Using acrylic paints, I gave it a sand-colored base coat and then incrementally added shading and color variation until I was happy with the look.
   
   
   
5. I added two coats of sealant. If this were for a humid enclosure, I would have done more coats, but this won't be exposed to much moisture in my leopard gecko cage.
   
   
6. For texture, I added a final coat of sealant. While wet, I sprinkled sand on the areas that would need traction for a climbing gecko. I then used a pest pistol to dust cosmetic clay over the entire structure. This served to cut down the shine and give the structure a dusty appearance.
   
   

And there we have it! I'm going to let this cure for at least a week. I'll then brush/rub it off very well to remove any loose clay and sand before adding it to Amoré's cage.

List of Materials:

• Foam insulation board
• Floral foam
• Exacto knife
• Carving tools
• Toothpicks
• Loctite Power Grab all-purpose clear construction adhesive
• MAPEI Keracolor unsanded powder grout
• Water
• Paint brushes
• Knife (for applying/texturing grout paste)
• Craft Smart non-toxic acrylic paint
• Shields All #50 sealant
• Craft sand
• Cosmetic clay (kaolin clay)
• Pest pistol