❄️Easy Modular Snow Hills for D&D and Tabletop Games

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

What is your preferred method for this build? So many different ways to go! PICK UP THE TOOLS & MATERIALS USED IN THE BUILD (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases) PROXXON HOTWIRE CUTTER (USA) amzn.to/2lVNvEM (Canada) amzn.to/2pWazXF HOTWIRE FOAM FACTORY SCULPTING TOOL (USA) amzn.to/2S6MLx4 (Canada) amzn.to/2PHCuKR CHIPBOARD (USA) amzn.to/2kQU3X9 (Canada) amzn.to/2LoIz8h HOT GLUE GUN (USA) amzn.to/2ncBHPy (Canada) amzn.to/2xNnD9c OLFA KNIFE (USA) amzn.to/2mk6igp (Canada) amzn.to/2pUGOsf HEAT GUN (USA) amzn.to/2AaiJo6 (Canada) amzn.to/2JT9gBa SELF HEALING CUTTING MAT (USA) amzn.to/2mDyYC4 (Canada) amzn.to/2JvjzyT ALEX PLUS ACRYLIC LATEX CAULKING (USA) amzn.to/2KoGwSr

[@Znobishtucon]

Mental note friends: *flat exterior* white paint from major hardware stores can be your new best tool. It's consistent across brands, sands great, and you can buy sample halfpints at major hardware stores (which can then be any color or black). From milliondollar museum walls, to outdoor murals, to priming canvas, to priming the bathroom, to your awesome build. Flat+exterior are the key, anything else does not behave the same such as outgassing, cracking, and adhesion problems. It does *not* need to claim to be a primer, just exterior grade flat (and it smells/outgasses a little stronger than interior grade so use some ventilation). I've been a museum/art gallery tech and artist for nearly 30 years, when I learned this it was a revelation. A Trade Secret.

[@Natefish_Minis]

I do some snow/ice dioramas for Christmas village pieces (Dept. 56, Lemax, etc.). The technique I use is the same for the base coat (white acrylic house paint primer), but then I airbrush some light to medium blue in the deep crevices and then do a light top coat of white (very light, transparent). This give the illusion of it being translucent ice/snow.

[@WilSisney]

Seeing you engineer solutions like these snow hills is the most valuable thing I think I can learn as a crafting DM. And I really appreciate that you left in the bit about the pearlizing medium! I bought a bottle of this stuff last time I was at Michaels and my first thought on seeing your video is that I would do exactly the same thing. So seeing you shift gears when it didn't work not only saves me from making the same mistake, but it is also really valuable seeing you save a project that startd to turn sour. Really great work, man!

[@matthewhall1074]

I think it is great that you show and talk about things that did not turn out as planned. I think its great to see how you deal with the occasional crafting challenge/mistake.

[@bassett_green]

“Don’t keep a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it”. What a coincidence, that’s what my father says about me!

[@42billybob]

I recommend white glitter glue. Snow is a whole lot of little ice crystals. So it tends to be reflective in little specks as opposed to a surface sheen. White glitter give you these little flashes of cyan & pink that sparkle over the surface.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

The glitter pieces are always way too huge to look right.

[@metajock]

Leaving them blue with a top-only white dry brush might make some seriously cool ice flows!!!

[@therealDonMac]

You are my hero (at least for the foreseeable future). You just saved me so much work and effort. I was just agonizing over whether or not to put vines and other vegetation around my ruins. Thank you for the "universal" comment. I was about to go forward with it.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

DON'T DO IT!....honestly if you can resist the urge of adding those embellishments you will be thankful for it later at some point.

[@bphan08]

I don't even craft anything for my DnD sessions. I'm just here because his videos are entertaining to watch.

[@RagingOwlbear]

Perfect! Simple. Useful. That’s what we need. Thanks!

[@scimerio1117]

I love adventures based on frozen enviroments. Huge thanks for the ideas in this video!

[@seanmower9608]

Could have dry brushed white over the pearl and it would have allowed some glisten but still be white

[@xxhellspawnedxx]

I've actually tried that, but it doesn't look right. It looks like you have a bit of snow on top of pure ice (or matted silver rock), rather than deep snow. Snow is one of those effects that are really hard to replicate, due to it not being 100% opaque, and thereby being subject to sub-surface scattering. In short, it can't be done fully with just normal paint. You'd need a volumetric paint, something that you slather on rather than paint in a fine layer, that dries somewhat translucent. There are really good snow effects for this, from AK Interactive and Vallejo, but that's a whole other kettle of fish. For the best snow effect you can get with normal paints, you're best off just going for a stark white base coat, with a pretty heavy wash of pale sky blue, to simulate the snow reflecting the sky, especially in the shadow, and then a light pass of white drybrushed on top, to make sure that the "shadows" are visible only in recesses.

[@Corvus-fw2hr]

"Don't keep a mistake just because you spent a lot of time on it." is sage advice, and something I've done too often. Great video.

[@backcountryme]

I was just in your city today. Passed through on my way to Toronto. Will be passing through again in a few weeks.

[@TheDMGinfo]

You could experiment with mixing white paint in with the pearlescent and then watering it down. An extremely light dusting of white/silver glitter over the base coat may give you some good results.

[@beeezlebub]

Oh it looks great!!! Righteous work! Those trees look fit with it!

[@timstinyterrain2531]

I haven't made full on hills just some drifts to drop in as scatter but I had good results with a coating of glue and white sand and then sealing it with flat finish Mod Podge...just make sure to undercoat in white first. The results are fairly good a bit of shine but not too much. As to your battle map I honestly just use blue grid lined white paper...it provides a bit of grid which I like but I can draw on it if I want and no big deal since I bought a pad of it. Oh, a suggestion if you go with making an ice pond by dropping resin on a plastic wrap I highly suggest not using your usual dollar store stuff...it has a slight yellow tint that is a problem when making ice. I had to add a faint purple wash to make it look okay for a ice pond I made.

[@tylerderrick6893]

This looks great!

[@fuegomylego6279]

This is one I might actually replicate! I love it bro.

[@dkbibi]

Instead of the pearlescent paint, you could try light dry brush with silver paint. It leaves some shiny micro pigments they really look like how snowflakes reflects sunlight.

[@dwightgrosso5481]

Nice basic snowdrifts! Useful for any game genre. I see myself making some of these for WW2 games in Russia or Finland, or arctic pulp games!

[@jezeski2011]

For those that can't / won't get a Proxxon or Foam Factory tool, search King of Random Hot Wire Cutter. He shows you how to make one for not alot of money, if you want to go that route. I just thought I would put that out there.

[@matteocristiani3922]

when you apply the white color you can sprinkle over some sodium bicarbonate and it really will look cool and snowy!! as always nice video good luck on the next one!

[@anthonyhargis6855]

I tell ya, that blue color -- after the blow drying -- had me reaching for a jacket. Those hills looked COLD, my friend. Now, the "grey and dirty" look would work great in a city setting. LOL Another excellent episode, Jeremy.

[@WarhammerGeek]

I play Warhammer 40k and have my army based with a snow theme. These hills are simple, cheap, and combined with some 40k scatter and a game mat. Should look perfect.

[@chrisacker499]

I liked the pre-primered look with the blue foam and caulking. Probably looks a bit rougher in person, but I liked it. Made it look pure, like the insides of the icebergs. :)

[@DeathByFrenchFry]

Should have dry brushed the pearlescent paint on, might be a better effect

[@PaladinMthe13th]

Another wonderful video!

[@emojisquad420]

I’m always excited to see these notifications

[@ignaciogallarati7287]

Great advise! I dont love the bases, but the texture is just perfect. Keep the great vids!

[@WilliamKuby]

well looks good to me and the trees match the hills to and will see as post

[@LawofOne222]

incredible

[@volthunter3]

You should put some vines on it🤣

[@nikos52]

The foam looked like glacier plates before brushing all the whites. Try making a test piece with blue xps foam cutted, hot aired and washed partially with white.

[@ShinobiAlphaOG]

Make a floating snow spire. Think it will look pretty badass if done right

[@juliehamel8330]

From one Canadian to an other: Literally just came in from shoveling my driveway... I still can't totally feel toes... Why snow?? Why not palm trees and volcanos? *Goes to cry in her room under a pile of blankets*

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

If you don't find joy in the snow you will have less joy in your life but the same amount of snow.

[@AdamBragg]

That looks really good. I like that it isn't all dressed up with sections of rock, etc. These are more versatile. As for a base for everything, how about a simple sheet of white felt?

[@sharaleeinsley7289]

Very cool!

[@travisbird7589]

This could also make a great desert :O

[@MaxDMCrafting]

Great tutorial! I also noticed a greater dynamism in video editing ... you're very good at keeping the bar high! good job!

[@StormSage13]

I love these! They're simple and easy to make. I'm gonna try and make some of these hills for my home game, but for a more swampy terrain. Probably prime them black then add some green. Would anyone here have any additional tips for someone who's new to crafting and building to get this done quickly and on the cheap?

[@DanielMt.]

Some glitter glue from wal-mart with some soft strokes around hills and on top would have given you the crystalline ice/snow you were looking for.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Glitter glue has glitter particles in it that are WAY too big to not look silly.

[@lewisharris3400]

Another great video, I think I would feel similar to you if I ever decided to make snow hills; flocking would look awesome but I wouldn't like the mess that would inevitably come from that amount of flock and I would be completely put off from letting PCs actually go up onto the hills for fear of them knocking off all the carefully applied flock. Your system is definitely a lot quicker and more user friendly. Curious, but did you consider leaving the foam in its raw natural state and applying a heavy drybrushing of white for the paint job? I have only just begun crafting, but from my very limited experience with my first piece I found that if I miss any areas of foam with paint, the small areas of foam showing through seem to have a sparkly and translucent appearance which is annoying for things like stonework but might lend itself very well to mounds of snow.

[@phillipwyman8963]

Yo Jeremy, I like a couple things in this video. 1. that you told use you were not happy with the way they looked. 2. that you re worked the pieces rather than throwing them away. This is what I think I would have done. After the pearl paint was done and you didn't like the look. I think you should have dry brushed the flat whit on the high spots and left the pearl in the deep parts. this may have looked OK. I like the idea of the pearl look for snow, and hey if that didn't work you could then paint it in all flat white. Just a thought. love your videos and keep up the awesome work brother of the Great White North.

[@GJLentz]

using some pieces w/out the primer for thar white n blue look, maybe some clear silicone too for more icey look, can use for icebergs in an arctic water scene, or as parts of a glacier area with your snow theme board...?

[@mrlynx_minis]

i was liking the blue-ish look vefore the priming with white

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Yea, but snow doesn’t look anything like that.

[@kaitlynoffutt2342]

SUGGESTION FOR CRAFTING. a spit roast fire pit with a skeleton or something

[@lutobor13]

You can add marble dust into your mod podge primer for better texture

[@kpny8484]

Cool video.

[@quassisbelltower9408]

I hate making snow terrain myself. It just doesn’t look right. I was think maybe a light dry brushing on the edges with that transparent stuff on the edges may have worked but I don’t know. I love you showed that you try things that don’t work but you just repainted to the original color. We live in the north with the snow and we still can’t get it to look right lol Great video btw.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

I think a lot of the snow effects people do look cool but not right. All the glitter effects really look a bit silly and the flocking and baking soda methods look nice but the scale is way off. From a distance you can’t see individual snow flakes. Snow just looks like a sheet of white. Also many people make snow terrain that looks like glaciers which isn’t right either. These smooth white hills are a bit boring but I think are more accurate than cooler looking methods.

[@travisshallenberger9486]

The hills have ice. Sorry.

[@FelixTheSpaceBear]

not sorry

[@stuartfarrell6729]

lol

[@rebelwarlock]

Honestly, those were pretty solid glaciers before you put the base coat on. I might have stopped there and put a clear coat on.

[@markh6428]

I also liked the blue'ish icy look even more. Maybe just a drybrush with the white primer at this stage? Or a white wash, to keep the blue shining through

[@namenddr4172]

I also liked the glacial look before applying the white primer.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Sure. If I was making glaciers.....but I wasn’t 🙃

[@rebelwarlock]

Fair!

[@namenddr4172]

Both look great. Kind of a 2 for 1 video for us. The method works great for snow and ice =)

[@Starolfr]

Hmmm... After the pearlescent coat (which I agree wasn't a great final look; not terrible at all - but not the best for this application) I wonder if one could do some layered dry-brush coats of flat/matte whites to see if that would create a more suitable snow look. Something with a shiny undertone but with a more realistic outer layer. Of course, seeing the pearlescent made me wonder what you would do with a set that was *intended* to be a magical/fae realm... >; )

[@rc4688]

I made some with real snow. Had a little trouble gluing it to the chip board.

[@Peydrous]

Have you thought of using a VERY light sprinkle of fine silver glitter. VERY VERY light to get the sparkles in the snow.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Glitter is evil and not allowed to enter my home.

[@d1rtyw0rk65]

White craft sand has clear silicone bits in it that give a very subtle sparkle I cover the most of the sand with white glue, matte mod podge, and white paint Next step on my snow making journey is a kit from the dollar tree called "growing snow" and i want to try growing crystals with epsom salt Thanks BMC for getting into snow. I'm here primarily to build frostgrave terrain and here you are delivering snow golems and hills!

[@Peydrous]

@@BlackMagicCraftOfficial Yes, yes. I fully understand, glitter is the herpes of the crafting world.

[@gondogeek]

Concerning you pearl fiasco. Actually as a fellow cannuck you must be aware that a mix of sun and wind will often polish flat surfaces of snow to mirror brightness and sheen. So, in this case you could have left some of it on the top. In game terms this makes for slippety terrain and impedes movement of the characters. You could also say that the ice/snow golem of you other video can move on those surfaces normally, giving the PC's a terrain disadvantge. Mwahahaha!

[@paulsniadach6909]

Sweet

[@Justin-bk2kh]

Since you said ice cave how about some stalagmites stalactites! Icy ones

[@soulfirez4270]

Wouldnt ya just chuck them on the white side of the fat zebra battle mat , so you can still draw stuff on the map. Just completed some modular hills , so another large scatter terrain piece might be in order.

[@WylochsArmory]

Chipboard. Mother's milk.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Not gonna lie....today I broke out the table saw and 1/4” mdf to make up for my laziness 😂

[@sarademnitz3102]

Make a skin kite next please

[@OverlordOfEcchi]

pearlecent dry brush instead?

[@Versify]

Dude! Your mistake with the glossy pearl totally WOULD look awesome on an ice glacier!

[@ValkGame]

I swear you're just doing Frostgrave stuff lately. That or your players are gonna be rescuing Santa Clause.

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

If I was making stuff for Frostgrave I would absolutely ignore everything I said about keeping things generic and would be covering every building in snow. I almost want to start Frostgrave just as an excuse to make permanent winter buildings.

[@ValkGame]

@@BlackMagicCraftOfficial It is a good game, and takes less prep time then a full on TTRPG.

[@scottthebrewer5737]

Have you made any winter buildings for frostgrave? I saw the ruins..anything building printed. Maybe a mage tower?

[@ValkGame]

@@scottthebrewer5737 I've made some stuff for use in frostgrave, but even with 3D printing I don't have the time or budget to make things work with only one game.

[@scottthebrewer5737]

@@ValkGame understandable

[@kyleclavette9445]

Where can I buy the blue XPS Foam Board?? (lives in USA)

[@anthonytrumpower266]

is there an ice/crystal craven coming? or buildings carved of ice/crystal?

[@kyleclavette9445]

Where do you buy blue foam board? Must not sell it in the Midwest America.

[@phantom_knight0492]

On some of them i would have left some of the blue showing throught to mke it look like some ice poking though but thats my opinion

[@Fnordathoth]

Me likey!

[@emilylindstrom724]

Get a meter of white felt from the fabric store for a base?

[@PilgrimofMatter]

The texture would be cool. I'd probably want to give it some sort of rigidity.

[@Corvus-fw2hr]

You could add that pearlescent paint to outside and just go outside. You live in Canada, just go outside and play D&D. (Says the man in Florida.)

[@gondogeek]

Where did you get the black plastic/metal spreader for you cutting tool? It does not show on the picture of your amazon link.....

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

It’s the tension bar. They sell it as an extra add on but in a previous video I complained that it should come with the tool. They contacted me saying they would start including it but I can’t say for sure that they are actually doing that.

[@Damnation121]

Where do you get blue foam my stores only have pink xps foam??

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Different big box stores carry different brands. Lowe’s sells blue Dow Home Depot sells pink a Foamular.

[@Damnation121]

Black Magic Craft great I’ll have to check Lowe’s now, also thanks for the videos. You inspired me to start creating terrain for my group.

[@hachebot]

what about some moss or vines on those hills tho ?

[@leevijordan3749]

Matsbymars.com has some snow mats, if your looking for that!

[@leevijordan3749]

They also are running buy 2 get one free for black friday. Look them up on Facebook for the code

[@bentosan]

PVA + bicarbonate soda = snow

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

It equals snow paste that I specifically said I didn’t want to use ;)

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Ps....if going that route it’s best to also mix in white paint to stop the inevitable yellowing of pva and baking soda over time.

[@bentosan]

This comment was directed at people who would want to add snow to help them not you ❤️

[@bentosan]

​@@BlackMagicCraftOfficial Ive been doing some further research on this seeings how you mentioned it so thanks for that. Couple things ive found, bicarbonate soda is unstable and easily reacts with things in the environement and paint. Alot of people have had issues with the bicarbonate reacting over time and going yellow but also creating a sticky ooze that bleeds and ruins the model. A good alternative is instead of using baking soda (aka bi-carbonate soda) is to instead use baking powder which wont have the same yellowing and oozing issues. Cheers for the insight.

[@fakeplasticsoldier]

I feel like your introductory storytelling bit had better vocal delivery in previous episodes

[@feb4862]

14th comments

[@ericnull3470]

The L is silent in caulking. Pronounced Cawk-ing. Not quite cock-ing. But close. Not sure if you choose to sound... like that, or just don't know. But yeah, you are pronouncing a silent letter. It's not regional or an accent either. Takes .3 seconds to look it up if you like. I like your videos. You seem smart. Just, not when talking about caulking (fyi they rhyme, but nobody says tallll king).

[@BlackMagicCraftOfficial]

Please tell me more about how people in my region pronounce a word that I used and heard almost daily in my profession for over a decade.