Realistic Grass for Halloween Villages and Vignettes

In this tutorial, I demonstrate how to create realistic grass for your Halloween Villages or vignettes.
Links:
Limited-time deal: Elmer's Glue-All Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue, Extra Strong, 1 Gallon, 1 Count - Great For Making Slime www.amazon.com/dp/B0038DZZJC/...
You can always email questions or comments to me at:
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[@photo_paper784]

Thanks for always being considerate of those of us that work on a budget. It is thoughtful. ❤️. Love the channel and the fact that I can rewatch videos for a refresher.

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

You’re most welcome!

[@davefuentes3542]

I have waited SO long for a channel like this to come along. You’re a phenomenal teacher, please keep up the great work!

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Awesome and thank you! Glad you’re enjoying the channel!

[@Kat_Nguyen]

I appreciate this tutorial so much. As a first timer of making a display this step by step is invaluable. I will be looking for the brown moss from michaels. Love that spooky looking dead grass.

[@jonniereynolds7915]

Love the dead grass!

[@allisontrammell4347]

I just barely started collecting village pieces at the beginning of this year to display for my two young girls for the different holidays and I’m so ecstatic to have found this channel! It’s so informative, it’s so well edited, and I’ve learned so much. I binged all the videos. I can’t wait for 2022 videos!

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Awesome!!! So glad you found the channel and are enjoying it!!

[@samanthaedick1086]

I definitely am going to try the hot glue like you said it dry's faster cant wait to see the rest

[@Darkstrass]

Wooow I learned a lot! Thank you!

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Awesome! Thank you!!

[@sherriebulechek8353]

Nice

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Thank you!!

[@douglaskunst6330]

thanks Carl. I've learned so much from your videos!!

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Thank you! Glad you’re enjoying!!

[@jonniereynolds7915]

Your tutorials are the best I’ve seen yet. Very detailed and actually helpful. I hope you decide to do one showing how you create platforms. I’ve never wanted to try before, I just buy them, but of course that adds up and I would attempt it if you created one since your step by step process is on spot for me. Love the naturalness that you have and no doubt I also think you could probably make better leaves than 56’s. I also love the music you use!

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Thank you! Glad you’re enjoying the channel!

[@maryslate6446]

I have fought with that grass stuff for quite a while. Thank you for the tips.

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

No problem!

[@marinarivera8861]

I’m loving all the tutorials. Any idea for keeping your hands from burning is to use a silicone mat or pot holders to padded down.🎃🎃🎃

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Great idea on the pot holder technique!!!

[@photo_paper784]

Can’t believe i missed this one! Would be curious to see how you would make an ice base as in a frozen pond or north pole!

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Will likely do one of those for the Christmas season!

[@Thejanjan39]

What an informative & helpful video! I'm looking forward to watching the other videos that you've posted, & I would like to check out the cemetery that you've created. I like the fences as well. Do you prefer using the moss rather than getting a grass mat, say, like those on offer at Scenic Express? I only ask b/c I have been using moss in my displays, but only here & there.

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Thanks! Glad you’re enjoying the channel! As far as moss vs. mats, I honestly prefer moss as you typically have more options with it and you can easily hide any mistakes. Mats are good in some instances, but require a lot of cutting and trimming and sometimes they look odd at the termination points. I have used both, however, I like the moss better. Great question!

[@Thejanjan39]

@@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl Thanks for the quick response!

[@chantelbiehl33]

Love your channel. I must be missing something. Is this one piece of foam or two pieces glued together? I don't understand if you cut the piece by the stairs to attach to the sidewalk and road? I see there is 2 different levels just not sure how you made the stairs and rockwall higher. Is there a video that describes this in detail?

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Thanks! Several of my videos cover this I believe!! It is two pieces to answer your question.

[@kaitlin4071]

Great tutorial, thank you! Do you have any thoughts on the Lemax Moss Display Mat, or similar moss mats that come in a long sheet which can be glued down? I’m thinking this would be easier to apply, but maybe it would not look as full. 🤔 Thanks in advance!

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Thanks! I’ve used those mats in the past and they do work in some instances, they do look relatively flat and non-dimensional in my opinion. I prefer the look I get by using the method in the tutorial…plus you can customize it any way/color combo you’d like.

[@kaitlin4071]

@@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl Ok awesome, that makes sense! I think I’ll start with the loose moss & give that a go. Thanks! 👍🏻

[@Tattoo_Tony]

Hey Carl, Anthony here and fellow Southwest Villagers member and Arizonan! I wanted to know have you glued the XPS foam to the R-TECH foam base ? Did it cause any issues. I have a bundle of free R_Tech Foam base. However want to use XPS for curb / streets and features.

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

No issues at all! I just use hot glue and it seems to work just fine!

[@user-hf8bb6lb6o]

Hey Carl I remember seeing you did a water glue mixture that you sprayed on the grass. I can't find that video anywhere Thanks

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Yeah-not sure either…it’s in several.

[@chantelbiehl33]

Hi Carl, Some people who are making village platforms are using the static grass, I wanted to know if you have tried using it? If so, what are your thoughts about the difference between using static grass versus moss? Just wondering, I am starting my first platform build in the next few weeks, and love your explanation of all the steps. Thank you

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Hi Chantel! I’ve seen lots of videos of folks using static grass and it looks amazing-at some point I’ll likely try it as well. However, most of the folks I’ve seen using it are doing that on fairly small dioramas and it seems to work out great. I’m afraid it may cost me a fortune to do this on a 4-foot section.

[@carishields7834]

Thanks for this ! Question Or opinion rather I have the same peanuts house ( your fault lol ) and a couple pieces from Bradford exchange One is - peanuts Halloween the great pumpkin was spooky sounds and the other one is peanuts Halloween table top tree tree Would you incorporate these along with the house on one board or would you keep the department 56 by itself and do the other two things somewhere else on display ? Just wondering your opinion I guess

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

It’s really up to you and what you think would look best. It is my understanding that the Bradford Exchange stuff is on the small side?

[@carishields7834]

@@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl thanks for your reply ! Yes small ish but the tree is taller than the house ..the other piece is probably as tall as the house … maybe I’ll get it out and look at it and see …. 😁 next set I’m ordering from dept 56 is the peanuts Christmas set that’s like the Halloween one . Normally collect Lemax big jump in price there but the quality with 56 is outstanding ! Lemax I just pick it up and everything breaks off

[@lvmarie1974]

Love your displays . What is the typical platform size ?

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Thanks! The platform sizes vary according on where I plan on displaying them when they’re done. The Peanuts display was 22.5” long and 14.5” wide to fit on a shelf.

[@TrackDayz]

Hey Carl, for the Glue mixture for keeping the grass to stay and make it crunchy so it doesn’t fall off What glue do you use for the mixture? And what % of isopropyl alcohol. Thanks!!

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

White school glue-I usually buy the gallon from craftsmart at Michael’s. The alcohol I use 95% or above-not sure it matters though.

[@TrackDayz]

@@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl Awesome, Thank you for the Quick response! I will be trying it out today.

[@Tom-hs4rf]

Question, do all of your accessories and figures etc sit on top of the grass? Do they stay even?

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Yes, all sit on top. They all sit fairly even.

[@angelinaalperin8584]

I use the same fence Do the same thing cutting them in half. Great minds think alike😉

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

Love the realism it adds! It’s the little things!!

[@vp4728]

Hi Carl, could you please link the fence because I can see a few different ones, but none that you can separate and create two different ones from?

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

www.ebay.com/itm/GEORGIAN-VICTORIAN-RAILING-fence-1-12-scale-Jacksons-Miniatures-Dollhouse-C14-/162852850294?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0

[@lizzgonzalez9272]

Thank you so much! I’ve been scouring the internet looking for reasonably priced fencing for my Dickens village.Appreciate all you do for the crafting and villaging communities. Your videos are fantastic!

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

@@lizzgonzalez9272 awesome-glad you were able to find some!

[@BestialLegend]

You mentioned spraying the moss down with alcohol before the water and glue mix. Can you explain why that needs to be done?

[@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl]

It helps to break down the surface tension of the moss so when you spray the glue water mixture, it will run throughly through all the moss all the way to the surface giving you a much better hold than if you didn’t use it.

[@BestialLegend]

@@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl I see! Thanks for the response. These vids have been very informative and helpful. They have inspired me to finally put together a decent looking display for my buildings.