Sculpting a unique fidget toy from polymer clay: Inspired by Strange Horticulture

[@RobDonkin]

Melissa, John and I (developers of Strange Horticulture) have just come across this today and it's safe to say it has made our week! This is beautiful. Without a doubt the coolest 'fan art' we've ever come across. Love, love, love it! 😍

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

Oh my heck, THANK YOU!! I'm absolutely thrilled you like it! I was really hoping I would do the game justice, it's such a gem 🥰Thank you so much for creating it!

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

I just saw the teaser for the new game, I am SO EXCITED!!! 💖Thank you for bringing us back to Undermere! And you know I'm going to have to make another fidget toy at some point 😝

[@RobDonkin]

​@@MelissaDawnMakes Awesome, we're excited to show it to everyone too! That would be so cool if you made another for Strange Antiquities. This was such a great project.

[@vae32]

Found this through the community hub on steam and this video ticked all the same cozy boxes the game did 🥺 I am forever trying to find another game that makes me feel the same way Strange Horticulture did.. It turned out beautiful and now I want one so bad 😂 this was such a pleasing video to watch, amazing job!!

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

Thank you so much!! That's awesome to hear it ticked all the cozy boxes!! 💖 Honestly, I don't know if there's another game quite like it...if I find one, I'll let you know, and if you do, please let me know! And I'm sure we're both following Bad Viking waiting for another gem 💎 Also, I might be making a tiny feline companion to sit with the plants 🤫😁

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

@vae32 did you see Bad Viking's Instagram post today?? It looks like a second Strange Horticulture is coming!!!

[@vae32]

@@MelissaDawnMakes yes!! I neeeed them to release more details, it was the perfect game and I desperately need a part 2 for it 😭

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

@@vae32 today is the daaaaaayyy!!!!! 🐈‍⬛🌱

[@WolchBot]

Turned out great as always but I particularly liked the watering can.

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

Thank you so much! When I was first planning the project, I didn't have the watering can on the list because I forgot, can you believe it? I'm so glad I remembered eventually, it's a must-have!

[@MrsRepairTech]

I just found this video and your channel through the link on the Strange Horticulture Community Hub (I was shamelessly seeing if there were any content-related news for the game). Your talent is inspiring! I think I'll go rearrange my in-game plants! :D

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

Thank you so much for checking out my channel and for liking this project! (Was there any content-related news? That would be so exciting!) Have fun rearranging your plants! 💚🪴I hope it's super relaxing

[@CrankyPantss]

You have such a charming personality, so this was so enjoyable to watch. You did a very nice job on that; it turned out looking great. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

Thank you so much! I'm really glad you find it enjoyable (and charming! what a compliment!)😄

[@seangoatcher2888]

I’m sure I say this on all your videos, but your such a wholesome and relaxing content creator and it’s always an absolute joy to see one of your videos pop up, amazing videos to have in the background while I draw. Thank you so much for making your videos and I hope you enjoy your day

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

That makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside 😊 thank you for always watching my videos! And I'm so happy you were doing art along with me, haha!

[@smallandhasty]

This is an absolute joy, thank you! I've loved Strange Horticulture for a while now and your project captures the spirit so well. All that's missing is a little black kitty. 💙

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

Oh yay, I'm so happy you've played and you like this!! Yes, I almost tried to do Hellebore, but I'm absolutely awful at making animals, so I need to get better at it! 😻

[@ArikaEvans-q9w]

I love this so much but Id never be able to make it.

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

Thank you for loving it! I feel like the reason I get through any of these projects is that I conveniently forget that I don't actually know how to do it, but by the time it's apparent, I'm so far in that I just keep going out of stubbornness! I believe in you if you wanted to try!

[@willp970]

Ahhh I just finished this game a couple weeks ago and loved it. This is so impressive and you even got the music and rain from the game 😭

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

Ahhh! Wasn't the game so good!! What ending did you get? And thank you so much! Honestly, the music is just so amazing. I'm really glad I was able to get it! Now I can play it on my computer all day long too 😂

[@willp970]

@@MelissaDawnMakes obvious spoilers for anyone who hasn't played if that wasn't already clear ------------ So I just realized there are 8 endings, definitely thought there were only 2. But I got the Elderphinium ending which is one where nobody dies. Want to replay as a more unhinged shop owner to get some crazier endings now lol

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

@@willp970 haha yeah!! I got that ending too! And YES, unhinged is totally the way I want to try, even though it's not what I'd do in real life...thinking of one very annoying character in particular whose fate I'd change...

[@willp970]

@@MelissaDawnMakes YES! so badly wanted to do the thing to him if it's the one I think you're talking about lol

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

@@willp970 YES THAT ONE!!

[@Ploxxord]

I have been able to use PVA glue, such as Elmer's White Glue and Aleene's Tacky Glue, as a "primer coat" on wires and sticking polymer clay to each other. Brushed or applied as the first stage, after forming armatures and before applying polymer clay to thinner sculpts (i.e. 28mm Scale). Judicious amounts of glue prevents dripping and undesired lumps. However, layers of PVA glue can be built up to make relatively thin sculptural elements. The PVA glue is dried for about 24 hours before applying polymer clay (similar idea to a gesso base on canvas for greater durability). This prevents water pockets turning into steam and bursting through the sculpture when baked and allows the vinyl to form into a solid structure. Cracks and blisters are interesting textures, but cannot be easily controlled (with current understanding) to set cracks or blisters at desired locations, thus are avoided. This application works with vinyl based polymer clays, i.e. Sculpey products and FIMO on mine own sculptures, as the V in PVA is Vinyl - (Polyvinyl acetate). Water: the water in PVA glue needs to evaporate to function as intended. Baking the moisture out comes with its own bubbly and deformative hazards, if not done at lower temperatures. Time: this process takes some extra time. Such a consideration does not impair assembly line sculpting practices, but might frustrate the impatient working on singular sculptures. Really like your content and this video has pushed me back into getting at those armatures and partial sculpts languishing on a shelf.

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

Ohh! I didn't know I could do that with Elmer's glue! I definitely want to try that. I could do some even smaller things!! Thank you so much for watching! I'm really happy it's bringing you back to those projects, haha! What are you working on right now?

[@Ploxxord]

@@MelissaDawnMakes I got the idea for PVA glue from observations of Liquid Sculpey and the need for marginally bendable armature adhesive, plus substrate. What I'm working on right naow? A few forlorn 28mm Scale miniatures in progress and associated set pieces. Link is to one such project occupying the Self of Procrastination: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYa9oH9qqJt0gLs

[@desertfairychickres4021]

You are amazing! Suggestion...to keep the wire from twirling while you are building maybe try a bit of sandpaper formed in the shape of thimbles that fit on your fingers or even plastic thimbles. Just a thought. Blessings

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

Ooo, like grippy thimbles! That's a good idea!

[@desertfairychickres4021]

@Melissa Dawn Makes Thank you. I have worked with wire on occasion and that twirling can be frustrating.

[@SpiraGuardian]

love it! :)

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

Thank you so much!

[@mistressnom]

I played this game awhile back and 100% it and I dont know how i came across this but this is amazing I love it! Great work :). Now I gotta make one myself. I wish there was a second game or DLC already T.T

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

Thanks so much!! Congrats on 💯 ing it!! You should totally make one, it's ridiculously satisfying to sort the plants IRL! I'd love to see yours 😁

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

And agreed about a sequel or DLC. I would play the HECK out of it!

[@scarletstark5848]

What a fantastic piece of gaming brought into life, this gives such comfy vibes, playing with the pieces must be incredibly satisfying. Your work is fantastic, the details and shapes you created are meticulously aligned with the game content, that detail really makes it something special. Would you consider adding to this? Potentially a little series, making another handful of plants that you can add to your ledges as you wish? Just an idea, I know I would watch that video *so fast*. I don't know why it took me so long to buy Strange Horticulture, but I'm so glad that I finally did! This may very well be my favourite game. I found your video after deep diving Google after completing my first play through (Elderphinium ending as well) and before starting my second. I know I'll watch this video again and again to continue the cozy vibes, as if we're friends and chitchatting about the game we both love!

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

Thank you SO much!! Your comment makes my heart so happy! I love the idea of friends chitchatting about the game🍵 I can't wait to hear which ending you get this time! It really is such a fantastic game. I think everyone should know about it, honestly 😄 I have actually thought about adding to it! including a very special purring friend at some point...I hope you'll enjoy that video too when it comes out!

[@scarletstark5848]

@@MelissaDawnMakes I'm so glad 💙 I'm aiming for either the Gilded Dendra Ending or the Devil's Nightcap one, unsure. Whichever I don't go with this second time through will end up being my third time 😂

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

Haha! I love that you already have a third playthrough planned 😂

[@scarletstark5848]

@@MelissaDawnMakes Third is now played, hahaha. Went for the Devil's Nightcap for ending 2 and Gilded Dendra for the 3rd.

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

@@scarletstark5848 so fast!! 🤯 Do you have a favorite so far?

[@megachu9948]

😮I must have done something right today because a new Melissa Dawn vid just dropped!

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

Happy Fridaaaaay!!! 😂

[@megachu9948]

@@MelissaDawnMakes Cheers!! 🍻 Was wondering what happened to you lol glad to see you unloading:) Fresh build, btw and now I'm looking up the game. Oh, and yes you can overcook magnets 😆

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

@@megachu9948 I'm trying to be a little more consistent about posting, but it's like every other month because of how long it takes me to make things and edit 🫠 Some day I'll have more time! Magnets are weird! But so fun

[@megachu9948]

@@MelissaDawnMakes I think you're doing fine on timing to be honest... don't burn out 😅 Again, it''s always a nice surprise when the youtube icon pops up, like a text from an old pal you're happy hasn't yet forgotten you. Those flowers are fab, totally can see how someone can be so "productive" fidgeting around with those 😆

[@MelissaDawnMakes]

omg SO productive 😂😂 burn out is so real though! But this is my escape, so I'm really happy to have it 💖