I am making a display case for a few small deer skulls from the last few years and was contemplating how to do the ground/habitat. I have seen the videos online for making an elaborate rock habitat but I was thinking I could get half decent results using spray foam. I figure I spray it on the bottom of display case, paint with glue and pour dirt/sand over it. If I need to carve up any pieces beforehand I could. I could add a couple actual rocks and poke some natural foliage into it as well. If I'm lucky and any parts of it look like rock, I could paint those. Anyone ever tried this? I'm not expecting it to look professional but Hoping it will come out decent enough. All feedback welcome.

Pablo

You can do it. Couple things I would do is not spray it directly in cabinet. Get you a cardboard box and line with plastic wrap. Spray the foam in one corner and work your way across. Let it dry completely. Pop it out. Repeat this as needed to get enough foam to fit in the cabinet. Cut the foam accordingly to ft in cabinet.

Take all the foam pieces and scuff them really good and paint it a base coat (rattle can works) matching your dirt/sand material. This will make your material go a lot further. Mix Elmers glue (buy the 1-gallon size) with water 60/40, a container size at a time. Brush, pour it over a section of the painted foam. Then immediately throw your soil on top of it heavily. Continue with next section until all is covered. Let dry completely 48 hours or more. After drying turn it over and knock off all loose material. Normally I would take a spritzer spray bottle with watered down glue (80/20) and spritz the whole thing and let dry which will lock in all soil. May be overkill for something going in cabinet

Then add the foliage and other things you mention above and put back in cabinet VOILA

Carve some foam or make some cardboard shape rocks and spray paint a base coat. Spray a final coat of the texture spray you can get in a spray can that looks like rock. ROCK PAINT

Have fun and post it up


Here's a bobcat I did for competition many, many, many years ago and the wall habitat was made from spray foam. I used cardboard to form all the rocks and then covered them with spray foam, carved them a little and then painted

That came out great. I'll give it a shot and post results. 60/40 meaning 60% glue to 40% water, right?

Thanks I would do it way different nowadays. LOL. Yes on the 60/40 maybe even 80/20 just use enough water to get it to flow well - kinda like syrup. I've even mixed my dirt in with the glue and smeared it on. You really can't go wrong. If you need any guidance give me a call and we'll talk more. Phone numbers on the website

Barry

Here's how it came out. I started out making a frame with trimmed down 2X4s & 2X2s.



Then I started trimming the outside with 1X4s.



I cut a piece of OSB and covered it in some spray foam for texture. I painted the OSB and foam, then I used glue to add a couple different types of dirt.




I stained it, cut off the corners of the floor and put it inside.



I then added plexi-glass windows and feet. Since it was going to be a TV stand I didn't bother staining the back.



I cut and stained a top for it.


I added a couple skulls and a little shed antler. I also added some desert foliage from Hobby Lobby. and placed with our entertainment center.



I added an LED light to the ceiling of it as well as to the back of the TV.



The LED light can be changed to the color of your choice.



If I were to do it over again, I"d have made the back match the front so that if in the future, we change entertainment centers, it could double as a coffee table.

EXCELLENT! I would be proud to own that!!

Thank you, Sir. I had a lot of help from a friend.