12-29-2010, 06:32 AM
I just use the plaster material. An old trick was to use a shaker and shake powered plaster on the project while it was wet to produce a texture like dirt. The problem is it looks like plaster was shaken on an made to look like dirt. 
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Like Lynn, I use a brush and try to keep the strokes horizontal so it looks similar to the natural layering of the earth but I have added places where I have made it look like there was an ancient rift in the earth. Once you are satisfied with the strength of the structure, let it dry good and then stain with flat water base paint of your choice. You might add some paint to the last batch of plaster too, to keep chips from showing as glaringly as white plaster.
Charlie
.Like Lynn, I use a brush and try to keep the strokes horizontal so it looks similar to the natural layering of the earth but I have added places where I have made it look like there was an ancient rift in the earth. Once you are satisfied with the strength of the structure, let it dry good and then stain with flat water base paint of your choice. You might add some paint to the last batch of plaster too, to keep chips from showing as glaringly as white plaster.
Charlie