We had a “Dinotopia” reading today at the Park. “Dinotopia: A Land apart from Time” and “Dinotopia: The World Beneath” by James Gurney. He created these wonderful stories and published them in 1992 & 1995 respectively. James published two other “Dinotopia” books – “First Flight” 1999 and “Journey to Chandara” 2007. I will have to…
Tag: DIY Indoor Projects
Solar Rocks – Dinosaurs back in the Spotlight
Their Back! Bed, Bath & Beyond has these great solar lights disguised as rocks. Three LED for $14.99 (set two small and one large rock). If you save your $5.00 off coupons that lowers the price to $9.99! If you find a better deal let me know. These are a seasonal item for BB&B, so…
Triceratops Marc – Detailing / Touch-Ups continued & Clear Coating
I used the Brown flat as a first step to correct for feather look of marigold gloss accents. Then using the Marigold gloss to fill in the remaining gaps for a more blended appearance. The platform truck is great for performing the detailed work. You can throw a drop cloth over the truck to protect…
Triceratops Marc – Painting Mouth, Detailing & Touch-Ups
I often cover most of the Dinosaur even when masking a small area like the mouth. When you are painting outside the wind can kick up and change direction in an instant placing unwanted overspray on a previously finished area. A little extra preparation at the start can save you a great deal of work…
Triceratops Marc – Painting Shield, Beak, Claws & Stripes
Painting the Shield is the beginning of making the colors pop! After masking, spray several light coats giving each a few minutes to dry. I allow a couple of hours before removing the masking. Make several examinations before you do, to ensure you have the coverage you want. It’s frustrating if you rush to remove…
Triceratops Marc – Painting Eyes, Body & Belly
The interruption from the rain provided plenty of time for the Gloss Ivory paint to cure on the horns and shield tips. I masked them off with blue tape and plastic bags. I discovered there are many different types of blue tape. I had trouble with the tape coming off when I was masking the…
Valentine’s Day – Dinosaurs, Chocolate, Flowers & Great Music
Raphael makes heart shape brownies from a recipe my Grandmother & Mother used when I was a little kid. Using Bisquick instead of flour makes them rise. I’m not sure if the recipe came from the side of a box of Bisquick or not, it was so many years ago. I’ve attached the recipe for…
Triceratops Marc – Rust Reformer, Primer & Painting – Decisions, Decisions
After rinsing and your dinosaur has completely dried, it’s time to seal with a rust convertor/reformer. The spray I used converted any remaining rust to a primer and provided a flat black base coat. Again, I placed Marc on his side to get better access to the underside and inside of the legs. Please be…
Triceratops Marc – Wire Brushing & Acid Wash – “the beginning of the makeover”
Marc and I are discussing his preservation and makeover process. Marc is our youngster in the Triceratops family. He’s 6 ½ feet long and just under 3 ½ in height. A Metal Dinosaur like Marc could easily find a home in most backyards, if you can’t have one in front of your home. You should…
Location & Foundation for Your Metal Dinosaur
I photographed the rain we had last weekend at the park. The flooding indicates the importance of selecting the right location for your Metal Dinosaurs. Understanding how the weather impacts your property will help you choose the best area(s) to place your dinosaur(s). Taking pictures of your property during such events provides a nice visual…