Zen Garden Pokeball Mats
These are the materials specific to this pokeball, there may be some duplicates in the Tools & Stuff list. I may receive a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you shop through these links.:
Oh yeah. People love these, for crystal orbs, I love them for pokeballs. Get the M size for 10-15cm pokeballs. The L size is good for 16-20cm pokeballs.
I recommend starting with the 10cm (4") to start with. It's a comfortable size for many figurines out there. These baubles are usually sold as a pack but you know, use one for the project, use the rest to hang cute stuff on your christmas tree, or make some bath bombs.
Any electrical tape will do, not the thick kind.
I'm afraid I have bad news here, I have no quick links for ready made that you can get easily other than in my store.
If you don't mind a rougher look, buy white and black felt and cut them to size.
- Ground - Translucent Corrugated Board
If you're picking this up from the craft store, remember to pick the translucent ones especially if you want lights in your project.
These are USB powered. I don't like changing batteries and I suspect many others feel the same way. Length-wise 2m is good for 10cm pokeballs, the larger the more lights. Or if you just want a light show, go for a longer one. But be warned that means more wires. Warm white is a great colour for most pokeballs. I like pure white for ice-type environments, but you do you.
If you're using lights, I recommend Cernit's translucent clay, it doesn't yellow as much. If not, any white polymer clay will do. I find that it's easier to scrape the pattern if the clay is not too soft, but it might also be because I'm heavy handed. Original Sculpey is rather nice too, a tad soft for my liking but it's MUCH easier to condition as compared to translucent clays.
You can put anything in there as long as it's small enough and makes sense for the pokeball. There are tons of beautiful little ornaments, search 'Miniature garden decoration' on Amazon and you'll know what I mean.
The pattern shows much better the finer the sand is. The ones used for children's sticker sand art is too grainy and doesn't work as well. It should be almost powdery like, in between icing sugar and caster sugar. I haven't tried this particular one before but it looks like the finest I can find on Amazon.
- Diorama Rocks (Extra Coarse) & Pebbles
The larger rocks are for placing in the middle of the zen patterns, pebbles for surrounding area. For some reason, diorama rocks are rather expensive, if you have stuff from the garden, feel free to use them after washing and drying.
Why are they all sold in such huge packs?! I guess you could also make a bamboo forest pokeball. That's one I'm planning, so it'll come in handy. PS - if they have a wire in the stem, use a wire cutter instead of your scissors to cut the trees or you'll damage it.
I like to have two shades of green bushes in my pokeballs, it makes things feel a little more realistic. In a pinch, one colour isn't too bad either. Woodland Scenics make them in a bunch of colours.
- Sticks (Skewer) & (Toothpicks) & (Ice cream sticks)
Get the wooden ones, the colour works better with the Zen garden theme. Most people who cook would probably have some at home, but links above just in case.