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Use popsicle sticks.

diorama is a mini-world -- an entire landscape in a box, carry case, or window. Here's how to build your own.

Instructions

STEP 1: Decide on a scale. This is key, because a diorama becomes believable to the extent that it looks "real." If you've got a focus (a Barbie doll, a particular plastic dinosaur), use that scale. If not, try 1 foot to 1 inch -- that's standard for classic miniatures and dollhouses. STEP 2: Collect your materials - human and/or animal figures, palm trees or sugar cubes to build an igloo, or dollhouse furniture and miniature foods for an interior scene. STEP 3: Decide on a background - you can paint or draw your own or use wallpaper or wrapping paper or anything else you can find. Remember, though, that the background images should be consistent with the scale you've chosen. STEP 4: Choose a container. Many children's school projects use cardboard boxes or shoe boxes, but you can use just about anything. It should be light but fairly sturdy, especially if you will need to move the diorama around. STEP 5: Build your diorama working from the back to the front. Start with the background by creating a horizon and sky/ceiling and ground/floor. Then place large objects such as trees. The smallest objects should be placed the closest to the front. Use glue or putty to secure the objects. Tips & Warnings

If cutouts are too thin to stand by themselves, back them with cardboard.

Overall Things You'll Need

Cardboard Boxes Or Other Container

Dollhouse Dolls

Miniature Animals

Miniature Trees

Shoeboxes

Hobby Paintbrushes

miniatures animals, foodstuffs, vegetation and/or building elements

Toy Dinosaurs

Modeling Clays

Poster Paints

Glues Or Putty

Acrylic Paints S Or Paper For Backdrop

To add depth to your diorama - If your painting skills are not up to par, you can cover the interior back and side walls with an appropriate printed landscape. You will find landscapes in magazines, or you can use a photograph, or printout free images found online.

To protect the printout spray a couple of coats of artist's fixative before installation. If you get some glue on the paper you can usually wipe it off with an almost dry soft cloth, or wet wipe.

Once the background is in place, repeat some of the elements on the print (such as rocks, vegetation, etc.) in 3-D.

Glue problems - When I glue my paper, it has wrinkles. It has to be perfect. To not get wrinkles; mix a little water with the glue, and brush over the paper. You can even brush on top of the paper to make it clear and shiny.

I would use sculpey clay for most of it... you can also buy dollhouse bricks for the walls. You could get a battery operated tea light with an orange bulb to glow orange in the pit. Wow, now I wanna make one! :O) Good Luck!

make the people out of cardboard pieces and most of it will need to be black. make an anvil and a hammer and a coal stove also.

try to use some clay