Quick answer
Paint the Blossoming Forest trees with a drybrush technique, seal the removable pink canopies with matte varnish, and weather the double-sided mat with subtle washes to match your tabletop.
Why the removable canopies need special care
The Blossoming Forest trees come with pink canopies that pop off. That design lets you swap them or store the trees flat, but it also means the canopies can chip if you paint them with heavy layers. Use thin coats and a flexible sealer so the canopies keep fitting snugly.
Working with the double-sided mat
The set includes a neoprene mat printed with a leaf-covered forest floor on one side and a small pond on the other. You can paint over either side, but neoprene absorbs paint differently than plastic. Stick to acrylic washes and test on the edge first. If you want both sides to stay usable, limit painting to the trees and stump.
Painting steps
- 1. Prep the trees and stump: Wash the plastic parts in warm soapy water to remove mold release. Let them dry completely. Pop off the pink canopies and set them aside. Skipping the wash can cause paint to bead up later.
- 2. Basecoat the trunks and stump: Use a medium brown acrylic. Apply two thin coats, letting each dry fully. A dark brown wash in the bark grooves adds depth without obscuring the texture. Thick coats fill in the bark detail; thin coats preserve it.
- 3. Drybrush highlights: Load a stiff brush with a light tan or off-white, wipe most of it off on a paper towel, then lightly drag it across the raised bark. This catches the edges and makes the wood pop. Too much paint on the brush will flood the grooves instead of highlighting them.
- 4. Seal the pink canopies: Spray or brush on a thin coat of matte acrylic varnish. Let it cure overnight. This protects the factory pink while keeping the canopies flexible enough to snap on and off. Gloss varnish can make the canopies look plastic and may cause cracking when removed.
- 5. Weather the mat (optional): If you want the forest floor side to match a specific game board, mix a dark green or brown wash and apply it with a damp sponge. Dab, don't rub, to avoid smearing the printed pattern. Let it dry flat. Heavy scrubbing can peel the printed image. A light dab is safer.
- 6. Reassemble and place: Snap the canopies back onto the trees. Arrange the trees and stump on the mat. Check that the canopies sit flush. If they feel loose, add a tiny drop of poster tack inside the canopy rim. A loose canopy can fall off during play. Tack gives a secure fit without permanent glue.
Product facts
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Blossoming Forest: The Blossoming Forest set contains three pre-painted trees with removable pink canopies, a stump, and a double-sided neoprene area mat. You can customize the trees without ruining the factory paint job, and the mat gives you two different terrain options out of the box.
Blossoming Forest
