click here to see an example of a completed model garden kit

Step 1: Preparing the base

Unfold the baseboard and stick it together, on one side only with sellotape or masking tape, to make the size and rough shape of your garden.

Step 2: Drawing your design

Draw your design on to the graph paper supplied, using one small square per metre for a scale of 1:50 and one large square per metre for a scale of 1:25.

Step 3: Cutting the grass matting

Lay the graph paper on top of the grass matting and whilst holding both firmly together, cut through them both to acquire any desired lawn shape.

Step 4: Laying the lawn

Apply the glue direct from the nozzle in a zig-zag pattern, ensuring the edges are well covered. Lay on your cut out lawn, sliding and flattening out until located in the correct final position. Tip: To ensure a flat finish, turn the board grass face down and lay a heavy book on top until dry.

Step 5: Covering with earth or gravel

Smear small blobs of glue with the small brush provided to any areas on your design that are going to be covered with earth or gravel.
Sprinkle the earth or gravel on to the glue, pat down and allow to dry before blowing off any loose residue.
Tip: In order to avoid contamination between colours, allow time for each areas to dry and blow off loose residue before proceeding.

Step 6: Making the trees and shrubs

Using the black foam, cut with scissors to form small bushes or topiary.
Use the sticks as trunks or supports for larger shrubs.

More accurate trees can be made from the wire twisted brushes.
Cut into shape with sharp scissors to form conifers etc.

Foam or bush trees should then be painted with the flue and immediately sprinkled with any of the loose colours, subject to colour and species.
Small or stringy plants can be made from a combination of black foam and loose sisal.

Cut to size and stick into position with glue.
When dry, coat with more glue and spring on the desired colour from the loose selection provided.

Allow to fully dry and then blow off any loose residue.
Climbers and creepers can be teased out or cut off the plant mats.

After being stuck in position with glue, additional flowers or colour can be added from the loose selection.
Supports can be made from the sticks provided.

Step 7: Laying paving, decking and brickwork

Paving, brickwork or decking can be made using the thick card. Either draw the pattern onto the card and cut out to the required shape or glue the pre-printed patterns in our instruction booklet onto the card and when dry cut out to your required shape. Tip: You can also use the card for borders, by gluing down separate bricks or strips to define planting areas and help keep gravel and earth apart.

Step 8: The finishing touches

The air-drying clay can be rolled and shaped for water features, pots, rocks and even gnomes.
Once dry, the clay can be filed, cut and decorated if necessary.
Unused clay should be kept moist in an airtight bag when not in use.
Water can be represented with the clear blue film. Draw the desired shape on to white paper or card, lay the film on top and cut out both together.
Glue the film onto the paper and glue into the final positions. The shiny surface can be distressed using thin layers of the glue provided to make ripples.
The glue provided will dry clear if used thinly.