Project the First: Custom 3D Settlers of Catan Game Board

So why am I blogging? Good question!

Let's face it, those of you who know me, know that I like to craft. I like to dabble in everything from sewing, jewellery making, knitting to wedding decor.

I'm about to endeavour on my biggest "craft" yet, and friends suggested I blog about it, to show people my progress along the way. 

"Why stop there?" I asked myself. I doubt this will be the last craft I ever do, so I thought I'd create a whole blog about various craft projects that I'm working on.

So back to the beginning...I'm going to make a 3D version of Settlers of Catan. This may seem out of left field for some, so let’s backtrack a little. Sometime a year or two ago I was introduced to Settlers of Catan (http://www.catan.com/) by Carlos & Laurie, who in turn were introduced to it by Matt & Amanda.  Suffice it to say it’s a fun game, and we periodically have Settler nights, where we lose all track of time and play  into the wee hours of the morning. Sometime later I was in a games store and saw a very elaborate 3D version of the game, retailing around $300.  Clearly too much to drop for a board game, I eyed it enviously, but left empty handed. The seed was planted.  I must own a 3D version of this game. 

Careful research on the internet showed I wasn’t alone. Many people have constructed their own games ranging from custom plaster molds, to plywood, to resin tiles. The biggest problem people had?  Creating a consistent hexagon for the pieces to line up properly. Alas, this is what kept me from starting my project a year ago. That, and the thought of using a mold or resin were very intimidating. While I'm crafty, I try to stick with what I know.

Then while on one of my regular trips to Michaels (my crafting home away from home) I came across a hexagonal shaped wooden box. Eureka!  Finally a template for me to base my hexagons on!

Foam sheets and wooden hexagon

Sadly, early attempts at tracing the hexagon onto foam yielded poor results. It may have been that my wooden hexagon was flawed, or my exacto knife skills aren’t quite up to snuff, but I couldn’t get those stupid foam discs to line up. Not to be discouraged, I continued on my quest, always keeping an eye out for ways to fix this problem.

Sculpey for the hexagons

My very next trip to Michaels I found a hexagonal shaped candle mold, and Sculpey was on sale. The universe was telling me not to give up and providing me inspiration.

So, we’re now onto the next version of my tiles.  Foam 2.0. Well more accurately; Sculpey base, cut out with the candle mold - cookie cutter style, then traced onto the foam.  Sculpoam? Foampey?

So far the Sculpey base needs a little sanding to even out the edges, but the pieces are fitting together much better. I plan on using each individual disc to trace onto it's own foam friend to ensure that everything lines up properly. On top of that will be a 2 layer thick foam hexagon, slightly smaller than the Sculpey base, with a hole in the middle to take the # disc.  Then I will have a Sculpey Foamwich.

Baked Sculpey hexagons

And that’s where I leave my first entry.  Sculpey hexagon + foam hexagons = base for 3D piece.

Next up – decorating (that doesn’t sound right – stylising?) my discs.