Making good dirt that does not look like mud.
Save your old coffee grounds, let then dry, mix with white beach sand (mine is from the Florida gulf) use as much as needed to get a slight sparkle look like soil. Add a very small amount of water to just moisten, be sure to stir it up good. Using a tea spoon place it just like you want it to look. Now mist with water till it looks wet (this may take a couple of tries to get it just right) be careful not to over wet. Now using an eye dropper, drop a few drops of 50/50 Elmers glue/water mix on the mix and let soak in. Continue till the glue mix almost runs out of the soil mix. Allow to dry over night. Not satisfied with look, you can add more on top and follow the original directions. Any questions email me [email protected] After it is dry brush excess off with paint brush.
Helpful hint------ Dusting made easy. Use can air, get a foot or more away from carving and lightly spray area. most dust will blow away.