When using wood, what do you do to the top so that it does not warp? For ground I was going to use celuclay but I did before and my base warped. Thanks.

Sladog

What you can do is give your wooden base a good varnish over it and when that is cured apply the Celluclay. i have never used celluclay before as I don`t know where to get it and if it exists here in holland then I don`t know under wich name. I usually use wallspackle but before I use the wallspackle I first lay a layer of styrofoam on top of my base and then I apply the wallspackle. No warping with this method

Yup yup, when I'm using wood I shape it first, then stain it whatever color I want it then I put a clear coat on top of it to seal it in. I use polyurathane. Then I build up on top of that.

Agree with Slodder.... stain the wood, seal it with Polyurethane.... at least three coats. I use a hard wood, mostly oak, but the Polyurethane works on soft pine as well, but I might tend to go at least five coats.

Ok...another question, if you please...

I got a few frames from the dollar store. Now, should I take the glass out or would it be ok to build on top of the glass?

Should I clear coat the sides of the frame?

Sladog, you might get a problem getting things to stick to the glass.
But I've done it, and most of the time, it was no problem.

Regarding your first question;
I don't normally apply cellyclay directly onto my wooden base. I usually glue on a thin (or thick) sheet of styrofoam and apply cellyclay on top of that. I do this for a couple of reasons:
1. It seems to stick better to styrofoam than varnished wood
2. In my eperience Celluclay tends to curl when applied directly onto wood
3. I can build up the ground quite extensively without using large amounts of wet celluclay . Thick layer takes a long time to dry and sometimes it might even rot.

Should I clear coat the frame though?

Sladog: I have put the plaster directly onto the glass on a picture frame with no problems and it stuck great. All i did was mask off the frame with tape and kept it on until all groundwork and painting etc was done.

Bison, do you clear coat the inside of the frame?

I've had problems in the past with it lifting up and curling up off the wood... especially around the edges. One of the reasons why I switched to Sculptamold years ago. I also find that the Sculptamold does not shrink anywhere near what the Celluclay does.

But like my signature line says... "Your mileage may vary".

SLadog: I just masked off the top of the frame so it wouldn't get anything slopped on it the drywall plaster went directly onto the glass and the wood of the inside of the frame. All i did was tighten up the backing of the picture very tight, i left the glass in and the cardboard backing. It stuck very nicely (to the glass and the inside of the wooden frame) and i patched it up a bit after it shrunk while drying, then sanded it half arsed smooth and scribed cobblestones onto it. Nothing came loose with me scratching my pattern out with a finishing nail. I have some pictures of what it looks like (its the base for a T-34) on the MSN armorama site.
You could clear coat it I guess but i don't think you have to, most of the cheap picture frames are plastic or stained wood anyway.