How to make a simple specimen plant set-up for dull days

This very simple but effective set-up for drawing or painting plant specimens on dull days in winter comes from Jill Bell who lives in Ashbourne near Derby. I found her tip in the Facebook Botanical Beginners Group.  It got 146 likes and 23 comments. With Jill's permission I've reproduced her instructions for how to make it below - and added a few comments of my own.

It works particularly well with smaller items and anything that doesn't need a large water container.

The set-up means that:

• Natural light bouncess off the white foam core and helps to illuminate the specimen when light levels are low.
  
• Light levels from 'natural' artificial light are enhanced due to the use of a white background
• Placing a plain background behind a specimen also helps you to see clean edges and how a plant is constructed.

Jill says

I really struggle for light in my little cottage, especially during the winter months.
​One sheet of 5mm foam mount board and a sharp knife: I now have a nice little stand for my subjects that I can light with a craft lamp

A simple set-up for plant material created from one sheet of foam core. (Photo by Jill Bell)

These are Jill's simple STEP BY STEP instructions for how to make one for yourself.
My comments and recommendations are bullet pointed in italics.

The TEMPLATE for cutting and folding foam core to create a simple set-up for plant material. (Photo by Jill Bell)

1) Use a complete A1 sheet of 5mm foam mount board.

• Do check the thickness when you make your purchase - the 5mm is much more robust than the 3mm.
• For those not familiar with metric measurement, an A1 sheet of foam core measures = 594 x 841 mm or 23.4 x 33.1 in)

2. The shelf is 1/3 the width

• i.e. the depth of the shelf is determined by where  you cut.
• The cut is one third down from the top of the sheet (see above template)

3. The 'arms' are 1/3 of the length.

• 'arm's a.k.a. as side walls
• you need to score/impress the foam core to get it to bend - but not so much that you cut through

4. If you cut carefully you can retain the front layer of the board intact to act as hinges, if not, duck tape!

• Duck tape for those who cut into the foam core  by mistake when they were scoring the bends!
• Whatever tool you use for cutting, you need to place a cutting mat under the foam core before you start to cut. (I bought a very large one a long time ago and have never regretted it being so big!)
• Jill used a Craft Knife for cutting the foam core. Personally I prefer to use a foam core cutting tool when cutting foam core. It avoids the surface tearing as you cut.

5. Then cut out slots at the required height for the shelf.

• Ideally - if you want to avoid poor posture and an aching back - you need to place the specimen as close to eye level as possible when sitting with a straight back. 
• Otherwise you can develop a hunched back as you lean over to view the specimen
• Hence you need to calculate the height of items you want to work with before you cut the slot for the shelf.
• You could also make two sets of slots in order to be able to adjust the height of the shelf.

6. Assemble, and reduce the shelf length to suit.

• You do NOT cut 45 degree angles. 
• Instead you push the foam core shelf (cut from the top one third of the sheet) into the slot - and the rest of the shelf will be behind the side walls

7. To prevent the arms (side walls) from moving use:

• either paper fastener split pins and cotton 
• or small bulldog clips

If you want to make the shelf stable you can always place books underneath it to take the weight of a water container larger than a small receptacle.