Here's how I make quick and cheap jungle - once you've got the materials together you can knock up several of these in a day!

Cut out sheet styropor to any shape and thickness you like. I usually make it double layered with two different sized pieces of styropor stuck together to get a mound shape. You can cut the edges of the styropor to make a sloping edge if you want but you don't need to.

Take some static grass matting (you can get this stuff in rolls at model railway shops - 3 sq. metres for about $7.00). Cut out two pieces from the grass matting, one to glue on the bottom and the other to go over the top of the mound. Make the bottom piece of matting about 2 cm bigger all round than the base of your mound and cut the top piece of matting bigger than the bottom piece of matting by about 5-6 cm. all round. When assembled, this forms an overlap that makes the mound appear to be flat on the table even if the styropor curls up after glueing, as the overlap falls flat on the table. Glue the smaller piece of matting to the bottom of the mound, static grass side down. When dry, glue the top piece of matting over the mound and to the overlapping part of the matting on the base. Be careful not to get glue on the overlap of the top piece of matting that will later lie flat on the table! I used clothes pegs here to hold the matting together while the glue is drying.

Now you've got the mound finished take some silk or material flowers. I suggest avoiding plastic flowers as they have a plastic sheen to them.Take a good selection, the more colourful the better - remember it supposed to be jungle! Now take the flowers to pieces. You 'll be amazed at how many pieces make up such flowers and what you can make of them by simply mixing up the parts. Using a small screwdriver make holes in your mound (through the grass matting) and glue in the pieces of the flowers and leaves to make your jungle garden. Any large gaps can be filled in after with flock or icelandic moss.

Not only quick and cheap, but it doesn't need a single drop of paint !