Lost wax casting is fairly easy, the devil is in making the wax models.. For those that like to carve, I've found bowling balls are a cheap and easy substitute for soft stone.. They're soft enough to carve with power tools that can hold a cutting burr. The color is usually 1/2"-3/4" thick .. When carved in the round, then mounted using the thumb hole they can turn for display.. You can also paint them like a soccer ball, and mount using the thumb hole..