A cracked earth base can be created with a few things- Flour, water, salt, and red paint. Paint the ground in squiggles. After it has dried for about 12 hours, spray it with water or have someone walk on it for 10 minutes. Then sprinkle flour over the areas that you want to crack into crevices (use your hands). Wait another twelve hours and viola! You now have an authentic-looking cracked earth effect!