How to Make Maracas Out of Gourds

Using gourds for arts and crafts is tedious. Before you can do any work with a gourd, it needs to be dry. This process takes time. If you dry your own gourd, it could take several months. You could also purchase gourds from a commercial grower and they might be dry already or you might need to further dry the gourd.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 dry gourds
• Drill, a small drill bit and/or a knife
• Soybeans or beads
• 2 small wooden dowels (for the handles)
• Several colors of acrylic paint (you choose the colors)

1. Obtain two dried gourds. You can dry them yourself or purchase them dried (see Resources for drying).

2. Carefully remove the stem from the base of the gourd.

3. Carve or drill a small hole from where the stem was and make it just big enough so it will snugly fit the wooden dowel inside.

4. Scrub the gourds with steel wool to take off the layer of skin. Rinse them off and let them dry overnight.

5. Insert the soybeans, beads or whatever object you wish to make noise inside the belly of the gourd.

6. Seal off the gourd and keep the soybeans or beads inside by inserting the dowel. The dowel itself should be twice the size of the gourd's body so that half of the dowel is inside the gourd and the other half is available as a handle.

7. Apply a base coat of spray paint of any color you choose. Apply as many coats as needed to get a solid, consistent look on the gourd, allowing for drying time in between coats.

8. Apply a design or pattern you want to appear on your gourds. Then let them dry.

9. Use a semi-gloss spray as a protective measure to keep the color on your gourds shiny and in tact (optional step).

Resources

• Drying Gourds
• Painting Gourds