How to Decorate Birdhouse Gourds
Birdhouse gourds have been used for thousands of years. They're very durable and long-lasting. They can be useful as bottles, baskets, ladles and vases. Today, a popular use for a gourd is as a birdhouse. You also can paint, carve and drill them and use them in home decor. Birdhouse gourds can be decorated using almost anything you have on hand. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Acrylic paint Paint brushes Stamps Markers Beads Jewel stones Waterproof glue Polyurethane
Instructions
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Use a fully dried and cleaned birdhouse gourd. It should be smooth, extremely hard and rattle when it's shaken.
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If you're painting the gourd, prime it with a coat of acrylic paint. Let it dry for 30 minutes.
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Paint the gourd with your design using acrylic paint. You also can use stamps, permanent markers or dyes. Papier-mache will add texture to your birdhouse gourd, and you can paint it after it dries.
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Embellish the gourd with beads, jewel stones, ribbons, wires and dried grasses. Use waterproof glue to hold the embellishments in place.
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Seal your design, applying two to three coats of polyurethane. Let the coats dry between applications. This is a very important step if you plan to use the birdhouse gourd outdoors or for food.
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Use your imagination. You can decorate birdhouse gourds as Santas, bowling pins, tin soldiers and dolls. You can cut the tops off and use them as vases.
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Tips & Warnings
If your gourd hasn't been cleaned, soak it in water and bleach for 30 minutes and scrub it with a brush until it's smooth. You can carve designs in the gourd by using woodworking tools, chisels and woodburning tools.
Don't press too hard with a woodburning tool or you'll break the surface of the gourd.
