How to Make Snowmen From Gourds

By eHow Hobbies, Games & Toys Editor

Rate: (2 Ratings)

Who knew a gourd was so handy?

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Buttons
  • Socks
  • Semigloss Or Matte Sprays
  • Steel Wool
  • Newspaper
  • Pencils
  • Markers
  • White Spray Paints
  • 6-inch dried, bottleneck gourds
  • small, artificial carrots

Step1
Choose a smooth, dried, bottleneck gourd, about 6 inches tall, not including the stem.
Step2
Soak the gourd in warm water for 4 hours to soften its skin. Put a dish towel over it to hold it down: Gourds float.
Step3
Remove the skin with steel wool.
Step4
Rinse well.
Step5
Let the gourd dry overnight.
Step6
Take the gourd outside or into the garage and place it on some spread-out newspapers.
Step7
Spray paint it white all over. You may need more than one coat of paint depending on the temperature and quality of the paint.
Step8
Draw a face on the smaller end of the gourd with a pencil.
Step9
Go over the pencil marks with a fine paintbrush or a Sharpie marker.
Step10
Spray the entire gourd with a semigloss or matte spray.
Step11
Use a small artificial carrot to make the nose. Cut the end off so that it's flat, and glue it to the face.
Step12
Glue buttons down the front.
Step13
Roll the open end of a sock up to form a hat. Pull the hat over the stem and glue it to the snowman's head.
Step14
Make a scarf using another sock or any other suitable piece of fabric tied in a single overhand knot.

Tips & Warnings

  • Be sure the gourd is completely dry before you paint it, or the paint won't stick.

Comments

| View All Comments
Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 11/22/2005 Use twigs for arms and even try dabbing faux snow (can be bought at any craft store)on the finsihed snowman.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 11/22/2005 In my experiences in crafting gourds, I have found markers often have a tendency to run when applying a finish coat to them.

View All

Post a Comment

POST A COMMENT

Request a New How-To Article

Looking for more How To information? Chances are there’s an eHow member who knows how to do what you’re looking to do. Submit an article request now!

eHow Article: How to Make Snowmen From Gourds

eHow Hobbies, Games & Toys Editor

Related Ads

Hobbies, Games & Toys

Sentigen
Meet Nate Chang, eHow Expert eHow’s Hobbies, Games & Toys Expert.