How to Create Gourd Art Crafts
Creating gourd art crafts can be as easy or as elaborate as desired and can be enjoyed by children as well as adults. Gourds can easily grown in the garden or bought from craft shops and online suppliers. Projects range from painted geometric designs on simple vases to intermediate projects such as wreaths and ornaments, to advanced projects such as birdhouses with painted with animals or artistic scenes. A large variety of websites provide tools, supplies, inspiration and education for both novice and expert crafters.
Things You'll Need
- Gourd
- Bleach
- Scrub brush
- Clear shoe polish, lacquer or shellac
- Acrylic paint
- Glue and glue gun (for intermediate project)
- Hole saw ( for advanced project)
- Carving tools (for advanced project)
- Straw wreath form ( for advanced project)
- Wire or heavy twine (for intermediate and advanced projects)
Instructions
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Crafting With Gourds
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Buy a dried gourd or grow your own. To grow your own gourd, you will need good summer heat and a trellis or fence to allow for support for the ripening gourds. Snip off the gourds once the vines begin to dry. Buying gourds dried gourds that have already been cleaned are available from a variety of sources.
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Prepare your gourd. If using your own gourd, let it dry for two to three weeks. Scrub the surface with a 10 percent bleach mixture, removing any dirt and growths on the surface. Let dry completely.
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Decide on a project. For a simple vase project, steps include cleaning, painting a design or scene, and varnishing.
Making an intermediate wreath project requires multiple gourds depending on the size of the wreath form. Steps include cleaning, varnishing and gluing.
An advanced birdhouse project requires one gourd. Steps include cleaning, varnished, cutting and hanging.
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Complete your project. For a simple vase project, use a pencil to sketch a simple geometric design of lines, squares and zig-zags. Paint over the design using acrylic craft paint. Let dry. Varnish with clear shoe polish, shellac or lacquer to protect the surface.
To make the intermediate wreath project, varnish a large number of small gourds depending on the size of your straw wreath form. Let dry. Using a hot glue gun, glue the gourds on the straw wreath form. Leave gourd tendrils on for artistic interest. Hang with wire or twine.
For the advanced birdhouse project, use a hand saw, cut a 3-inch hole into the center of the gourd for the entrance. Cut three ½-inch holes at the bottom of the gourd for drainage. Cut two ¼-inch holes at the stem end of the gourd for hanging. Use wire or heavy twine to hang the birdhouse.
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Tips & Warnings
A large number of websites feature photos from artists to inspire creativity and many also offer project booklets designed for beginners.
