From Gourds to Birdhouses

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When I was searching through YouTube for videos to watch on various types of crafts, I came across some that were on designing gourds. I found it fascinating and thought Sharon and I should give it a try. I purchased three pear shaped gourds that I thought would make great birdhouses. It was a fun project and we did learn that cutting holes in gourds is not an easy tasks, especially if they are dry.

After trying to make the perfect size hole with a drill, we ended up breaking the gourd. We didn't want to do that again, so with the tools we had, we drilled small holes around the penciled circles we drew for the birdhouse openings. After we drilled several holes, we took a flat head screwdriver and tapped between the drilled holes. This worked and we didn't break the gourds. We took exacto knives and trimmed off the jagged edges and smooth out the holes with sandpaper. After that, we found small tree limbs for a perch and drilled a hole to put them in.

Next came painting. I have acrylic, glow-in-the-dark and fluorescent paints for our gourds. We used them all. Sharon wanted to try painting bubbles on a blue background but wasn't happy with the results. She painted it green and made it look like a cactus. Since she painted a bunch of rocks to look like cactus, she wanted to try a design which was more to her taste. She paint it a mandala design. It turned out amazing.

As for me, I wanted something more southwest so I decided on a snake. Sharon suggested that I have the mouth open where the opening of the birdhouse was. I liked the idea and drew it on. It took several layers of paint to get it where I liked it, so I am delighted on how it turned out. 

We are both growing gourds in our gardens to hopefully be able to design more.

FIRST GOURD:



I glued it back together, painted it with black chalk paint, added clay roses on one side, and glued a lacy doilie on the other side. I was experimenting to see if I liked putting clay on gourds. I am not sure if I do. I painted the roses with bright neon colors.

PREPPING THE GOURDS:





FINAL DESIGNS:







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