What can I do with swan gourds?

Speckled Swan Gourd is great for painting and making holiday decorations. Harvest when gourds turn a dark green color. These gourds are known for their durability and long lifespan once dried and cured. Gourds may be direct seeded or transplanted, although we highly recommend direct seeding.

How do you make stuff out of gourds?

5 Things to Do with… Gourds

  1. HOUSE A BIRD. Photo: gonzalesmastergardeners.org. It’s fun and easy to make a birdhouse from a hollowed-out gourd.
  2. HANG A GARLAND. Photo: asoftplace.net.
  3. MAKE A LANTERN. Photo: makezine.com.
  4. CARVE A JACK-O’-LANTERN. Photo: southernliving.com.
  5. CRAFT A CANTEEN.

How do you dry speckled swan gourds?

How to Dry Gourds in 7 Steps

  1. Wash the gourd in warm soapy water.
  2. Dry the outside of the gourd.
  3. Dry out the inside of the gourd.
  4. Turn the gourd every few weeks.
  5. Assess the curing process.
  6. Clean the cured gourd.
  7. Paint or decorate the cured gourd.

How do you dry bird feeder gourds?

Spread out your gourds in the sun. Space them far enough away from each other that they don’t touch and air can freely circulate between them. Leave the gourds in the sun for up to a week before you move them indoors. Turn the gourds once a day to make sure air reaches all sides of the gourd.

How do you drill holes in gourds?

Soak the gourd in soapy water with a little bleach and then scrub the gourd with brush and steel wool. Let dry. Then drill four small holes 1/8” in the bottom of the gourd for drainage. With an adult’s help drill a 3/8” hole just inside the circle of the gourd.

What kind of paint do you use on gourds?

I used acrylic craft paints from the craft store. They generally go on smoothly and cover well in one coat (except white). Gloss paint looks really good on the finished gourd, but can cost twice as much as flat paint. Paint the background or base coat first.

How long does it take for a gourd to dry out?

Exposure to moisture may cause the gourd to rot. The drying process will take about a week, and the colors on the rind will change slightly. Dry out the inside of the gourd. Next, you need to cure the gourd, or dry its interior, which can take up to six months.

What kind of paint do you use to paint gourds?

acrylic craft paints
I used acrylic craft paints from the craft store. They generally go on smoothly and cover well in one coat (except white). Gloss paint looks really good on the finished gourd, but can cost twice as much as flat paint. Paint the background or base coat first.

How do you preserve gourds for decorations?

Space the prepared gourds on a few layers of newspaper in a dark, warm, dry area (such as an attic) with good ventilation. Replace the damp newspaper every few days, turning the gourds when you do. Heat accelerates drying and darkness will preserve the gourd’s color.

How do you dry gourds for decorations?

Arrange your gourds in a well-ventilated, cool area to dry.

  1. Arrange your gourds in a well-ventilated, cool area to dry.
  2. It will take anywhere from a few weeks to six months for gourds to dry, depending on their type.
  3. You’ll know the gourds are completely dry when you shake them and the seeds rattle around inside.

How do you make a swan gourd look like a bird?

Although the gourds are often painted to look like black or white swans, they can be decorated to look like any bird including flamingoes, winter penguins and geese. Step 1 Scrub the gourd with a medium bristled brush or steel wool and a mixture of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water to remove mold and dirt. Step 2

What are the best DIY gourd craft projects?

5 DIY Gourd Craft Projects That Are Beyond Your Thinking. 1 01. Painted Gourd Chicken. Paint some gossiping gourd chickens for your Fall porch decorations! You will get so excited to paint with your bright 2 02. Gourd Lantern. 3 03. Halloween Gourd Jack-o-Lantern.

What to do with dried gourds for fall decorations?

Dried gourds. just like pumpkins, are popular Fall supply and desiable for craft purposes. Dried gourds can be used to make musical instruments, and various other forms of art mediums. And today our Craft Channel is going to make some fun Fall decorations with dried gourds, including the gourd painting, gourd cutting lanterns, birdhouses and more.