How do you make a ghost out of a gourd?

Gourd Ghost Sculpture Directions:

1. Find a cool piece of wood and cut it to size.
2. Cut up wire to different lengths.
3. Paint your dried gourds with 2 coats of white paint.
4. Using black paint, add eyes and a mouth to your gourd ghosts.
5. When the gourd ghosts have dried, drill a hole in the bottom of the gourd.

What can I do with old decorative gourds?

Shells and pieces of metal can be added to the dried gourds to create musical instruments. The gourd material can be wood-burned, carved, painted or stained. Carve small pieces into jewelry, such as rings and bracelets. You can also pound the fibers out and turn them into handmade paper sheets.

Can you carve a gourd like a pumpkin?

Bushel gourds are similar to pumpkins in both size and shape, and make great traditional jack-o-lanterns. Birdhouse gourds and bottle gourds also can be used for Halloween projects. The bottom of these gourds can be carved with jack-o-lantern faces, while the overall shape also makes them perfect for ghost gourds.

What can I do with mini gourds?

“They dry up and get hard and then I put them in stews and treat them like a spice,” Just take the seeds out before you dig in! Bisonette would poke holes in the squash as it sun dries and said to expect a flavor similar to squash seed oil or pumpkin seed oil when using the tried gourds to season your winter stews.

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 decorate a dried gourd?

Once the gourds are dry, they are ready to be waxed, varnished, painted and carved. If you are a stickler, you can fill in any imperfections with wood putty, and then sand the fruit. If you are planning to hang the dry decorated gourds, it is a good idea to create a hanger prior to painting.

How long will decorative gourds last?

Fresh, uncured gourds may last for a few weeks before going bad. If you dry and preserve your gourds, though, they’ll last for many years. After you’ve preserved the gourds, get creative by painting or drawing your own designs on the shell.

What paint is best for gourds?

If you can’t find the Elastomeric Coating, then you can use a high quality, exterior gloss acrylic latex paint. Just be sure and use an oil based primer and let it fully dry before painting. If your going to go through all this effort to put up your gourds, finish the job right so they will last.

What kind of paint do you use for 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.