Painting gourds has become a popular craft for kids and adults to participate in. You can decorate a gourd for Halloween or you can turn it into a masterpiece. Your imagination is the your only limit. If you do not feel that you can create a master piece you’re incorrect. Painting gourds is a simple project and it is a fun craft to create. However you need to make sure to prepare your gourds properly before painting them. You want your masterpiece or holiday decoration to look great and last for awhile. In just a few steps you can have your gourd ready to go.
Cleaning Solution
First you need to prepare the cleaning solution. Take one part bleach mixed with ten parts water. Begin by dunking the gourd into the solution to get it completely wet all over. Then you will need a medium bristle brush or something similar, so that you can scrub off the mold and mildew that is on your gourd. If you’re not able to remove the mold from the gourd try and dip it into the solution again and scrub some more. Cleaning your gourd will require some time and patience. Once you are done scrubbing make sure you allow it time to dry completely.
Smoothing the Exterior
You want to gently sand the gourd with 100-150 grit sandpaper. You only want to do a light sanding to provide some “tooth” over the smooth surface. Use a water wax to smooth the exterior of the gourd and to make it last longer.
Primer
If you are going to use the gourd outside, you will want to use a good quality exterior latex primer. This will help the paint not to chip. Make sure to only prime the areas you are going to apply paint to. If you have decided to use your gourd indoors you do not necessarily need the primer. But it is a good addition to your painting.
Paint
Now that you are ready to paint, you will take your pattern or design and apply it to your gourd. Begin painting and once you have completed your artwork allow time for the paint to dry. You can choose any design you would like for your gourd, it can be a design from a book or even a pattern from something around you.
Primer Exterior Again
To seal in the paint onto the gourd and to make it ready for display you will need to use primer sealant. This can make the gourd appear smooth and also slick looking. It’s a great way to make a gourd durable for many years so you won’t need to worry about replacing it. You will only need to focus on wrapping it right and storing it correctly.
Proper Care and Storage
The gourds need to be cared for just like any decoration you plan on using again. The best way to keep your gourds preserved is to keep them dry. You want to place them in an area where they will be able to get a lot of ventilation and you have to very delicate when touching and handling the gourds as they can bruise quite easily.
So where can you purchase gourds? If you want to decorate them on your own and explore your creative side you can find gourds at the grocery store but you can also find them cheaper at any pumpkin farm. It’s common for pumpkin farms to not only grow pumpkins and gourds, they will have squash and many other fun decorations you can use in your home this autumn to make it feel warm and cozy.