Gorgeous Gourds

September 29, 2010


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    Gourds are durable, useful and classic symbols of the harvest season. Learn about the different types of gourds then use our step-by-step instructions for creating a gourd birdhouse or simple techniques for decorating gourds.

Types of Gourds
While there are many types of pre-dried gourds that vary in shape and size, you’ll find a few of these common types at your local supermarket, farmer’s market, craft store or even online:

  • Kettle Gourds: Kettle gourds are pear shaped with a fuller base and thinner top and are ideal for making birdhouses.
  • Canteen Gourds: Canteen gourds are round and stout and resemble the shape of smaller pumpkins. Try incorporating canteen gourds into a fall arrangement, or look below for decorating techniques.
  • Apple Gourds: Apple gourds look almost exactly like apples, but have the color and texture of a gourd. Try filling a bowl with apple gourds and using it as a fall centerpiece.
  • Basketball & Cannonball Gourds: Basketball and cannonball gourds are round and ball-shaped, while basketball gourds can become much larger. Try carving these gourds like pumpkins if fresh or painting them with festive designs if dried.
How to Transform Gourds into Birdhouses:

  1. Find Your Gourds: When searching for dried gourds to create your birdhouse, look for kettle gourds that are at least 12” in length and have a full, round base that’s suitable for a bird’s home. While you can always use larger gourds, gourds that are shorter in length can be too small unless they have an especially large base.
  2. Turn Your Gourd into a Home: To turn your gourd into a birdhouse, start by using a 1 1/2” core drill bit to create an entrance for birds. You can use a slightly larger or smaller core drill bit depending on the size of your gourd. To smooth the edges of the entrance, use a dremel or sand paper. Once this hole has been created, clear out the insides of the gourd by using a spoon to help you reach inside. It’s fine if you can’t get everything out since birds will remove leftover contents when they move into their new home.
  3. Hang Your Gourd: Prepare your gourd to be hung with wire, leather, twine or ribbon by using a 1/4” drill bit to drill through both ends of the top of the gourd. If you don’t have this specific drill bit size, slight variations will also work. Read Glowing Seasonal Décorto learn how you can use your drill bit to turn gourds into glowing luminaries.
Gourd Decorating Techniques
While there are lots of ways to decorate gourds, we’ve found three especially beautiful techniques:

  • gourd polishDyed Gourds: Leather dyes and shoe polishes work especially well with lighter colored gourds and add color while allowing the natural features of the gourd to stand out. Using soft rags, towels or even an old t-shirt, wipe your clean and dry gourd with leather dye or shoe polish. We recommend wearing rubber gloves during this process to protect your hands. Set your gourd aside for several hours to dry. Once the finish has dried, wipe the gourd with a clean rag and use polyurethane to seal and protect the finish.
  • Gilded Gourds: Gilders paste is a concentrated metallic and colored wax-based paste that can be applied with a cloth or paintbrush. When dry, it polishes to a high sheen that creates a gilded finish. You can find gilders paste at some craft stores and online. After applying the paste and letting it dry, your gourd will have a metallic finish that won’t require varnish, although varnish can help the finish stand up to the elements over time.
  • Painted Gourds: Use basic acrylic paints to paint your gourd then coat your finished paint job with polyurethane for protection. You can also use acrylic paints that are designed for outdoor wear so you don’t have to seal your creation. Try painting gourds solid colors and accenting them with festive designs. You can paint on designs with stencils or even use permanent markers to draw designs onto your gourd.

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