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Painting gourds adds whimsy and color to your fall decor. Add a little hole and you have a cute birdhouse look for your mantel or other vignette.
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How to Paint a Gourd Birdhouse

These decorative birdhouse gourds are easy to create with dried garden gourds and paint.
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Decorate
Yield: 1 or more
Author: Patti Estep

Equipment

  • Drill with a hole saw blade
  • Sandpaper
  • Brushes - sponge and smaller paintbrushes for detail.

Materials

  • Dried gourds
  • Leather paints
  • Spray polyurethane

Instructions

  • Drill an entrance hole in the front with a hole saw attachment.
  • Remove any old seeds or loose material from the inside.
  • Sand the edges of the hole.
  • Clean gourds with a little soap, bleach, and water and allow them to dry to prevent mold.
  • Use leather paints to cover the outside of the gourd. Let dry then add accents as desired with a small brush.
  • Once dry give the gourd a coat or 2 of spray on polyurethane as a sealer.

Notes

These are meant to be displayed indoors as they would get ruined outside in the elements.
If you don't have a hole saw attachment you could drill a large hole and use a craft knife to make your opening.
You could try using acrylic paints for accents or over the entire gourd instead of using leather paints.
Tried this project?Tag @hearthnvine on Instagram