Gourds – Dressed up for the holidays – by Diane Morey Sitton

When it comes to transforming hard-shell gourds into holiday figures, crafters naturally think of Santa. But jolly St. Nick isn’t the only holiday icon that triggers creativity. Toy soldiers, snowmen, elves, angels and penguins suggest family and festivities, as well, and, fortunately, there are hard-shell gourds with shapes that accommodate their likenesses.

To the creative eye, the bulbous tops and bottoms and pinch-in middles of bottle gourds suggest snowmen. Birdhouse gourds’ (aka Martin gourds) pear-shape bodies and flat, freestanding bottoms provide the perfect template for holiday gnomes wearing conical caps. To create festive penguins, obtain penguin gourds. They have graceful, birdlike necks. Use the stems as beaks. Add feet for upright stability. Even caveman’s club gourds can be transformed into holiday décor. Think tall, slender toy soldiers.

Start your project by retrieving a cured, home-grown gourd from a garden shed or by obtaining a gourd from a generous gourd-growing friend. Otherwise, you can shop for cured, hard-shell gourds (Lagenaria) at local gourd farms, flea markets and online sites. (Tip. It can take up to six months for hard-shell gourds to cure. They are cured if the seeds inside rattle when you shake the gourd.)

As gourds dry, it’s natural for mold to form on their surfaces. Remove the mold before crafting by briefly soaking gourds in a mild chlorine bleach solution and then gently scrubbing with a clean, plastic scrubbing pad. Rinse the gourds, wipe off excess water with paper towels or soft, absorbent cloths, and then put the gourds in the sun to dry. (Tip. Avoid scrubbing with wire brushes and other abrasive scrubbers that could scratch gourds’ smooth, wood-like, waterproof shells.)

Techniques for transforming gourds into holiday personalities are almost as varied as the gourds themselves. Although some crafters use permanent markers, leather dye, wood stain or even scrapes of holiday fabric (applied with decoupage finish) to create Santa, snowmen, and other figures, painting is the most common technique.

To establish a smooth base coat, suspend the gourd by tying string to the stem and hanging it in a well-ventilated area before spraying with acrylic paint. Let it dry between coats. If desired, camouflage imperfections with wood filler before painting. Mask off areas you want to leave natural with painter’s tape and plastic.

Add facial expressions with paint or permanent markers. Look online for ideas. It’s helpful to practice on paper before applying paint to the gourd. If you prefer, create expressions by gluing on buttons or felt. Craft a homemade hat or obtain a doll’s hat from a hobby shop. Add a muffler made from a scrap of holiday fabric. Embellish the gourd with trinkets, a miniature wreath, a tiny cardinal.

Last but not least, paint a sign that your character can carry. And remember, even a small sign can express a big, Santa-sized holiday greeting.