Gorgeous Gourds
by Diane C. Arkins and Nicole Blasenak
Transform fall gourds into characters that are bushels of fun to make
by Diane C. Arkins and Nicole Blasenak
Transform fall gourds into characters that are bushels of fun to make
HELLO, GOURD-GEOUS!Move over, Jack. There are new gourds in town. These fanciful little folks will put a whole 
new face on decorating for the season. Here's how to craft your own.
new face on decorating for the season. Here's how to craft your own. GATHER YOUR MATERIALS
You'll need an assortment of gourds or ornamental pumpkins. Choose ones that are free of mold and bruises (they'll last longer), and wash and dry them once you get them home. You'll also need a variety of natural trimmings, such as pine needles, pinecones, leaves, seeds, and the like, plus a glue gun or glue dots for tacking everything in place. Thinner glue dots (often labeled "paper thin") are fine for light items, but we preferred thicker ones (1/16 inch or more; 3-D dots work especially well) for pinecones and large twigs.
CHOOSE A DESIGN
CHOOSE A DESIGN
Once you've gathered your supplies, play around with how to arrange them, starting with the body. (One, two, or three gourds? Smaller ones stacked atop larger ones, or vice versa?) Next, try out some features.
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
If you're using multiple gourds, glue them together (remove the stems from the lower ones first), then add the features. You can also connect them with round toothpicks or trimmed skewers (use a small nail to make pilot holes if necessary). If you plan to sandwich leaves between two stacked gourds, be sure to glue the foliage to the bottom gourd before gluing the top one in place. Gourd wobbly? Glue nutshells or small pinecones to its base to help stabilize it, as we did with both Frank. Your fall friends will likely last two to four weeks in a cool, dry spot.
