Decorating Birdhouse Gourds

mawnature's picture
Submitted by mawnature on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 10:09
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My first attempt at decorating a birdhouse gourd.

Annette/ maw We come from the earth, we return to the earth, and in between, we garden. Author unknown http://www.gardenhere.com/content/MAWNATURES-TRADE-LISTCmon-lets-make-trade

Decorating Birdhouse Gourds
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Nelda's picture

Gourd Birdhouse

Submitted by Nelda on Mon, 09/29/2008 - 23:39.
You did a great job on those hummingbirds! Warn you though, it's an addictive craft! lol I wish I could do the birds freehand, but I've stuck to the flowers and am trying my hand at carving/staining one now. Hope you continue, you've definately got talent!
mawnature's picture

Hi Nelda...

Submitted by mawnature on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 05:54.
....good to hear from you, and hear what you're doing with gourds! Carving must be difficult as the shells get so hard! What are you making? I love the stained ones, too....they are so rich looking! Thanks for your positive comments, and encouragement. maw

Annette/ maw We come from the earth, we return to the earth, and in between, we garden. Author unknown http://www.gardenhere.com/content/MAWNATURES-TRADE-LISTCmon-lets-make-trade

Maw

Submitted by vringsgarden on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 22:05.
that is just beautiful..velvet

WOW

Submitted by tbowersock on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 20:41.
Even with a pattern I wouldn't have been able to paint that good! I just bought a gourd at a garage sale for 10 cents. I will send it to you to paint for me lol. What kind of sealer do you use to protect them with?
mawnature's picture

Sure you would, Theresa....

Submitted by mawnature on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 21:30.
....if I can, anybody can paint from a pattern. I use Plastercraft Acrylic Matte Spray Finish...before I paint, and after to seal it in for protection. I'm using Acrylic paint, as well. It cleans up with soap and water.

Annette/ maw We come from the earth, we return to the earth, and in between, we garden. Author unknown http://www.gardenhere.com/content/MAWNATURES-TRADE-LISTCmon-lets-make-trade

momof3indiana's picture

Beautiful Artwork

Submitted by momof3indiana on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 21:57.
I am really enjoying the pics Maw! Thank you so much for sharing, they have given me ideas for winter crafts. Sarah

Sarah Married 12 years SAHM of 3 kids, 5 pets and a hubby that is like a kid sometimes ; )

SandiB's picture

WOW Annette

Submitted by SandiB on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 17:59.
That birdhouse gourd is SPECTACULAR! xoxo SandiB
momof3indiana's picture

SandiB

Submitted by momof3indiana on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 21:55.
Your profile pic looks a lot like a flower my mom has growing in her little front garden. Is it a holly hock by chance?

Sarah Married 12 years SAHM of 3 kids, 5 pets and a hubby that is like a kid sometimes ; )

SandiB's picture

Sarah

Submitted by SandiB on Sat, 09/27/2008 - 07:40.
The flower is a Malva sylvestris ‘Zebrina’, common name is Zebra Mallow. And it is a cousin to hollyhock. They grow fast and stay bloomed for a long time. Very pretty flowers and does resemble a hollyhock.I love hollyhocks! SandiB
momof3indiana's picture

SandiB

Submitted by momof3indiana on Tue, 09/30/2008 - 00:31.
Thanks so much. They don't get very tall like the Holly Hock does that is for sure and very pretty, I saved seeds today from them so maybe next year I will have some as well. Sarah

Sarah Married 12 years SAHM of 3 kids, 5 pets and a hubby that is like a kid sometimes ; )

mawnature's picture

;o) ;o) ;o)

Submitted by mawnature on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 21:31.
Thanks SandiB....I'm glad you like the gourd art. maw

Annette/ maw We come from the earth, we return to the earth, and in between, we garden. Author unknown http://www.gardenhere.com/content/MAWNATURES-TRADE-LISTCmon-lets-make-trade

PENNY2638's picture

Mawnature

Submitted by PENNY2638 on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 14:33.
I love that work you did on that gourd. I love hummingbirds also. Did you have pattern for the bird or did you do it freehand. Thanks for sharing.

http://www.gardenhere.com/content/Penny2638s-Trade-List

mawnature's picture

Gourd Pattern

Submitted by mawnature on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 15:21.
Nope, I am not a free-hand artist!! LOL I've collected several patterns, actually just pictures I like, or clip art, and I transfer that design to the gourd using graphite paper. It makes a very light outline on the gourd, and then I paint to fill it in. I hope to get better each time I do one. Thanks for the compliments, friends....that's encouraging!

Annette/ maw We come from the earth, we return to the earth, and in between, we garden. Author unknown http://www.gardenhere.com/content/MAWNATURES-TRADE-LISTCmon-lets-make-trade

PENNY2638's picture

Mawnature

Submitted by PENNY2638 on Sat, 09/27/2008 - 11:40.
You did a very nice job with your first one. Boy I can't wait to see how they all will look when you done more. Thanks for sharing.

http://www.gardenhere.com/content/Penny2638s-Trade-List

Lavender2's picture

Maw

Submitted by Lavender2 on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 16:54.
...wonderful job! I love it! I would need a pattern, too. My hummingbird would probably look more like a fish than a bird! I grew some gourds several years ago and never did try to paint on them. I gave them to a friend who has more artistic talent. Great idea to use a pattern... it's beautiful!
mawnature's picture

Thanks, Lav....

Submitted by mawnature on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 17:30.
I think I'll work on another one after supper. Funny, almost all the patterns have a hummer in them! You folks are most encouraging....;o) Thanks,I need it, as I tend to be too critical of my own work.

Annette/ maw We come from the earth, we return to the earth, and in between, we garden. Author unknown http://www.gardenhere.com/content/MAWNATURES-TRADE-LISTCmon-lets-make-trade

jbaby7162000's picture

very pretty

Submitted by jbaby7162000 on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 12:34.
Maw you have a pattern to put the hummering bird on it?

jo

That came out realllllly

Submitted by Wrennie on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 11:42.
That came out realllllly pretty!
skbeal's picture

Wow, Annette!

Submitted by skbeal on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 11:30.
I adore the hummingbird! It's beautiful!!!!!!!! I hope you're having a blast doing that because I think it looks fabulous!!!!! Share more pictures as you paint them! Do you cut a hole in the bird house for birds to nest in????????? Or are those more decorative than anything? I suppose if you painted them with some sort of sealer (provided of course, that it's non-toxic,) you could keep it outside and have it withstand the elements.

Susan,The Assistant Administrator, the Texas Yankee and the Texas Rangerette.

oma2's picture

That's a ....

Submitted by oma2 on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 10:20.
pretty good job you did painting that gourd!