The Beginner’s

Guide to
Gourd Crafting

Art by: Carrie Dearing

How to Select, Cut, Clean, Stain, Paint,

Woodburn, Weave, and Decorate Gourds!
Introduction:
Thank you for your interest in gourds! Every year
thousands of people visit the Welburn Gourd
Farm and our web site looking for answers to all
their gourd questions.

The Beginner’s Guide to Gourd Crafting answers

the most commonly asked questions AND gives
you great tips and resources to save you both
time and money when working with gourds!
Gourd art by
Denny Wainscott

The Welburn Gourd Farm, located in

Fallbrook, CA, is the largest supplier of
quality, hard shell gourds and grows over
350,000 gourds per year!

Best of all, the gourds are grown organically

so when you purchase a Welburn Gourd, not
only are you helping to protect and preserve the
environment, you are also avoiding health risks
that can be associated with chemical sprays being
embedded in the gourd shell.

If you’re in the area be sure to come by and visit the farm, where all
gourds are sold at discounted wholesale prices! Every month we offer a
variety of exciting new classes such as Beginner Gourd Workshops and
Half-Day Gourd Art Classes.

To learn more about our farm and to see a

current class schedule, please visit
www.WelburnGourdFarm.com or call us toll
free at 1-877-420-2613.

“Autumn Gourd Pot“

By Laura Welburn
The Beginner’s Guide to Gourd Crafting is jammed-packed with great
information, and even if you already have some experience working with
gourds, you’re sure to find new ideas and great techniques in the pages
that follow!

Take special note of the Insider’s Tips sections of the book, where you’ll
find priceless insider secrets and short-cuts to make your gourding
experience fun and exciting! You’ll discover everything from easy
methods for cleaning and cutting gourds to simple methods for
designing an art piece, including what colors and finishes to use!

This incredible “Bird of Paradise Gourd” by Gloria Crane was made using GourdMaster™
Transparent Acrylics and relief carving.

If you would like to share copies of this book post it on your web site,
please do so! Copyright law prohibits the sale of this book without
permission, however sharing without charging for it is fine! Also, if you
have new or additional information to add, we’d love to hear from you!
Please send us an e-mail at info@welburngourdfarm.com or give us a
call at the farm, Toll Free at 1-877-420-2613.

Gourd Vessel by Bill Colligen

Selecting Gourds:

One of the best ways to create a beautiful gourd piece is to start with a
top quality gourd!

Gourds that are symmetrical in shape, and have a

smooth, thick shell with no holes or damage are
prized by gourd artists. These are what we refer to as
“Premium Quality” gourds and represent the majority
of gourds that we ship. (see photo, right)

“I am exceptionally pleased with the box of mixed size

canteen gourds I received...Any gourds I purchase in the future will only be from
Welburn Gourd Farm. It’s kinda like cooking, if you want your food to turn
out good, you must only use the highest quality ingredients. I feel the same way
about my art.” -Marjorie A.

Gourds are priced by the diameter at the widest

point using a sizing board with holes cut into it.
A gourd that is just under 10 inches in diameter
will fall through the 10-inch hole on the sizing
board so it will be priced as a 9-inch gourd.

Pictured left, customer

Jordan Straker excited to
receive his gourd shipment.

Pictured right, carved gourd

art by Jordan Straker

Insider Tip for Ordering Gourds Online or Over Phone:

• Remember, a gourd is classified as a 9-inch diameter gourd if it
passes through the 10-inch ring but not the 9-inch ring.

This means if you order 9-inch gourds, you will receive gourds that
are actually over 9 inches, so keep that in mind and adjust your order
accordingly if you need specific sizes for your project.
Ordering:

You get the lowest prices when you come to the farm to
purchase your gourds, but if you can’t make it out to Fallbrook,
California, we are happy to select your gourds for you and ship them!
There are two options for mail order:

(1) Place a Custom Order.

A Custom Order is one that meets your specific
needs, including size, shape, and also specific criteria
such as “gourds with stems” or “gourds that sit flat.”

(2) Order Gourds-by-the-Box.

Want to save an average of 35% off Custom Order prices? Order
Gourds-by-the-Box!

With Gourds by the Box, the labor cost is greatly reduced because the
shapes and sizes are consistent and we can pre-box many identical orders
at once, which means you save money!

Plus all the pre-boxed gourds are shipped cleaned! With a Custom
Order you pay extra for cleaning, but with Gourds-by-the-box, it’s
included in the price! (See our web site or catalog for a complete listing
of Gourds-by-the Box).
Washing Gourds:

One of the least favorite tasks among gourd

artists and crafters is washing the gourd. You can
avoid the messy task altogether by purchasing
your gourds already cleaned with Gourds-by-
the-Box, or you can roll up your sleeves and do
your own cleaning!

To clean your gourd, soak it in a bucket of water for about 15 minutes.

Since gourds float, it is helpful to cover the gourd with a wet towel while
it is soaking.

Gourd covered with wet Gourd ready to clean using

towel. a wire, mesh pot scrubber.
After trying every possible tool, we found the best thing for washing
gourds is a wire, mesh pot scrubber. It does a great job of scrubbing away
the dirt and dried skin, and it won’t scratch the surface of your gourd!

Welburn Gourds are famous for two main reasons: their exceptionally
thick shells, and being easy to clean. So even if you decide to purchase
unwashed gourds, either at our farm or with your Custom Order,
cleaning them is pretty simple (especially if you have kids to do the
job!).
Insider Tips On Washing Gourds
• If you live in a dry climate like Arizona, do not place your wet gourds
in the direct sun as they may crack! Ironically, very thick shelled
gourds have more of a tendency to crack in the sun. This is because
the hot air that expands inside the gourd cannot escape as quickly as
with a thin shelled gourd.
• If your gourd has any areas with shell damage or small cracks
(often where the gourd was lying on the ground) be careful not to
soak it too long; the water may seep into the shell and weaken it.
Cutting Gourds:
Safety Note: Gourd dust can irritate the throat and
respiratory system so please use a face mask when
cutting open and cleaning the inside of your gourds.

A simple, paper mask usually works fine, but if you are

extremely sensitive, please use a professional face mask
like a Respirator. Always cut your gourds on a solid,
non-slip surface. A piece of rubber shelf liner on a
table works great!

Making An Even Cut: To make an even, circular cut, use an embroidery

ring, mason jar lid, or cardboard template and mark the gourd with
a pencil. Make a narrow slit in the gourd using
a Hobby Knife so that you can insert your saw
blade.

You can now either make your cut manually with a

saw blade attachment for your Hobby Knife, or with
an electric jigsaw or Mini Jig Saw.

Keep in mind that some Welburn gourds are

extremely thick shelled, so a Hobby Knife with
saw blade attachment may be hard work! To
make the job go quickly, a Mini Jig Saw is the way
to go.

Another great benefit of using a Mini Jig Saw

is that it allows you to make precision cuts that
would be near impossible with a regular saw. The
intricate leaf cut-out design pictured right was
done using a mini saw.

Art by: Mary Segreto

Insider Tip: The Mini Jig Saw has a very fine blade so go slow when cutting
thick gourds, otherwise you will break your saw blades.
Cutting so the Lid Fits Back On: For a snug fit,
use a fine saw blade. A regular saw blade can be
too thick and the lid will sink down leaving a
gap. Also, a notch in your lid can be helpful so
you know which way the lid fits back on!

Step-by-step instructions available on DVD, “Oak Leaf Gourd with

Decoupage Lining” with Gloria Crane

Pictured above is a gourd bowl. The cut was made so seamlessly, at first
glance you may not realize the top is a lid! This project is in complete
detail on DVD!

Cleaning the Inside:

The inside of a gourd contains the dry seeds and membrane, which you
can discard or save for creative decorating of your gourd! Again, a face
mask is recommended for cleaning the inside of gourds.

You can clean the inside of your gourds one of two

ways: the first is using a hand scraper, as shown on
the left.

The second is with an Easy Cleaner Ball,

which attaches to any standard drill and makes
the cleaning process ten times as fast and easy
as shown to the right.
“I used my new Easy Cleaner Balls… I am in
Heaven! They are GREAT!!!!!!!! No more sore fingers, hands, wrists etc... In 5
short minutes I cleaned a gourd that would normally take hours.”
-Ivy A., South Jordan, Utah

The Easy Cleaner Ball comes in both coarse

and fine grit, which enables you to create a
smooth, professional finish on the inside of
your gourds.

It is available in different diameters and

different lengths, so you can even clean tall gourds!

The Easy Cleaner Ball is one of our top

selling products! In fact we are so sure you will love
it, it comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee!

Insider Tip:
Use the side of the Cleaner Ball rather than pressing straight down with the
ball. Keep your drill speed low until you feel comfortable.

The REAL Shortcut to Cutting and Cleaning:

If you really want to take the shortcut on cutting and

cleaning your gourds, you can let us do it for you!
Order “Pre-Cut, Craft Ready Gourds”!

Pre-Cut, Craft-Ready Gourds are available in several sizes and op-

tions, including V-Cut Canteen Vase, Mini Vases, Tall Body Gourd Vases
pictured below. To see the selection, please visit our web site or view
catalog for a complete listing.
Repairing Cracks:

Gourds are very similar to wood and cracks are easy

to repair using wood filler.

The wood filler provided by

GourdMaster™ Products is de-
signed not to flake off or shrink,
and once it is dry and sanded you wont be able to
tell where the crack was!

Insider Tip:
Before you use wood filler, drill a tiny hole at each end of the crack using
a Micro Hand Drill. This will ensure the crack does not spread.

Troubleshooting:

Gourds that Do Not Stand: Often times you will find a

gourd that is perfect in every way except it does not stand
or has a slight lean to it.

Don’t put that gourd back on the rack, put it on a

stand! (at right, gourd art by Gloria Crane)

There are many different options for

stands. A grapevine wreath like those
found at craft stores also works well and
can serve as a nice compliment to the natural qualities of
the gourd.

The reversible, metal gourd stand is very popular because

it is 2 stands in one. Set it one way for a larger gourd or
flip it over to hold a smaller gourd (pictured right)!

The most economic option is to create your own stand

using pieces of a gourd!
The size gourd you use to make your rings will depend
on how wide and thick you want your gourd stand to be.

Insider Tip:
To get your rings straight and even, try using masking tape as a marker.
You can peel it off and re-position it several times, and if you want wide
rings, 3-inch masking tape is available on our web site.

One of the best parts about using gourd pieces for a

stand is you can stain your stand to match your gourd
using Ink Dye!

Keep in mind gourd shells of separate gourds take stains

and dyes differently, so there may be a slight variation in
the color.

Replacing Stems: One of the most attractive features of a gourd is the

stem, but unfortunately stems fall off or break, often before they have a
chance to make it into the shipping racks!

To replace a broken stem first use scissors or pruning shears to remove as

much of the broken stem as possible.

Next use a metal file or rasp to file down the stub so it is flush with the
gourd, making sure not to scratch the shell of the gourd with the file.

Drill a ¼” long hole in your stem and insert a piece of wooden dowel,
gluing it into the replacement stem with gourd glue.
Use a drill to make a hole in your gourd slightly bigger than the size of
the wooden dowel you inserted in the stem.

Make sure the stem attaches correctly and sits the way you want,
and then glue it into the gourd using a strong bonding agent such as
Gourdmaster™ Gourd Glue.

Allow to dry 24 hours before handling, or whatever your glue

instructions recommend. You can order replacement stems for your
gourds through our web site or catalog.

Design Transfer:

As you get into gourd crafting, you will find a woodburning tool (more
formally known as a “pyrography” tool) is almost indispensable!

To woodburn images onto your gourd, such as

the hawk on the gourd pictured right, by Carrie
Dearing, in the past you had to first draw the
image on your gourd or transfer it using carbon
paper.
 Design transfer with carbon paper can be
discouraging, with images coming out crooked
and incomplete and rubbing off easily. Plus it is
time consuming since the image must be traced
over again using your woodburner.

That all changed with the

introduction of Stick n’ Burn Design Transfer Sheets.
The sheets are made to go through your printer, so you
can copy or print your design right onto the sheet.

Once printed simply cut out your image, peel

away the backing, stick the image directly on your
gourd shell, and start tracing your lines with your
woodburner right through the micro-thin film.

No need to do double work drawing your design, then

woodburning over the lines. Stick ‘n Burn lets you
combine both in one easy step.

Plus Stick n’ Burn can be peeled off and repositioned

before you start woodburning, so you can be sure to
get your design on straight and even, right where you
want it.

A variety of Pre-Printed Stick ‘n Burn design packs are

available! To see more design options visit our web site
at: www.WelburnGourdFarm.com

Pictured below, gourd art by Christy Barajas, images were

transferred with Pre-Printed Stick ‘n Burn.
Choosing a Woodburner:

The basic woodburner is economical and offers

several different branding tips. Even though the
temperature is not adjustable as in the higher end
woodburners, you can still do basic lines with the
standard wedge tip.

There are several higher-end, professional woodburners on the market,

which have an adjustable temperature dial and professional tips, which
are called “pens” because they are most often sold as a full handpience
not just a tip.

The adjustable temperature allows you to move

slowly when necessary, such as when you are burning
an intricate design or shading, or more quickly, such
as when you are burning straight lines.

Art by: Another huge advantage of the professional wood-

Pamala Redhawk burner over the basic woodburner is how quickly and
easily you can change tips.

To change from a blade tip, used in the straight-

cut lines of the feather pictured above, to a
more rounded tip used in the shading of the
hands, simply unplug one pen tip from your
unit and plug in the other. The pen is hot and
ready to use in about 10 seconds. Art by: Carrie Dearing

Is is important to woodburn your images first because it gives your de-

sign definition and helps contain your ink dye or acrylic colors so they
do not bleed into unwanted areas of your gourd.

For more assistance on picking the right burner, please call our office
and speak with one of our helpful customer service representatives.
Polishing Gourds:

Polishing gourds is not necessary, however it’s an

alternative that many artist prefer. Pictured right,
polished gourd ginger jar by Gloria Crane.

Polishing a gourd gives the gourd a beautiful,

natural smooth, high-polish finish similar to
wood.

It’s recommended to polish your gourd after all the woodburning has
been done, to eliminate any ruff edges and to prevent slipping while
working on your gourd. But before you add any color or finish.

A gourd can be polished by hand using different sanding grits but the
quickest way to polish a gourd is using a Gourd Disk Sander or a 3D
Sander. Pictured left, a 3D Sander.

To learn how to get a high-polish finish on your

gourd, visit FREE tutorials on our web site, www.
WelburnGourdFarm.com

Once the gourd has been completely sanded and

stained, seal with GourdMaster™ Protecting Wax for a deep, lustrious
finish. Simply apply with a soft rag or felt. Let the gourd sit for about 5
minutes until the wax takes a slightly cloudy appearance, then buff with
a piece of soft rag until the surface looks shiny and smooth.

Polished Ginger Jar by

Gloria Crane
Carving Gourds:

Are you ready to add beautiful carving techniques

like filigree and carved “basketry” into your gourd
art? Turn beautiful gourd art to AMAZING gourd
art. Pictured right, filigree gourd vase by Jonna An-
derson.
Filigree Gourd Vase
To achieve superior gourd carving you will need by Jonna Anderson
a professional rotary tool. There are several rotary
tools available in the market. It is best to select a tool that offers a vari-
able speed. Cordless carvers are not recommended for gourd carving
since they lack power plus they frequently require battery charging.

One of the hottest carvers in the market is the

GourdMaster™ Pro Carver II. Since it’s release it
has been in high demand by most gourd artist
around the country.

But what makes this carver so special? The

GourdMaster™ Pro Carver II was designed for gourd
carving. It has power and speed up to 35,000 RPM
for smooth carving. It comes with a foot pedal and a
small lightweight handpiece with low
vibration that minimizes stress on hand and wrist.

Best of all, it’s very Gourd Art by

affordable! Jordan Straker

Carved Canteen Gourd by

Denny Wainscott.

Insider Tip:
• Always carve your gourds on a solid, non-slip surface. A piece of
rubber shelf liner works great!
Selecting Burrs: There are a variety of different burrs available.

Structured tooth carbide burrs cut with

many randomly-positioned teeth working
simultaneously. They have a smooth cutting
action and they are very easy to control
which make them ideal for cutting large areas
quickly.
Gourd Art by Carrie Dearing

High speed cutters are great for texturing, inlay and engraving. Their low
cost make them indispensable for all beginner carvers.

Diamond burrs are ideal for adding details to any previously carved area
of your gourd.

Safety Note: Gourd dust can irritate the throat and respiratory system
so please use a face mask or professional respirator when carving your
gourds.

The most common carving

you will find on gourds is
“stipple carving”, pictured
left.

First, carve away the gourd skin using a

structured tooth carbide burr such as a Get simple tips and
cylinder. Then use a high speed ball cutter techniques for carving. This
and much more is featured in
to incise small pits evenly over the entire the DVD, “Carved Gecko”
carved surface. with Gloria Crane
Insider Tip:
• Once you have carved away the outer shell of your gourd, the
porous surface takes stains and dyes much differently, and you will
find they will soak in and become very dark and unattractive.
To add beautiful color to your porous gourd surface, simply mix
a few drops of Ink Dye into Gourd Varnish or Gel Glaze on a
palette and paint on with a paint brush. Works great on the rim and
inside of your gourd too! (technique featured in the Ink Dye video)
Gourd Colors and Finishes:

Until recently gourders had to depend on

products that were created for other mediums
to stain their gourds, such as shoe polish and
leather dye.

Leather dye quickly became the most popular Gourd art by Christy Barajas,
featuring GourdMaster™
because it is available in a wide Transparent Acrylics
range of colors. However, leather dye was
created for leather, not gourds, and along with
being messy and difficult to work with, the colors will fade A LOT.

Now there is Gourd Ink Dye and Transparent

Acrylics created by GourdMaster™ Products.
Formulated to provide rich, vibrant colors
that look great on your gourds. They are both
fade resistant, semi-translucent, non-toxic, and
very easy to work with. Plus they are extremely
Gourd art by Laura
concentrated and a little goes a
Welburn, featuring long way. Simply apply using a piece of felt or
GourdMaster™ Ink Dyes cotton round, for detailed
areas, use the microbrush or fine tip applicator.

Transparent Acrylics have the same transparent

beauty of Ink Dyes, but they have more body in
them so colors are much bolder and more vibrant
therefore they can be
worked like an acrylic paint Gourd art by Gloria Crane,
featuring GourdMaster™
and used with a paint brush. Transparent Acrylics

Ink Dye and Transparent Acrylics will air dry,

but it’s much faster and easier to use a heat tool.
Not only does it speed up your drying time, but
it also heat sets the color making it even more
durable and permanent.

Gourd Tree Lamp by Pamala Redhawk, featuring GourdMaster™ Ink Dyes

When you first apply your Ink Dye or Transparent Acrylic, it will
look very glossy and shiny. When it dries, the color will dull a bit. To
bring back the glossy, vibrant look, and to give your artwork a long-
lasting, durable finish, apply GourdMaster™ Varnish or GourdMaster™
Protecting Wax.

Painting Gourds:

Every coloring agent out there has probably been

tried on a gourd at some point, including water
colors, oil paints, acrylic paints, colored pencils, and
more.

It’s always great to experiment and try such products

for yourself. For painting gourds, acrylic paints are
extremely popular.

Unfortunately most acrylics you find in the craft stores are low quality
and you will see they scratch easily when applied to a gourd. (If you have
a gourd painted with acrylic paint, pick it up and look at the bottom;
you will most likely find scratch marks from where the gourd has been
turned or moved.)

Gourd artists and crafters wanted a higher quality

product for their work, and GourdMaster™ Products
fulfill that demand with Gourd Paint.

Not only does Gourd Paint resist scratching and

flaking, it is made to be combined with GourdMaster™ Ink Dyes and
powders to create an almost infinite line of custom colors!

Instead of wasting money buying a whole bottle of lower-quality acrylic

paint, you can mix White Gourd Paint with any of the Ink Dyes in
whatever amount you need!

If you want to mix enough custom color Gourd Paint to save the color
for later use, simply store in a small airtight jar.
More Ways to Decorate Gourds:

A popular technique used in gourd art is inlay,

which also calls for a carving tool.

The gourd pot, pictured left, was done by artist

and instructor, Gloria Crane, and incorporates
precious stones and matching beads inlayed
Step-by-step instructions
available on DVD, into the gourd surface.
”Inverted Gourd”
Coiling pine needles along the rim of your gourd is a beautiful compli-
ment to the natural look of gourds, and it’s easy!

First, make sure your ink dye and final varnish

have been done before starting your coiling. Then
mark where you will drill your holes along the
gourd rim.
Gourd art by Sue Welburn

Use your GourdMaster™ Pro Carver or electric

drill with a drill bit to drill the holes along the rim.

Once you have your holes drilled you are ready to attach your pine
needles. The best thread to use is Wax Linen Thread because it will not
slip around as you are working, and it comes in several different colors
to compliment your gourd art.

Insider Tip:
• To get your holes evenly spaced it is helpful to use a product like the
Designer’s Template we carry, which is a flexible, plastic sheet with
a grid marked on it. Cut a thin strip from the sheet, then use a hole
punch to punch holes in it at even intervals. Now you can use and
re- use your template for marking evenly spaced holes for coiling.
 Use a needle large enough to accommodate the
thickness of the thread; use a small bundle of pine
needles and sew onto your gourd rim, adding more
pine needles as needed.

This is a very basic use of pine needles with gourds, but

you can create incredible works of art using techniques
like the one pictured right, bear grass free-form coiling
by Sue Brogdon.

Conclusion:

When it comes to working with gourds, the possibilities are literally

endless! Be sure to experiment with your own decorating ideas and most
importantly, have fun!

To learn more about these and other techniques,

sign up for the Welburn Gourd Farm newsletter.
You’ll receive free gourd crafting videos (viewed
online only), special offers on gourds, gourd
tools and supplies, notices of upcoming classes
and events, and much more!

To request a FREE Catalog from the Welburn Gourd Farm, visit our
web site at www.WelburnGourdFarm.com or call our office toll free at
1-877-420-2613.

Happy gourders posing with their Welburn gourds

Welburn Gourd Farm, Inc. All Rights Reserved.