Painted Gourd Birdhouses

These patterns can be used for fun and local craft show profit. No mass reproductions of designs or instructions permitted.

Bee Bird House

Materials:
  • Gourd
  • Sand Paper
  • Paints
    • Black
    • Light Buttermilk (Americana)
    • Straw (Delta Ceramcoat)
    • Old Parchment (Delta Ceramcoat)
  • Drill with bits
  • Jute
  • Matte spray Varnish
  • Black Permanent Marker
  • Flat Brush for basecoat
  • Round brush for detail
  • Tack Cloth
  • Pencil
Procedure:
Clean, and sand a dried gourd. Wipe with a tack cloth. Drill 2 small holes at the top of the gourd large enough to thread jute. Drill a larger hole to act as a hole for the bird. Base coat the gourd with 2 coats of Old Parchment allowing each coat to dry thoroughly. Draw on the Bees in a random pattern (see pattern below) - making sure they are facing all directions. They look goods in groups of 3 or alone. Base coat the wings in Light Buttermilk. Let dry. Base coat the bee body in Straw. Let dry. Base coat the head and stripes in Black. Let dry. Outline the wings, add antenna and a stinger with a permanent marker. You can also add the dotted lines to show where he has been and the curved lines to hint at wing movement. Allow to dry thoroughly before you spray with a matte finish. Thread jute through the top holes of the gourd and tie for hanging. You can add lengths of jute in a bow if you'd like. Optional: You may want to add Buzz on Inn around the door opening but make sure you allow for this when you draw the bees on.


Lady Bird House

Materials:
  • Gourd
  • Sand Paper
  • Paints
    • Black
    • Rasberry Framboise (Americana)
    • Colonial Green (Americana)
  • Drill with bits
  • Jute
  • Matte spray Varnish
  • Black Permanent Marker
  • Stencil Brush
  • Tack Cloth
Procedure:
Clean, and sand a dried gourd. Wipe with a tack cloth. Drill 2 small holes at the top of the gourd large enough to thread jute. Drill a larger hole to act as a hole for the bird. Base coat the gourd with 2 coats of Colonial Green allowing each coat to dry thoroughly. Draw on the Ladybugs in a random pattern (see pattern below) - making sure they are facing all directions. Base coat the wings in Rasberry Framboise. Let dry. Base coat the head in Black. Add dip dots to the Wings in Black. A dip dot is a dot made with the end of your paint brush. Dip it into a puddle of paint and then holding the brush at a 90 degree angle dot the wings. Let dry. Outline the wings, add antenna and the dotted lines with the permanent marker to show where she has been. Allow to dry thoroughly before you spray with a matte finish. Thread jute through the top holes of the gourd and tie for hanging. You can add lengths of jute in a bow if you'd like. Optional: You may want to add Fly Away Home around the door opening but make sure you allow for this when you draw the Ladybugs on.





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