"Stained Gourds" -- A Fall Decorating Project

I don't know if you've seen gourds used in fall decorating projects, but I'd like to share with you the way I use them in mine. A couple of years ago I bought several dried gourds in various shapes and sizes at a yard sale. I took them home, wiped them off with damp paper towels, and then stained them with Minwax stain in several different finishes. I also used oil paints on some of them to add more color.

I was so pleased with the way they turned out and use them on my mantel for fall, along with vines, berries, and leaves ...

If you decide to try this project, be sure to select gourds with character, i.e., with lots of different colors and patterns. The more interesting they are in their natural state, the prettier they will be after they're stained.

The best thing about working with stain is that you really can't make a mistake. If one finish is too light, you can just go over it with a darker stain until the desired effect is achieved. Also, if the gourd has a lot of color and interesting patterns, you may want to just spray it with polyurethane to seal it and not stain it at all.

I use paper towels (be sure to wear gloves because the stains are oil-based), and just "dab or rub" the stains on the gourds.

This year, I wanted to do some for my mother and daughter, so I went to the local farmers' market and bought 14 gourds in various shapes and sizes. Here is what they looked like before I did anything to them ...

Today, my mother, daughter, granddaughter Avery, and I (that's four generations) had a good time staining the gourds. Even Avery, who is three, got in on the fun (notice her little mouth all drawn up like a bow with concentration) ...

We were happy with the way they turned out, and can't wait to decorate for fall with them ... What do you think?

While I had the stain out, I decided to "revive" this little fellow with a new coat of stain. He "lives" on a rock beside our waterfall, and he had faded from the sun, poor thing ...

Here he is after his revival ...
Doesn't he look happier?