Mini Gourd Lovin' Crafts

Basket of Mini Gourds Waxed

Autumn is most assuredly my favorite time of the year. Crisp air, changing leaves and mini gourds. Yeah; gourds. I know; right? Other people are thinking over-sized bright orange pumpkins, trick or treaters, mums and putting their flower beds to sleep for the winter and I am dreaming of little mini gourds.

My (over-zealousness) sheer delight of mini gourds happened quite by accident (as most of the wonderful things that happen in life do) when I was but knee high and decided to try to plant THE great pumpkin patch of all time in our family garden and somehow mixed in a packet of gourd seeds with my pumpkin seeds. When the pumpkins began to grow I noticed oddly shaped ~things~ twisting and growing among the vines. My Grams (father's mother) in her typical no nonsense way eyed them and proclaimed "Mini gourds. Completely worthless. Might as well pull them up and give your pumpkins a better chance to grow"

I could not. I would not! I felt so sorry for them. Colors of dull green, dull yellows and off whites, bent and twisted, so small in the shadow of the great pumpkins. Not big enough to make a birdhouse out of. Poor, precious little mini gourds. Thus began my life long love affair (and maybe a touch of over-protection) of the mini gourds.

Today these little mini gourds have completely ~ caught on ~ in Autumn designing and Fall tablescapes. Your imagination is the only limit on the possibilities of what you can do with them. Wreaths, snowmen, even nestled among the great orange pumpkins somehow makes the pumpkins look brighter by making the orange colors look that much oranger (is oranger a word? well; no matter. Today it will be)

I like to imagine that out there in the great wide world; bent over in the garden, are other people tenderly cultivating these simple, tiny, little odd shaped bits of completely fantastic and falling in love as I did so many years ago. If you simply do not have the space or the time to grow these little gourds then head to your nearest produce stand/farmer's market where you can buy them up by the bushel basket for a fraction of the cost that you'd pay at your local grocers. Then let you imagination run wild creating spots of indoor Autumn. Here are a few ideas to get you started.


Fall Tips!

Harvesting:
 
Leave the gourds on the vine until a light frost or the stems turn brown. If you need to pick a gourd before the frost, the gourd should be very firm to the touch. Cut the gourd with an inch or more of stem. Wash the gourds in soapy water. Dilute household bleach may be added to the water if desired, and may help delay mold formation. A light coat of non-glossy floor wax gives the gourds a natural glow.

Drying:
 
Dry the gourd fruits naturally by placing in an area with good air circulation. Bringing the gourds indoors may help them dry faster, but gourds can be dried outdoors even in cold areas. When the seeds rattle, the gourd is dry and ready for crafting. How long it takes a gourd to dry depends on the drying environment  -- the warmer and the better the circulation, the faster the water will evaporate from the gourd. Light may help to retard formation of mold, but the mold on the outside of gourds is a natural part of the drying process; as long as the gourd remain firm to the touch, do not discard it. Turning the gourds and wiping off the mold on a weekly basis may help the gourds dry sooner. If you don’t wash the gourd off with the bleach mixture, you’ll probably see some mold growing on it.  Don’t be alarmed if it does. Some people prefer it that way because mold gives it an unusual rustic look. While the natural method of drying in time-consuming, it is still the best recommendation for drying gourds.

Cleaning:
 
Once the gourd is completely dry it is ready to be cleaned. Rattling of seed is a good indication of dryness; however sometimes the seeds adhere to the inside of the gourd and in this case the gourd will be very light and sound hollow when tapped. Submerge the gourd in a bucket of warm soapy water and scrape off the outer skin with a plastic mesh bath or kitchen scrubby. Again; bleach may be added to the water, but it is not a necessity.

Using sandpaper or steel wool to clean dry gourds is OK if the gourd is going to be painted -- but there will be fine scratches from these abrasive materials which will show up if the gourd is stained with wood stains or a light coat of leather dye.

Mini Gourd and Faux Leaves Wreath.

Wreath Form (either wire, hay or Styrofoam)
Fake Leaves (any deep green or fall color will do)
Mini Gourds
Hot Glue Gun
Glue Sticks
Optional: Florist Wire (comes in green and brown- use the color that matches your leaves)

Tip! If you use a Styrofoam wreath spray painting it in a deep green (if using all green leaves) or dull brown (if using fall colored leaves) will hide any areas not completely covered by your leaves.

Tip! I have found that simply using a hot glue gun will hold your gourds to the wreath frame securely for one season of use BUT if you have created a masterpiece that you want to use year after year then the florist wire will hold each gourd in place when the glue begins to break down.

In this case I used a Styrofoam wreath, spray painted it a dark forest green and set it aside to dry. In the meanwhile I cut off all of the green leaves from a couple of old faux vines that had stashed away (for who knows what) until I had a nice pile. Once my wreath had dried I then began to hot glue my gourds around the center of my wreath BEFORE adding in the leaves. In the past I have glued the leaves first and then added the gourds but found that the gourds didn't hold very well and I ended up using twice the amount of florist wire than was necessary to hold them in place. Not a very visually appealing look.

Once I had the gourds glued to the Styrofoam wreath I then secured each gourd using green florist wire (so I could use this again next year) Simply wrap a piece of florist wire over the handle of each gourd and then loop it around the styrofoam wreath and twist it in a knot on the back side. (the wire sinks into the Styrofoam so you can't even see it) Then it was simply a matter of glue, glue, glue leaves all along the top and in between each gourd. Make a loop with a piece of florist wire or use a piece of ribbon as a hanger and that's it. Ready to hang.

So easy!

Mini Gourds Painted White/Black and Covered in Cheese Cloth

Easy Peasy Doily Pumpkins

Super Easy Doily Pumpkins

These Vintage Doily Pumpkins are the perfect way to decorate for the fall.  Decoupaged with vintage lace doilies in various colors, this no carve pumpkin decorating idea is great for Fall tablescapes, Weddings, Thanksgiving, and even Halloween.  You can use some black lace to add a more festive Halloween touch, or dye crocheted doilies various fall colors for a Thanksgiving centerpiece.

Materials:

Vintage doilies in shades of white, cream, and ecru
Dried real gourds or craft store faux pumpkins and gourds
Mod Podge for Fabric (make sure to get made for Fabric- the traditional one used for paper decoupage won't stick properly)
Paintbrush or foam brush
Spray paint in an off-white or ivory
Tin foil
Wax paper


Instructions:

1. The only prep work I did prior to painting was covering the gourd stems with tin foil.

2. A couple light coats of paint with drying time in between was adequate to give the pumpkins an even color.

 
3. I selected just the right doilies to fit each pumpkin. I cut some of them apart into smaller shapes that were easier to fit onto the pumpkin.  For the two small pumpkins, I just used one whole doily which I slipped over the stem to create a slightly different look.
 
4. I usually cover my work table with wax paper when I work with Mod Podge.  I followed the directions on the bottle when applying the Fabric Mod Podge to the doilies.

5. After coating one side of the doilies, place them on the pumpkin and tap all the edges down with your fingers.  Once the pieces are adhered to the pumpkins, wait for two hours while the initial coat dries.  Then a topcoat of Mod Podge can be applied to the entire piece.

That's it.
Didn't I say it was super easy?

Pumpkin ohh Pumpkin

Ohh Great Pumpkin

Did you know that the pumpkin is a fruit and not a vegetable? And that 80 percent of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in October? This article explores some interesting facts about the common pumpkin and provides useful websites where you can find pumpkin recipes, original pumpkin carving ideas and school activities to keep kids busy during Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Pumpkin Facts
 
The name pumpkin originated from the Greek "pepon" which means "large melon." The pumpkin is a member of the cucurbitacae family which includes cucumbers and melons. Pumpkins were unknown to Europe until after Christopher Columbus sailed to America. They are grown around the world with the biggest productions being in China, India, United States and Mexico. Out of all the continents only Antarctica is unable to produce pumpkins. The Native American name for pumpkin is "isqoutm squash." Around 90-95 percent of the processed pumpkins in the United States are grown in Illinois.
Pumpkins are 90 percent water and contain vitamin A and potassium. 100 grams (3.5 oz) of pumpkin contain 0.01 grams of polyunsaturated fat, 1.0 grams of protein and 3100 pg of beta-carotene, an antioxidant. The seeds which are usually roasted are a popular treat and a good source of protein, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, and other vitamins. Studies and research show that beta-carotene is linked with cancer protection.






Cooking with Pumpkins


Most parts of the pumpkin are edible. The seeds can be dried and eaten as a nutritious snack. The flowers, leaves and shell are also comestible. The first pumpkin pies were made when colonists sliced off pumpkin tops and removed the seeds, then they filled the pumpkins with honey, milk and spices and baked them in hot ashes.


Pumpkins are said to have originated in the Americas and Native Americans had multiple uses for them. They roasted and ate the seeds, dried pieces of pumpkin in flour, they ate the blossoms and made strips from pumpkins which they flattened and wove into mats. They also used pumpkin seeds for medicinal purposes. Today pumpkins have become a North American tradition and a staple especially during Halloween and Thanksgiving. Pumpkin is used for cooking in a number of recipes from muffins and bread to pies and custards. It is also used in soups, to make pudding and cakes. Pumpkin can be bought whole fresh or canned for a longer shelf life


In other parts of the world pumpkins are used for cooking in a variety of ways. In Italy pumpkins have different regional cooking uses, they are used as a savory stuffing for ravioli, sliced in small pieces and then fried or they are cut in pieces and then candied. In the Middle East pumpkin is used in desserts. In Thailand small pumpkins are served as desserts with custard inside. In India pumpkin is cooked with sugar, spices and butter to produce a dish called kadu ka halwa. In China pumpkin leaves are cooked and eaten alone or in soups.






Other Pumpkin Uses


Pumpkin seeds produce oil that is used for cooking, as salad dressing or mixed with other oils. The oil is a good source of essential fatty acids that help maintain a healthy heart and blood vessels.
Veterinarians recommend canned pumpkin as a dietary supplement for cats and dogs with digestive problems. Pumpkins are also used as animal feed.


In 2007 in a research on type-1 diabetes conducted by East China Normal University it was suggested that chemical compounds found in pumpkin extract are very good for pre-diabetic people and for those who already have diabetes.






The Pumpkin and Halloween


Many centuries ago the Celts used to celebrate the end of the Celtic year from October 31 at sundown until November 1st by remembering their loved ones who had passed away. To honor them on this magical night they set on their porches and window sills glowing jack-o-lanterns carved from turnips and gourds. The original Jack-o-lantern was an old drunkard who played tricks on anyone who went his way, so says the legend of Stingy Jack. When the old man died neither heaven nor hell wanted him because he had been mean and cruel during his life. Afraid that he would have to keep wandering in a never ending darkness Jack turned to the devil to help him his way through the darkness, the devil tossed an ember from the flames of hell to help Jack find his way. Jack kept the ember in a hollowed out turnip and since then Jack is said to have roamed the universe with his lit Jack-o-lantern.


When European settlers, especially the Irish, arrived in North America they discovered the pumpkin which lent itself to carving the Jack-o-lantern and they thought it was easier to carve because of the larger size. Halloween, however, didn't catch on until the late 19th century. Since then pumpkin carving at Halloween has become a North American tradition and a fun activity for children and adults alike. In the United States, long before its association with Halloween, the pumpkin was associated with harvesting, hence Thanksgiving.






How to Select a Pumpkin for Cooking or Baking


The best selection for a pumpkin to cook or bake is a pie pumpkin or sweet pumpkin. Pie or sweet pumpkins are smaller than the type of pumpkins used to carve jack-o-lanterns and the flesh is sweeter and not as watery. When selecting a pumpkin, look for a stem that is one to two inches. When the stem of a pumpkin is cut too low, the pumpkin will quickly decay or may already be decaying at time of purchase. Pumpkins should be heavy, and pumpkins that are blemished or have soft spots should be avoided. A pound of raw pumpkin usually constitutes one cup finished pumpkin puree.






Other Pumpkin Facts


•The size of pumpkins range from less than a pound to over 1,000 pounds, with the largest pumpkin ever grown weighing 1,689 pounds.


•In 2006 the total U.S. pumpkin production was 1 billion pounds. Top states in pumpkin production are: California, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Christian Pumpkin Carving

Christian Pumpkin

I am a Jack O' Lantern
My light will shine so bright
For I am a Christian pumpkin
My symbols tell what's right.

My nose is like the cross
on which on Savior died
To set us free from sin
We need no longer hide.

My mouth is like a fish
The whole wide world to show
That Christians live in this house
And love their Savior so!

The story starts at Christmas
My eyes are like the star
That shone on Baby Jesus
And wise men saw from far

My color it is orange
Just like the big bright sun
That rose on Easter Day
Along with God's own Son.

And so on Halloween
Let's set our pumpkins out
And tell the trick or treaters
What God's love is all about!

"Pumpkin Carving Prayer"
~ childrens' activity ~
 
Dearest God,

As I carve my pumpkin,
Open my mind so I can learn about You;
(Cut the top of the pumpkin)


Take away all my sin and forgive me for the wrong things I do;
(Clean out the inside)


Open my eyes so Your Love I will see;
(Cut eyes shaped like hearts)


I'm sorry for turning up my nose to anything You have given me;
(Cut a nose in the shape of the cross)


Open my ears so Your Word I will hear;
(Cut ears shaped like the Bible)


Open my mouth so I can tell others You're near;
(Cut mouth in the shape of a fish)


Let Your Light shine in all I say and do! Amen.
(Place a candle and light)