You are not limited to black spray paint for finishing the interior of your gourd bowls. Let’s review some of these options, and I’ll suggest products you can use to overcome any issues.
Let’s look at the problems incurred with the gourd’s interior and products you can use to overcome any issues.
When you cut open a gourd to create a bowl, you encounter a different kind of surface to work with. You may find that the wall is too thin or mold stains must be addressed. If you intend to use the gourd as a planter, you must consider how to seal it properly.
After sanding the interior, you may forgo spray painting it black. Instead, you might want to explore other interesting patterns or colors since more of the interior will be visible to the viewer.
You have various options beyond spray paint for finishing the interior of your gourd. Let’s review some of these options, and I’ll suggest some products you can use to overcome any issues.
One: Turning a Gourd Bowl into a Planter
The simple answer is to put your dirt for the plant inside a plastic pot and then set that inside the gourd. Another is to find a product that will form a seal against moisture. There are three options here. Beeswax is the traditional choice, primarily if you use it for food, but it degrades when left outside. Another option is paraffin, but it also degrades.
The most permanent solution is a product called Flex Seal.
It has a few safety issues. So, wear a mask and try to apply it outside. Clean and sand the interior well and drill a few drainage holes in the bottom. Flex Seal comes in three forms: liquid, spray, and paste. It penetrates cracks and holes, drying to a watertight, flexible rubberized coating that can be painted in any color. The spray version is available in clear and eight other colors.
If you choose the spray option, shake the can vigorously for about a minute. Then, hold the nozzle approximately 8 to 12 inches from the surface and spray sweepingly. Allow the first coat to dry for 24 hours before applying an additional coat, and let it fully cure for 48 hours.
The liquid version comes in clear, gray, black, and white. To apply it, use a disposable brush and clean your tools and workspace with a clean cloth or paper towel. Mineral spirits and acetone can help speed up the cleaning process. Once applied, this product forms a skin within 15 to 30 minutes. It is typically available at big box stores for around $15 to $18.
If the bowl is wide, look at the paste version of this product. You might find this easier to apply. Flex Seal is the most often recommended product when creating a planter pot from a gourd.
Tip: If you want to keep the gourd’s exterior clean, mask it with masking tape.
Two: Strengthening the Interior of Your Gourd for Intricate Carving
You’ve found the perfect gourd shape for your carving idea, but after cutting it open, you realize the walls are too thin for easy carving. How can you strengthen it? Gourd artists often recommend using Minimax Wood Hardener, PC Petrifier, or Durham’s Rock Hard Putty.
PC Petrifier is a liquid that can be brushed or sprayed into the wood’s pores. It requires no mixing and features a water-based formula, allowing deep penetration. PC Petrifier is non-toxic and odorless, unlike Minimax, which some users find unpleasant to work with.
However, Minimax Wood Hardener is also easy to use; brush it onto a clean, sanded surface and wait until it appears shiny. It dries in about 2 to 4 hours.
Durham’s Rock Hard Putty is preferred among most gourd artists.
Pour the dry putty into a clean dish and gradually add water until you reach the desired consistency (approximately three parts powder to 1 part water by weight). Prepare only the amount you need, as it sets quickly. If you’d like to slow the hardening process, add vinegar to the water during mixing.
Press the putty firmly into the interior of your gourd, filling it, and smooth the surface with a putty knife. Remove any excess putty before it hardens completely, and clean the surrounding area with a wet cloth. Allow it to stand for about 20 minutes to dry. At this point, it will have a texture similar to hard soap, making it easier to shave off any excess with a putty knife, minimizing the sanding needed later.
The putty will dry completely in about 40 minutes but refrain from sanding the interior of your gourd for about eight hours if you desire a smooth, light ivory surface. Due to its hardness, Durham’s Rock Hard Putty will not absorb most surface stains, but it can be colored with dry pigments, water-based stains, or paint. Please do not use any oil-based products with it.
Tip: This product can also weight your gourd to achieve a particular orientation.
Creative Solutions for the Interior of Gourds
Three: Cover the Inside with Colored Craft Sand
Let’s explore some creative options for decorating the interior of your gourd. You’ll also learn new techniques to enhance your future gourd projects throughout this process.
First, check out a Miriam Joy’s video. She will show you how to apply craft sand to the inside of a gourd for a clean, finished look.
Four: Decoupage the Interior Using Mod Podge
You might consider using materials such as mulberry paper, scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, old book pages, cotton fabric, or even tree bark. The key skill you’ll need to master is using Mod Podge as a glue and sealer.
Look for the following products online and add color and pattern to the interior of your gourd bowl.
Mod Podge Supplies
Purchase Mod Podge, a brayer, a foam brush, and makeup sponges to start. Pre-cut your paper or fabric to fit inside your gourd, and then you’re ready to begin.
Buying the Right Mod Podge
There are various formulations, so think about the final finish you want for your gourd once it’s complete. Here are some options:
- Classic: The basic version, available in glossy or matte finishes.
- Satin: Offers a finish between glossy and matte.
- Hard Coat: Provides a durable finish, available only in satin.
- Outdoor: Water-resistant but not waterproof, so avoid soaking it in water.
- Sparkle: Includes mixed glitter, which is great for adding sparkle. You’ll need to mix in extra glitter for a heavily glittered effect.
- Glow-in-the-Dark: This can be painted over a surface for a nighttime glow, but note that it’s thin and may require multiple coats.
If you select a fabric, wash and iron it beforehand. Washing removes excess dye and helps prevent bleeding, while ironing smooths the fabric, making it easier to work with. There is also a specific Mod Podge designed for fabric use.
Here are the steps for the Decoupage process
- Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge over the interior surface of the gourd using a brush, moving in one direction.
- Put a thin layer of Mod Podge on the back of your paper or fabric with a makeup sponge.
- Lay down the paper or fabric and press it into the glue, smoothing it in one direction. Use your brush or fingers to eliminate air bubbles, or consider using an old credit card.
- Once everything is smooth, apply a thick coat of Mod Podge to seal the paper, using your foam brush and moving in one direction to avoid visible brush strokes.
- Allow the Mod Podge to dry for 24 hours. Although it dries quickly, leaving it overnight will ensure the best results.
You can watch this process in this video.
Mod Podge Tutorial: Basic Steps of Applying Paper to Wood Using Mod Podge
You might also like to watch Bumblebee Junction artist demonstrate covering the exterior of a gourd to create a Crazy Mod Podge Chicken | Birdhouse Gourd Decoupage Crafting Project
Five: How to Apply Flock it! Suede-Tex
I have one last technique to share with you. There is a process for giving your interior a suede texture; It is called Flock It. Watch the video and buy the product from Blue Whale Arts.
https://www.bluewhalearts.com/videos/how-to-apply-flock-it-suede-tex/
We often focus on the gourd’s exterior, but there are things we can use on the interior besides spray paint. Finding the product that will work on the curved surface of our gourd is the challenge. If you are a “newbie”, I hope this will encourage you to use the different Mod Podge formulas to experiment with the process of decoupage; it offers many new possibilities for gourd art. Also, watch for papers and fabric that would look great on a gourd. The other products you can pick up at a big box store.
Any tips you could offer me on this topic?
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