Got Questions? Get Answers! This is your place to learn from each other and to share all of our knowledge in the art of gourding. Tips are listed in alphabetical order by subject matter.
A
Acid
Acids weaken the cellulose in paper, which leads to its break down, causing discoloration & disintegration.
Question:
What does Acid Free mean?
Answer:
(Oz) Acid Free refers to paper and other items that do not contain acids.
Appliqué
Paper Appliqué is when one piece of paper/ card shape is fastened onto another, with glue or stitching.
Antiquing
To antique something is to make it appear aged, most commonly done using inks.
Accent Beads
Accent beads are tiny beads to add depth and dimension to your work, fixed on with glue, also known as bitty beads or micro beads.
Altered
This is taking a normal product such as a book, domino, CD etc, and changing it by adding paint, stamped images, and embellishments etc.
B
Brayer
A small hand roller used to spread ink thinly & evenly, available with different textures for patterned finishes.
Beadazzles
A brand name of embellishments that are a mixture of tiny microbeads and foil discs in various shades, attached with clear-drying glue, or tacky tape. They add depth and dimension to a project.
Beadlings
These are little shapes, flowers, animals, people etc that are made from knitting together tiny beads and wire to form the shapes, which can then be used as embellishments.
Beads
Come in hundreds of shapes sizes and colors, can be used to create beadlings (see above), jewelry or can be used as embellishments for your craft projects.
Bleach
Household bleach, when used carefully, can create beautiful pieces of artwork.
Blending
Often with inks or chalks, blending is the technique used to mix two colors together.
Buttons
Well we all know what they are, they can be used as a lovely embellishment &they come in thousands of shapes and colors.
Business License
Question:
Is there a requirement to have a business license to sell gourds on line or else where?
Answer:
Do you sell more than $12,000 worth of goods a year? If so you have to file taxes on that, if so you need a business license, more info here http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/ and here http://access.wa.gov/business/index.aspx, if you sell under that amount then no you don't need a business license.
Bur or Bit Cleaning
Question:
I was trying to work on a gourd today using several cutting bits on my Dremel. Within a short period of time, they became gummed up. Why is this happening and what can I do about it?
Answer:
Bonnie Gibson's web site (Bur Cleaning Info and Tips) There are different reasons why burs leave burn marks or don't cut well. If you know your bur is relatively new and not likely to be dull, then the cause is often a dirty or clogged bur. The easiest way to clean all types of burs is to get a small jar (baby food size is fine) and fill it with enough acetone to cover the bur cutting heads. Let the burs soak for a while, the acetone won't hurt them. This will loosen the resins that are clogging the cutting surfaces. After the burs are removed from the acetone, simply scrub them off with a toothbrush shaped brass brush. This should eliminate the majority of the debris. You can re-submerge and repeat if necessary. Carbide burs are much tougher and in a pinch they can even be flamed with a small propane torch to burn off the residue. Use caution when using this method; flame the bur while it is chucked into your tool, don't attempt to hold it with pliers (or your fingers!!!). Do NOT try this on steel burs. They will lose their temper and will not hold a sharp edge. If you are cleaning a mandrel mounted carbide bur, you must remove the small fiber washer before using the torch cleaning method.
C
Calligraphy
The art of writing in a beautiful, flowing script style, which is done properly using a selection of specialist calligraphy pens and nibs.
Craft Knife
A basic tool for the craft box, your craft knife should be extremely sharp & the blades need to be changed regularly to ensure clean cuts for a professional finish.
Cutting Mat
For use with a craft knife, a crafter's cutting mat will protect your surfaces from cut marks. The self-healing properties of a good quality cutting mat allow them to last a long time, before finally falling apart.
Clay
There are many types of craft clays, which can be used for making embellishments, models etc. There are many molds on the market that make it very easy to create intricate embellishments in very little time. Some clays like Fimo have to be baked to harden off, others like Makins clay will air dry. Both are great to work with.
Credit Card
Although not a craft item, old ones can be used as glue spreaders and without new ones, how many of us would really be able to carry on creating our masterpieces?!
Crafters Block
This is the time when you find yourself just staring at your craft materials with not a single idea in your head of what to create. It happens to us all & you will get through it by seeking inspiration from magazines, craft books or the Imag-e-nation website, which will provide you with loads of inspiration & information.
Copper Wire
Comes in all sorts of colors & thicknesses (gauges) and can be bought in sheet form. Use for threading beads, creating beadlings, or make it into shapes to embellish your craft projects.
Charms
In paper crafting terms, charms are usually metal or metal-effect and come in thousands of designs. They are usually attached to your craft projects with wire, thread, eyelets or brads.
Collage
A style which is often 'busy' with lots of mix and match images or materials within one project.
Couch
A primer coat or layer, as of paint. To embroider by laying thread flat on a surface and fastening it by stitches at regular intervals.
Candle Gourd
Question:
I am trying to make a "candle gourd". Answer: Gourds are flammable and will smolder for hours until they are nothing. (I have seen this happen) Using the wax method you are taking a chance that the wax may or may not be covering ALL of the gourds insides. If a breach in the wax happens the meat of the gourd will wick the oil into itself and could possibly make the whole gourd a potentially dangerous candle. The only “Safe” way to make a candle out of a gourd is to use Glass wick inserts, they have a flare at the top where the wicks flame is and a long tube that inserts into the gourd that holds the oil and the wick. The flare that sits on top of the gourd where the wick’s flame is keeps the flame safely away from the gourd.
Or, if it is a larger gourd, then a Candle Glass insert that is shaped like a drinking glass can be used to hold a tea candle, make sure it is taller than the rim of the gourd or flares to rest on the opening of the hole. Either way, the gourd needs to be stabilized so it will not accidentally get knocked over. This can be accomplished by screwing/gluing the gourd onto a base or making sure it has a large flat bottom and add weight to the gourd to inhibit rocking.
* KEEP flame from the gourd. * NO gourd part to be over the flames heating area. * Keep the gourd steady so it won’t tip. * Also paint the inside where the gourd may get warm ONLY with Fire resistant paint like the spray paint that is sold for wood stoves, it comes in several colors and can be found at your local wood stove dealers. Other paints may release toxic odors.
Carving
Question:
How do I hold a gourd still when trying to carve on it?
Answer:
There are a couple ways. 1. you can take a towel and roll it up length ways, then wrap it in a circle and overlap it, adjust to fit around the gourd. 2. Buy a piece of foam or Styrofoam and cut a angled circle in the middle. Curve the inside cut (remember gourds are not flat). Depending on the size of the gourds you work on you can make different sizes to hold different size gourds. (Both of these methods can also be used while carving, painting and burning). 3. Hold gourds in place with a strip of the thin rubber shelf liner that has a pattern of little square holes in it. I have one strip that lays across my lap and one that I place on the table in front of my dust collector. It works very well to keep the gourds from jumping out of my hands when I am carving or wood burning.
Answer:
Using those rubber finger tips work great to grip on the smooth round surface of a gourd. I use them when ever tools are used, gives me a safe hold on the work piece. Found rubber finger tips at the office supply store.
What tools would you recommend for the novice carver?
Answer:
Several years ago A. B. Amis, who is a master carver, selected two chip carving tools for me. He felt they were sufficient for a novice carver. One was a straight handle 3/32" U Veiner, that at the time, cost $8.50 from Turtle Feathers. The other was 1/4" #9 with a rounded handle, also from Turtle Feathers, $12.50. I have taken a couple of classes in chip carving and find the geometry of it a challenge for me. Having a drafters compass is a big help. A. B. taught some classes at the Cherokee, N.C. gathering, but has not been attending the last couple of years. Classes are offered quite often at various gatherings. I love the looks of a finished carved gourd. I have always used a canteen gourd to work on, but any gourd that is not too thin should work.
Cleaning Gourds
Question:
(Dipper Gourd Question) I have a special order from a Native American for a dipper gourd to be used as a ceremonial drinking gourd. I have cleaned out the bowl part of the gourd and need to find the best way to remove any bitterness so there will be a clean, fresh, natural taste to the water. Also, the handle is almost impossible to clean out. Any suggestions on cleaning up the inside of the handle? Or maybe the handle should be plugged so water does not enter it. If so, what would normally be used to plug it? I also need a suggestion for a "natural" way to preserve the outside because I will be doing some light woodburning and using some leather dyes for coloring the designs that have been requested. Any suggestions would be so helpful.
Answer:
When selecting a gourd for a dipper - select one that has no discolorations in the bowl (may be hinting of mold). Scrape and sand the bowl, clean out handle as good as possible. To remove the bitterness fill the dipper with water let sit for several hours, dump the water fill it up again sip some and taste. Keep doing this process until the bitterness goes away. I have tried this and it works. You can also speed up the process buy adding a "tad" bit of backing soda to the water each time it soaks to help speed up the sweetening process. Cut a cork to fit the area where the neck meets the bowl to plug the handle to help keep the handle dry. The gourd needs to be left natural - no finish so it can sweat and dry thoroughly, Do your art work only on the handle but you may carry only the Wood burning- no coloring onto the ladle if wanted, staying away from the area where the lips would be on the gourd - right and left handed drinkers. A web site or in one of the gourd groups that the best way was to fill with water and let set. You do this a few times or until the water comes out clear and tasteless. And, if I remember right, you can also use on the inside the type of finish you would use to seal a wooden salad bowl. I have made a few bowls that are being used for eating. I filled the bowls with water for 3 days. Then I emptied them and repeated the process. Then I took a sip. Did not taste great, so I did it again for 3 days. Tasted again and it was fine. I can't remember where I read this but it worked. I believe it is how the people of the past did it. I suggest a metal cloths hanger for the handle. Let me know how it turns out Kate If you soak and rinse the gourd out with water multiple times it supposed to get rid of the bitterness (some people add baking soda to the water). I've used walnut oil(any nut oil can be used because it won't go rancid, people use it to treat cutting boards) sometimes as a nontoxic treatment of the gourd inside and out when I make bowls to be used for food. It soaks up more on the inside than the outside and if you did it on the inside it should probably be rinsed afterwards to get rid of surface oil. As for the gourd neck, I'm not sure, you don't want any gourd dust/flakes getting into the drinking part. You might be able to plug it somehow using nontoxic water-based polyurethane? I have read that to get rid of bitterness you should fill with water and replace water every day until it does not taste bitter. Just thought I would throw that out there. Have you considered filling the handle with water and letting the gourd membranes soak and become mushy? I did this with a birdhouse gourd that had an inside as large and as hard as a rock. I filled it with water and let it set for a few days. The insides completely rinsed out with the pressure of water from a hose. I do not know much about eliminating bitterness out of a gourd. What did they do historically to use gourds as a drinking vessel? Did they use beeswax to coat the insides to help water proof the gourd? I would certainly like to know because my children have decorated canteen gourds and would like to use them. I hope you can find a solution.
Question:
I have one particular gourd that I am unable to get the black off ~ it is covered with black spots that seem to be a part of the skin of the gourd itself, NOT anything on top of the skin that could be scrubbed off. The black dots are very thick, covering the entire gourd. I re-soaked the gourd in a strong bleach solution, using hot water... I tried sanding the gourd ~ didn't help. I tried a paste of granulated dishwasher soap ~ no difference. Hopefully someone can give me the magic formula. (this is a fairly large gourd, and the project I had in mind did NOT include painting it, which I'm beginning to think may be my only option...)
Answer:
I use a paring knife holding it almost flat at the spot, slipping the knife under the skin. I have used a single bladed razor blade to if I need something sharper. Be careful. Hope I explained this correctly, and that it works. Cut your losses and move on... that would be my solution.. sounds like you have tried everything else. There are times when you'll get a gourd that will have deep black spots. It happens in the drying process, and what causes it is unknown. Mother Nature is in charge! Those black spots will go deep into the wall of the gourd and can't be cleaned. If you it cut open, you'll find that the black has penetrated clear through. No bleach, or cleaner will remove it no matter how hard you scrub. Greg, my husband and the farmer, suggest you paint a primer over the entire gourd to seal it, then paint. I have encountered this situation several times and each time it was the same cause. The gourds had the dreaded Black fuzzy lung attacking mold in it that has penetrated its blackness thru the gourd meat and colored the outer skin with the black spots- large and small. I never have been able to lessen the darkness of the spots on the outside. WARNING -IF you do open this type of gourd up in any way you will need to kill the mold spores. Lysol makes a Mold and Mildew Killer that I use it can be found in most stores, Lysol Disinfectant Spray. Kills viruses, bacteria, mold and mildew, Kills 99.9% of germs in 30 seconds. There may be something better than this to use but so far this has served me well. I wear my canister style dust mask and open the gourd up in front of the dust collector. Being careful to not rush air into it and make the mold spores go flying around. IF the gourd is over ½ covered on the inside with the black mold I throw away the gourd. It is not worth my health to fight it. If I decide to try and save it; Holding the can of Lysol far enough away to not rush air into the gourd when spraying, I spray it heavily all around and into the lid, put the lid back on and let it sit overnight. The next day (wearing my Canister mask) I scrape out the insides into a bag and put it into the trash. Then I spray the gourd heavily again with the Lysol , put the lid on and again let it sit overnight. The third day I let it dry out. It is at this point where I decide if it is worth proceeding, if it is, I scrape and sand the inside and give it another good spray, spraying until the Lysol puddles. I roll this Lysol Puddle around several times and turn the gourd so the puddle is over the inside of the biggest dark spots and again let it soak and sit overnight. Then after letting it thoroughly dry, I craft the gourd. I have always wound up fully coloring the inside and outside to Hide the dark mold colorations.
Question:
Help~ I cleaned a gourd (Washington) and believe it or not, it's pretty thick..not as thick as Welburn's but every bit as thick as Wuertz'. but....it stinks to high heaven.. yow.. I cleaned the inside out today thinking that would help.. I put a wood hardener in it, let it sit then spray painted it black, but man oh man, it still stinks.. any suggestions???
Answer:
Before the wood hardener and paint you should have mixed a solution of water and vinegar and filled the inside of the gourd, let it sit for a little bit and dump it out. Vinegar is a natural cleaner. I had a whole lot of gourds that had been chewed by rats...some even had nesting material in them. Someone, and I am thinking it was Gloria Deterick, suggested soaking the gourd in salt water. I filled a trash can with water, added two boxes of regular salt (not iodized, although I don't know that it would make a difference) and submerged the gourds for a couple of days. It seemed to do the trick. Since you have sealed it already I'm not sure if this would still work. If it can kill rat urine odor it should work on just about anything! Have you cut any of the other gourds? Do they smell bad too? Talk to me about using wood hardener. Yeah, I have a suggestion, throw it out! I think you sprayed it too early. Get the stink out first – then hardener and spray. SOMETHING is/has caused the smell and it has to be killed/cured, now you have locked in what ever is causing the smell and it may decay after time. I use heavy scraping then Lysol Spray 99% mold and mildew killer - soak the insides and cover with plastic or its lid for 24 hours. Let dry, then repeat with a light scrape or sand and another heavy coat of Lysol spray. . If the gourd still stinks let it air out preferably in a shed or out building (not the house or garage incase it is mold) for several days or weeks, then try a spray of Febreez. I have found this works but don’t expect a quick fix. Some I have had to let air out for several months. In 4 years I have only had to throw away 2 gourds because the stink wouldn’t come out. I have a helpful tip in cleaning gourds especially AZ gourds. Your gourds out there have a terrible white skin that is the hardest to get scrubbed off, I tried this and it works wonderfully! Take a bounce fabric sheet, get it wet, rub it until your sheet gets kind of creamy then wipe it on your gourd. I sometimes even lay it on the tough white film, wrap it in a towel, wait a while & then scrub with a copper scouring pad. Wala, a nice clean gourd without too much work. You can also try filling a tub with hot water and adding a few bounce sheets, this works if you need to clean more than one at a time. You can also use Downy, but I don't find the results are as good or easy.
A round miniature stamp pad which can be dabbed onto a stamp to apply ink.
Decorative & tole painting
Creative use of paint to decorate items for the home (also known as Folk Art).
Découpage
Dating back to the Victorian era, this is the craft of cutting out motifs from paper and gluing them to a surface to create a three dimensional, layered effect. Often finished with layers of varnish to give a smooth finish.
Degradation
The breaking down, or changing of appearance, of materials from their original state. The term is typically used in crafts to refer to paper or photographs yellowing and becoming brittle or when varnish or a coating becomes old and starts to crack or yellow.
Distressing
The process of intentionally creating scratches, dents and ‘wear and tear’ to mimic the characteristics of aged paper, wood etc. Common tools include sandpaper and inks.
Dye
A dye is a natural or synthetic substance used to color something. Dyes are usually used in an aqueous solution, which will work on all porous surfaces. They are most often used to color materials and fabrics. To apply a stain, dye, or other liquid to alter the color of a gourd. Also a liquid used to permanently change the color of a material.
Dye-based inks
Water-based, washable inks that are permanent once applied on papers. Dye-based inks stamp well, dry quickly and are suitable for coated papers. However, they fade with time, they dry too quickly for embossing.
E
Embellishment
Anything that will add to, or enhance, your project (e.g. brads, eyelets, fibers, charms).
Emboss
To create a raised design.
Embossing pens
Pens containing embossing ink which are useful for writing titles, outlining, drawing, spot embossing and fine stencil work.
Embossing powder
Clear or colored powder which is sprinkled, then heated to create a raised image.
Enamel paint
There are lots of different types of enamel paint that dry to a hard, usually glossy finish.
Encaustic (wax) painting
A painting technique which combines color pigment with hot wax and resin. This mixture of materials is applied in its semi-liquid form to a panel or other support as paint, and then fused to the surface with heat (using an iron or similar). Epoxy A plastic coating applied to the surface of a sticker, metal accent or other, which may look like enameling and creates a raised effect. Epoxy is a two part chemical when mixed gives a short use time before hardening.
Embellishing
Question:
Where can I find cheap embellishments or what can I use?
Answer:
Hunt the garage sales, thrift stores, craft sales, etc. for any kind of junk jewelry, beads, pods, horns and antlers, basket material...anything that I think I can couch or glue on a gourd. Usually I will tear a piece of jewelry or beading apart and use pieces of it. If you have the big southern pine cones they can be torn apart and the individual petals(?) used as trim. I have used pieces of thin broken gourd in a mosaic effect. Shells or small sea glass pieces, or stones & beads can be attached the same way. Sand can be sprinkled over a thinned glue base for texture, or spray stone. Some times I can find items in the notion dept. of the fabric store that can be added as trim. I also watch for candle holders or other bases that I can set my finished gourd on. It shows the gourd to a better advantage than just sitting flat on a shelf.
F
Fade resistant
A quality of a product that means it is more likely to remain vivid in colour and true to its original pigment.
Faux
Faux is a French word used to describe something which has been made to resemble something else. The original French word means ‘false’, ‘fake’, ‘imitation’ or ‘artificial’.
Felt-tip pen
A pen with a dense, shaped fiber point. Ink is drawn from inside the pen by a wick. Felt-tip pens were first used in commercial and graphic arts, but became popular for general writing during the 1970s. They are less popular now, perhaps because the points wear rapidly and the ink is prone to evaporate.
Fiber
A fancy thread used to decorate gourds.
Filigree
Lace-like ornamental work of fine gold or silver wire. With gourds is the intricate cutting of different shaped holes through the gourd.
Fimo
Fimo is a soft modeling material which stays soft and pliable until baked to permanent hardness in a home oven.
Fine & chisel pens
Pens used for lettering. A fine-tip pen measures 0.5mm at the tip and a chisel measures 6.0mm.
Fixative
A fixative makes something permanent. It is sprayed over work to prevent smearing and to help charcoal, graphite, pastels etc adhere.
Focal point
The element of a design, layout or image to which the eye is naturally drawn.
Foils
Metallic colored foils that can be applied to gourds using glue. The result is a shiny raised finish.
Font
The style of a typeface; thousands of different fonts are available in word processing programs, on CDs, and for download on the internet.
Forum
An online community where you can share ideas and chat. There are loads of craft-related forums you can visit to brush up on your craft knowledge, share your creations, and meet like-minded crafters.
Fringe
A decorative edge or hem.
Finishes
Question:
I would like to sand a gourd to make it looks like glass or that's its been polished to a shine, What grit do I start with ??? I used a wet/dry and a 220 grit, doesn't look like anything is happening, do I just keep on going ? do I need to buff ? or will it start to shine once I finish with all the sanding ?
Answer:
(Bonnie Gibson) I start with 120 grit, then progress through probably 3 finer grits, finishing with 400 or even finer. I finish by buffing the gourd with a polishing compound on a large cloth buffing wheel on a bench grinder. It's a very labor intensive process. Softer gourds won't ever look as good as hard gourds. California gourds are soft.
Food Safe Gourd - Yerba Mate
Question:
How do I cure a gourd that I will be using as a Yerba Mate?
Answer:
Yerba Mate Curing To "cure" your mate: Amargo (style) [...means "bitter"; The most typical drinking method.]
To cure a gourd for drinking mate amargo... · First wash your gourd with hot water (no soap) and remove any loose interior of the gourd with a spoon. [These gourds are a natural product and may contain dried pulp--but this curing process will help clean the gourd--and inhibit mold growth as well.] · Do not remove the inner hard "stem" from the flower end of the interior of the gourd--this could result in a greater liklihood of seepage. · Fill completely with new or spent yerba. We now have free yerba for curing--available in our MATES category listing. · Fill to the top with hot water and let sit for an entire day. · Clean out as described above. · Repeat these steps two more times, clean out the yerba, let dry completely, and your gourd will be infused with flavor and ready to use!
To cure a gourd for drinking mate dulce cure as above, then... · Wet the inside of the mate first with hot water. · Pour in sugar so that it sticks to the insides of the mate gourd. · Into this place one burning ember of charcoal and rapidly shake it around so as to "carmelize" the interior in all parts! · The flavor will endure for an entire mate drinking session. Recharge your mate in this manner as often as you like.
G
Gel Pens
Pens that are filled with a gel ink, often metallic or lustrous, some are scented ( but this fades quickly) can create beautiful effects, and relatively inexpensive.
Glitter
Glitter has come a long way from the good old days, although you can still have large flake clumpy glitter, you can now purchase ultra fine glitter in both opaque and transparent colors. The glitter if used with a clear dry glue can create beautiful and vibrant projects.
Glue
These are now hundreds of glues on the market, wet glues such as glue stick, UHU, PVA, etc and also dry glues such as Xyron, Herma, Studio Tac, you can get glues on runners, and glue dots of all shapes and sizes. play around with different types and see which ones you prefer to work with.
Glaze
This is a finish given to a project to create a shiny look or to seal a project. Some glazes such a diamond glaze will also act as an adhesive.
Gilding
The addition of a metallic finish to give a project a metallic look, gild can be pure metal or faux metal.
Gold leaf
Sheets of very fine pure gold that is stuck on a project to give a luxurious finish.
Gourd
(noun) 1: any of a family (Cucurbitaceae, the gourd family) of chiefly herbaceous tendril-bearing vines including the cucumber, melon, squash, and pumpkin. 2: the fruit of a gourd : pepo; especially : any of various hard-rinded inedible fruits of plants of two genera (Lagenaria and Cucurbita) often used for ornament or for vessels and utensils.
Gourd Head
(noun) 1. A person who is obsessed with gourds. 2. Out of one's gourd also off one's gourd : crazy
Gourdistry
(Noun) gourd - ist - ry : A person who performs their artistic magic on the blank canvass of a naturally grown gourd.
Gems
Can be real or imitation, and can be used to create jewelery or adorn hand made projects.
Glue Dots
As you'd expect, dots of glue! Glue dots come in various sizes from tiny to large pop up dots for 3D work.
Glue
Question:
I have a glue problem. I have been trying to attach a string of filigree beads, strung on a fishing line type material. If I use a glue gun it melts the line. I tried super glue but that didn't seem to work. I finally used a little dab of Gorilla Glue, but it doesn't look as good as I would like. The surface of the gourd is painted in a semi gloss.
Answer:
Before you begin to glue a strand of beads or other embellishments, use your Dremel tool to "carve" out the line where you are going to lay your strand. Then, take your craft glue (one that dries clear like the Bob Smith Glue) and take a Q-tip or toothpick and add the glue to the carved out line. Make sure not to put too much glue in, because when you lay your strand down it will "push" the glue up. Work small areas, alternating the glue with the beads. The Wuertz Farm Gourd Festival, "Running of the Gourds" there is a vendor there that sells little tiny bottles to put your glue in and it has a very very fine tip for just this purpose. Bonnie Gibson - Tucson, Arizona Author: "Gourds: Southwestern Techniques & Projects from Simple to Sophisticated") I use two different glues, depending on the size of the stone. For heishi and small stones, I use Insta-cure gap filling super glue. For larger or heavy stones, I use a combination of Weldbond and Insta-cure. Weldbond looks like heavy white glue but has the strength of epoxy. It is designed to hold dissimilar objects together. The Insta-cure works like a clamp to hold the pieces firmly together while the Weldbond dries. I put the Weldbond on most of the stone and then dots of the Insta-cure around the edges. You can get Weldbond at some hardware stores and I've started seeing it in a few craft stores as well. I have the Insta-cure on the tools page of my website, but any good brand of *gap-filling* super glue (not the thin super glue like you get at the hardware or grocery store) will work.
H
Heat Tool or Gun
A craft tool that blows out heat in a controlled manner, built specifically for crafting purposes. For heat embossing, this is the only tool for the job, although you can sometimes use a very high-power hair dryer.
Heat Embossing
The creation of raised shiny (often metallic) surfaces on your project using embossing powder and a heat tool.
I
Inlace
1. to interlace; intertwine: to enlace strands of rope. 2. to bind or encircle with or as with a lace or cord: Vines enlaced the tree.
Inset
A piece of material set into a gourd, usually as an ornamental panel.
J
Jewels
Can be precious, semi precious or faux. Used in numerous ways such as jewelry making and other embellishments. Attached using wire, or adhesives.
Jelly Roll Pens
These are a trade name for a particular brand of gel pens.
K
Keepsake
Is just that i.e. something you keep, lot's of projects are made as keepsakes.
L
Lace
Fabric lace can be incorporated into your designs for an elegant look, there also lots of makes of paper lace, and faux lace available to add interest to your projects.
Light box
a small box or platform with a work surface, illuminated from below – useful for embossing and filling in color, particularly with glass paints.
Lacquer
Usually used to give gloss, most common lacquers are the Sakura crystal lacquers that give a glossy embossed 3D look to a project, and come in clear or colored.
Le Plumes
Short for Marvy le plumes, these are water based coloring pens of a very high quality.
M
Magic Motifs
Magic motifs are flat glue dots in various shapes and sizes, you adhere them to your project, and can then stick glitter, foil, micro beads etc to them.
Mosaic
Usually made of small ceramic tiles of various colors put together to form a pattern of picture, this art can be replicated using squares or shards of gourd.
Metallic thread
Useful as an embellishment, or to fasten items such as tags to your projects.
Mask
A paper that filters out dust particles from sanding or cutting on gourds.
Metal embellishments
These encompass, metal charms, eyelets, brads, charms, etc,
Microbeadz
Another trade name for tiny hole-less beads that are stuck onto a project with clear glue or tacky tape.
Monochromatic Color Scheme
Different values (shades) of the same color.
Marquetry
Decorative patterns formed when thin layers of wood (and sometimes other materials such as gourd) are inlaid onto a surface, to create a design (Sizzix is great for this)
Materials
Question:
Do you know how to preserve pine needles ? I heard that glycerin is the thing to use but, I can't find a recipe. Do You know where I might be able to find one?
According to Judy Mofield Mallow, author of Pine Needle Basketry, she freezes the pine needles for a few days to kill any bugs then stores them in cardboard boxes in a cool dry place. She says they will last for years this way. For finished pieces She uses shellac or a coat of melted paraffin and beeswax.
On page 89 of “Beyond the Basics, Gourd Art” “Prepare the pine needles. Whether they are purchased or picked up in the backyard, Lee prepares them the same way: Spread them on a baking sheet and swish them in a solution of hot water and bleach (1:10) for approximately 10 minutes. “This will take care of any mold, mildew, or forest bugaboos that are in the needles,” Lee says. Rinse the needles completely, then do a final rinse in warm water and fabric softener to make the needles more pliable. Remove caps (fascicles) when the needles are wet, using fingernails or a dull knife. Spread the wet needles on newspaper and allow them to dry, Gather them with the blunt ends together and tie them in bundles to keep them straight ant ready to use.”
In answer to the question of how to preserve pine needles I assume that they are using them in the creation of a basket or to edge a gourd. Shellac has been used for many years, but it can discolor dyed needles, thread and such. It will help to stiffen and preserve the coils. Be sure to use fresh shellac as it doesn't have a very long shelf life. If it isn't dry to the next day it probably is old, but you can coat it with another coat of fresh shellac and that will save the project. A better way (I think) is to use beeswax. It provides a protective, gloss free alternative to shellac and won't discolor needles, threads, etc. Here's how: preheat oven to 150 -200 degrees, line a baking pan with foil. Melt one part paraffin to 2 parts beeswax in a double boiler. Dab the mixture all over your pine needles which is on the foil coated pan. A foam brush is great for this as you can throw it away after wards. It will become very ugly and you will wonder what in the world did you do that for???? Place the thing on the pan in the oven and watch carefully (do not leave it for even a Minute!). It should take 5 - 10 minutes for all the wax to be absorbed into the pine needle coils. Remove from oven and place on piece of wax paper or clean foil to dry and harden. I hope this info helps.
I've never known of pine needles to persevered. I just bundle them and store them in bundles in a basket in my craft closet. When I am ready to use them I rinse them in warm to hot water & wrap them in a damp towel. If they seem too dry for my purpose I suppose I would put them in a tray of luke warm water until they were as flexible as I wanted. I have used Glycerin in preserving leaves. It does darken the plant material. I'm not sure if the pine needles would retain an oily feeling. Glycerin can be purchased at a pharmacy. Even with very dry wheat that I use for wheat weaving I've never used Glycerin. If the pine needles you have are a season old and very dry from lying on the ground for some time they make take more soaking. I have a book on pine needle basketry by Judy Mallow, who does not suggest using Glycerin. If you gather green needles, they need to dry in a dark place and be turned every other day or so until they are dry at which time they can be bundled, with the cap end left in tack until ready to use.
N
Nib
The burning tip on the end of a wood burner. On cheap burners they are made from brass. Expensive burners they are made from nichrome.
O
Ornare
A method of embossing and pricking to produce intricate designs resembling lace.
Outline stickers
Also known as Peel Offs, they come in various forms: text or picture, gold, silver, black, white, colored, holographic etc and are a quick and easy way of embellishing or creating a project.
Origami
The ancient art of folding paper into recognizable shapes – fiddly but effective.
P
Pencils
Useful in both normal and colored varieties for marking and filling in color.
Paint
Comes in various guises – acrylic, 3D, metallic, glass, watercolor etc and can be used to create many different effects on many different materials.
Pegsandmini pegs
Can be used to hold items together, to attach items to your project or just as decoration.
Positioning/ planning
An important part of crafting – make sure you plan the elements of your project before you start. A pencil mark can be erased, a cut or burn mark cannot. Better to get it right before you stick something together with a permanent adhesive.
Pipe cleaners
Great as embellishments, particularly for young children to work with.
Polymer Clay
A modeling compound made primarily of plastic materials that is finished by baking at low temperatures.
Painting
Question:
What is the rule when using oil and acrylic?
Answer:
The rule of thumb is "Fat Over Lean - Never Lean Over Fat" Oil paint is the "Fat" and Acrylic paint is the "Lean" so you can get away with painting oils over an acrylic basecoat but if you paint acrylic paint over oils, the acrylics could crack later on. That being said, I am not sure about the oil pencils, they may have less "Fat" in them so I am hoping they will be ok.
Patching
Question:
I patched a rat eaten gourd with wood filler and gave the entire gourd one coat of spray paint....but the patch is very evident. Any suggestions on how to make the patch less noticeable?
Answer:
If the patch is noticeable due to the color difference then your only option is to paint. A good paint style would be to mottle by sponge painting with several layers of different colors. That would allow the original color mismatch to “hide/blend.” If it is due to it being sunken or raised then sanding until edges are flush is the option.
Q Nothing
R
Ribbons
Ribbons, both wide and narrow can be used to decorate and embellish your craft project (see also weaving)
Ruler
You will undoubtedly need a ruler for measuring on your project (a clear plastic ruler would be ideal for this), but a sturdy metal ruler will prove essential for use with a craft knife for accurate cutting.
S
Secondary Colors
Colors created by blending primary colors. Orange, green and violet are the secondary colors created b mixing a combination of red, yellow and blue. (see color wheel)
Self adhesive
Many products can be bought which already have adhesive on one side for ease of use – such as foam sheets and acetate.
Sponging
The transfer of ink, paint or dye to a gourd using a small sponge (usually a cosmetic or craft sponge) in place of a brush. The ink is applied to the sponge and then the sponge is dabbed/tapped lightly onto a gourd leaving a series of small dots. A sponge with many holes, squeezed tightly while sponging, will produce a beautiful lacy effect.
Spall
(spal) - To break into small pieces; to splinter.
Sequins
Used as embellishments, or in making jewellery for that extra bit of glitz.
Safety
When gourds dry out they form a mold on the outer shell. Most gourds are cleaned when you buy them but some are not. Not all of the mold spores come off in the cleaning process. When you start sanding and cutting into the gourd it releases those mold spores and as we all know mold spores can be very bad for you. Especially those people with breathing problems already. Please read this article on gourd safety http://www.wagourdsociety.org/Safety.htm
Stipple/ stippling
Using a short bristled brush (stippling brush) this is the art of applying small amounts of paint or ink in short strokes or dots. Stippling can also be done with a fine tip wood burner to create different shades and sizes of burn marks.
T
Tracing
The simple traditional way of transferring images from one place to another. Tracing paper can also be used as a ‘paper’ on your project.
Threading
Not just for jewelry, but you can thread all kids of beads and buttons to make unusual and unique embellishments.
Tweezers
Very handy when using peel offs and stickers, as well as for handling small fiddly and delicate embellishments.
U Nothing
V Nothing
W
Watercolor pencils
Can be used as normal coloring pencils, and can also be blended with water and a brush to give a watercolor paint effect. You can also use a wet paintbrush directly onto the point of the pencil to transfer color.
Weaving
Weave ribbons, fibers or strips of leather for a wonderful effect.
Workshop
A class usually held in a group either in real life or online and taught by an expert. Participants will gain knowledge in one particular craft, or several different techniques.
Wax
Used in Encaustic art to create paintings from melted wax.
Windrow
a row or line of hay raked together to dry before being raked into heaps. any similar row, as of sheaves of grain, made for the purpose of drying.
Wire
Use wire for threading beads, jewelry, embellishments.
Gourd Water Bottle Sealer
Question:
Have some bottle gourds and want to use as a canteen. Was told to seal inside with wax. Can I use soy wax as a sealer? Or should I use paraffin wax instead?
Answer:
Drill a sizeable hole in the side Make the hole the size of the cork you intend to use.( I have found a 3/4 in. hole is adequate for a small bottle). This is achieved by sawing (use a fine tooth saw such as a hacksaw ) the top off about 1/2 in. down. The tobacco box can have a smaller 5/8 inch hole drilled in its side for the cork.
With the hole made, you take whatever is necessary to scrape out the seeds and fluff. Spoons work well, just don't damage the opening so the cork will not make a tight seal. Next, get a few handfuls of gravel, the sharper the better ( don't use sand or very fine gravel which could stick inside). Pour them into the gourd and shake for a few minutes then pour out. This may have to be done a few times. This gets the fluff out.
Now we are ready to make the canteen capable of holding liquid without it tasting like swamp sludge. In this procedure I use paraffin wax and a heat source. As you all should know paraffin is extremely flammable and it can be dangerous if used carelessly so I'm not responsible if you flame your gourd, kitty (which may not be a bad thing) or your humble abode in this next step.
I use pure canning paraffin as opposed to beeswax because beeswax can make the water sort of taste well, like beeswax. Gourds I have waxed with this method have held out over the years with its original application, however the larger, more often used storage bottles I usually rewax every few years until they get too heavy from all the wax coatings.
The initial waxing is the most important since this can never be undone or redone. So take care - be careful - take your time and you will have success. I use an electric stove and oven in this process so there is no open flame. If you choose to do this on a gas stove it could be dangerous, so please take care. Get your gourd, a coffee can and a cork that fits the gourd. Also, some towels or rags to handle the hot gourd will be necessary. I set my oven on 250-275 degrees and place the dry and cleaned gourd on the middle rack. Then I take a coffee can which is clean and bend a spout in its side to use as a pouring aid. In this can I carefully melt down two hunks or slabs of wax. When melting wax watch it carefully. Melt at low heat and just as the last solid bit disappears it is ready. If you leave wax to heat too long you may lose track of how hot it is getting and it could burst into flames. As soon at the last traces of wax just disappear in the can take it off the heat.
From here on in this must be done quickly and without hesitation to achieve the initial coating in the gourd. The gourd is removed from the oven and quickly you will pour the melted wax inside it (not near a source of flame). Put the cork in the hole and start vigorously shaking it for a few minutes until the liquid wax starts to "feel different" as it starts to solidify. Then quickly take out the cork and pour the excess back into the can. Set the gourd aside to cool slowly. Don't touch until fully cool. If you did this initial step correctly all of the pores inside the gourd, including whatever fluff remained, are encapsulated in wax. You can do up to two more applications of wax but do not put the gourd back in the oven because you will undo all your hard work. Just melt the wax in the can as before and pour in the gourd, shake vigorously and pour out. Let the gourd cool thoroughly each time; otherwise, you will remove the previous wax. All you need now is a new clean cork and a method of carrying it and you have a fine water container. I never used this type of container for liquor because they may adversely affect the wax.
X Nothing
Y Nothing
Z
Zig
A brand of water-based marker
Zig Glue
A brand of glue pens that come in several different applicator sizes.