Painted Gourd Witch

alternate design

Materials and Tools:

dry, clean pear-shaped gourd
Sculpey or other oven-bake clay
plastic eyes
witch hat
fake hair
acrylic paint
glaze
superglue (or cyanoacrylate glue)
Household Goop glue
mini broom handle *
metallic powders
permanent marker

* Ours was made using an ordinary pencil painted with acrylic paint. The dried material for bristles came from a date palm.

Steps:

1. Select a gourd, sand rough spots and fill any holes.

2. Glue on eyes.

3. Make arms, hands and feet using Sculpey clay. Bake clay for 20 minutes according to manufacturer's instructions, and allow to cool.

4. Drill or cut holes in gourd where arms may attach. Attach arms and feet with glue. Allow to dry.

5. Spackle with wood-filler or paper clay. Allow to dry, and sand.

6. Paint gourd and arms using acrylic paint.

Trace mouth and teeth with a permanent black marker.

7. Rub on metallic powder. Glaze and allow to dry.

8. Glue on hair, hats and accessories.

www.jennifersgourds.com