How to Make Pins and Haiir Clips from Gourd Shards

Since we have 2 huge garbage cans of gourd shards, leftovers from our business,  we are always looking for things to make with them.

The hair clips and pins are so very easy to make and quick. You can paste pictures and seal,  draw, or paint pictures on them or whatever.   I chose to pour mine. 

Tools used for this project, as follows.

Proxxon Jig Saw

OZI/E Proxxon Sander

KAPRO' s Nail Gripper

Backing for Pin

and Hair Clip

 

Supplies Used for this project, as follows

Dap all purpose glue (it bonds to almost everything including metal) and fast!!

Plaid Paints,

 A mix of Purple and white for lavender Metallic Gold, and     a mix of soft green with white

Krylon Triple Thick to seal and finish

Martha Stewart's Marbling Medium 

The first step was to make a few patterns that would lend themselves to hair clips and pins. 







I chose the bottom two designs.  When drawing, I folded the paper in half then cut it to get a symmetrical design.  I also checked it out with the   http://kapro.nail gripper and laser.

Moving right along we start cutting out the gourd shards

using the proxxon Jig Saw

This saw works so great on gourds and without a lot of damage in the process.

It is very user and gourd friendly.

After the pieces were  cut I used the  Proxxon OZI/E sander .

This  little sander a real workhorse. I use it so much and for so many things.

Next I started to base coat the shard pieces. I decided to play at this point. So I did not pour but instead used a brush to paint a thin coat which was not a smooth but splotchy. I liked the way the gourd showed through so left it. I had a idea for when I added color.

                                 

 

 I liked what I saw, maybe a tad weird but oh well so am I.

I thought that if I just dropped a little color on some of the unpainted spots it would make a interesting pattern.

As you can see in the finished pieces it did that.

I was happy with the way they turned out .

Last, but necessary, the backs had to be glued onto the Gourd Shards.

I wanted to make sure the entire hardware got glued on tight so curved it a little and 'after applying the glue I held them tight to the gourd with Hemostats and clothes pins. High tech! lol.

Once dry, they stayed and I don't think they will come off easily.

That's it in a nut shell, simple as pie.

Thank you for  visiting and appreaicite your comments. You are what keeps us going with this blog.

Also would like to thank Plaid Paints for their support and for the products they provide us to do these blog.

proxxon. is a great company to blog for, their tools are easy to work with and well  made. It really does make the blogs a pleasure to work on. We get great support and enjoy the blogs.

KAPRO is a great company with excellent measuring tools., so  am happy with all of our sponsors.

To Terri Sproul I  say enjoy your trip !! Have Fun and we will hold the fort at this end. Thank you for all of the support and encouragement  you give us..