How to carve a gourd pumpkin

Halloween is almost here and it is time to start thinking pumpkins, carving pumpkins and jack-o'-lanterns 🎃🎃🎃🎃   I love pumpkins, and I enjoy carving them, but it's a little sad when the pumpkin begins to shrivel up after just a few weeks.   This year I am going to bring out a few of my smaller gourds and show you how easy it is to carve them using Proxxon tools.   And these "pumpkins" will last forever.  

Equipment and supplies

Small pumpkin shaped gourds

Proxxon mini jigsaw

Proxxon rotary tool with small drill bit or a sharp awl.

Plaid paints

sealer of your choice

2 small hinges + one small latch

super glue and small screwdriver

velcro dots

1 battery powered candle light.

Let's get started.   First we need to choose a gourd   Warning gourds start out dirty!  But they are easy to clean using steel wool and water.

Now we are going to cut him open.   It is always a surprise to find out what is inside.

We need a small hole in order to insert our jigsaw blade.   If you have a Proxxon rotary tool this is perfect for drilling the small hole.   If you don't you may punch a hole using a sharp awl.

Using the Proxxon mini jigsaw I cut out the bottom of the gourd.  Notte that I made a zig-zag in my cut.   This is to make it easy to put back together properly.   Also it is important to make a straight edge where we are going to attach the hinges later.    OK let's open her up.  

Lucky me, it is dry and easy to remove.   Now my pumpkin is hollow.

Now to design a jack-o'-lantern.   I drew a simple face.   You can be more creative!

I cut it out using the Proxxon mini jigsaw.  It was a breeze!

Optional step:

Using the proxxon rotary tool with the bull nose rasp cutter I added some hair and a label on the back.

Ok back to our original plan.   We are going to add hinges to the bottom of our gourd and a latch to keep it shut.    I used glue to first affix the hinges then added very small screws.   I did the latch in the same way.

For candlelight I put velcro on the inside of the bottom of the gourd and the other side to the bottom of my battery powered candle.  That way I can open the bottom of the gourd, stick the candle on the velcro and shut the gourd.   I used some watered down plaid paints to give my pumpkin his orangey color.    And we are done.  

😀😀😀My candle changes color.  😀😀😀

Thanks for visiting.   I hope you have a happy and safe halloween.    

Thank you Proxxon and Plaid.

Check out these fine products.   Just click on the links above.   

Have fun!   catch you next time  Carol

How to make a discrete password book using old gift or credit cards

Hi and welcome back.



 Ready for a quick and easy project, that solves an annoying problem, and recycles some useless stuff you already have in your home?
 We are going to make a a little book to hold your passwords that will fit in your purse because it is the size of a credit card.  In fact it's made from old gift or credit cards.







Look what I found when I cleaned out my drawers today.

Tools and supplies needed:

2 old credit or gift cards

1 rather stiff approx 1/2" diameter spring

2 pliers

paper cut to size

Proxxon mini drill press

small drill bit

masking tape

rubber bands

Choose 2 credit/gift cards   Note the small spring sitting there




The spring needs to be stretched to the size of the credit card.  hold the ends and pull gently to lengthen it to aprox 2".  Set this aside for now.

 Cut paper to the size of the gift cards.   I used about 3 sheets of regular paper cut into 36 small sheets for my little book.

 Place the sheets between the 2 cards and secure them tightly with 2 rubber bands.

 I placed a piece of masking tape on one end of the cards so that I could mark where I am going to drill my holes.   Holes needed to be 1/4" apart and approx 1/4" from the edge of the card.

 Using the Proxxon mini drill press equipped with a small drill bit drill through all the layers of the "sandwich" we just made.   Leave everything rubber banded together.

Now take the stretched spring and start it in the first hole. 

Twist the spring while guiding it through the subsequent holes

 Look! we made a little spiral notebook.   😀😀😀

 And look how it fits in my wallet.   Now it will be with me when I need it.

Wasn't that quick.   I LOVE making something out of basically nothing.   Thank you Proxxon tools the drill press made making this super easy!!   You really should check out their tools.  Made especially for the crafter in all of us.  

Thanks for visiting.   Hope to catch you next time.  I got something pretty to show you.    Meanwhile stay safe!!   Carol