It’s fall y’all! And if you’ve been looking for a way to celebrate cooler temperatures with a fun craft, may I suggest adding some hand-painted seasonal gourds and table runners to your next fall tablescape? While painting fabric and gourds can seem daunting (the paint! so permanent!), thanks to some guidance from the fine folks at Your Decorative Resource, I’m here to break down the process into a few easy steps!
Step One: Clean the Gourds
Gently rinse your gourds and use a paper towel to dry them off and clear any residue. If there’s any stubborn debris left over, you can also use a piece of sandpaper to smooth down the surface of the gourd!
Step Two: Design Your Gourd Pattern
First, think of what theme you’d like for each gourd (need inspiration? Leaves and vines are a great place to start!).
Next, trace your pattern onto the gourd. There are three ways to achieve this:
Method One:
- Using a permanent marker, draw the outlines of your pattern on a piece of plastic wrap
- Layer a piece of graphite tracing paper under the plastic wrap
- Wrap both layers around your gourd for placement
- Using a pencil and some pressure, draw your pattern through the plastic wrap onto graphite tracing paper
- Using a pencil, free-hand detail sections directly onto your gourd
Method Two:
- Using a pencil, draw the outline of your pattern onto paper or tracing paper
- Cut out the section of your pattern
- Place each section onto your gourd and using a pencil, trace your pattern from each section
- Using a pencil, free-hand detail sections directly onto your gourd
Method Three:
- Using a pencil, trace the outline and details of your pattern free-hand onto the gourd
Step Three: Paint Your Gourd
Grab your favorite acrylic paints and add color to your design! Don’t forget to let your paint dry thoroughly.
Step Four: Trace and Paint Your Table Runner
Using a pencil, trace your design onto your fabric table runner. Paint your design onto the fabric (acrylic paint will stay on fabric as long as you hand wash it with cold water!). Tip: you can cut and use tracing paper to outline your designs as you paint and keep your lines clean! Don’t forget to let the paint dry thoroughly.
Step Five: Decorate Your Tablescape and Enjoy!
Here’s the best part — place the painted table runner, gourds, and your favorite fall dishes onto one of my trending dining sets for a cozy and welcoming fall tablescape. Send out the invites, serve your favorite meal, and kick back and enjoy the season (and your handiwork!)
