The Gourdzette - July 21, 2007

July 21, 2007

Quote of the Week:

"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."

~ George S. Patton (1885 - 1945)

Summer Blow Out on Bargain Boxes!

You can create amazing cut-out designs using cracked or damaged gourds! This fabulous cut-out design was created by gourd artist Shelley Madariaga.

Have we got a deal for you! Summer is heating up and this deal is even hotter! Packed and ready to ship are about 100+ Bargain Boxes filled with gourd seconds! Every gourd has potential to be made into a fantastic creation. And with shipping costs rising again, here's a deal you are bound to love! For a very limited time, not only will you get a box of inspiring gourds, you will also get them at 25% off! (Regular Price $39.95) These gourds are screaming to be made into beautiful creations.

Order your Bargain Box now while supplies last!
Click Here!

View Our Entire Catalog!

Save time & money! Order gourd craft supplies and more!

Click Here Now!

New to Gourd Crafting?

Visit our Free Gourd Projects Page and choose from a selection of gourd projects that will get you started right away!

Click Here Now!

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Welcome New Subscribers!

We are pleased to bring you this full feature edition of The Gourdzette!

- Announcements
- Feature Article: MAKING GOURD PAPER!
- Great Deals
- Calendar of Events
- Contact Us
- Unsubscribe

The Gourdzette is proudly brought to you by CALIFORNIA GOURDS!
To visit the California Gourds website, please use www.californiagourds.com. Bookmark our site! Our inventory changes often!

Short cuts to The Gourd Community:
The Gourd Classifieds
The Gourdzette Forum
The Gourd Events Calendar

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

(1) THE ALL-NEW GOURD VIDEOS!
Are you new to the Gourd World and still haven't taken the plunge in gourd crafting? Now you can get the confidence to start crafting by watching these basic gourd videos for FREE! We've added a couple of basic videos to answer the most frequently asked gourd questions and to encourage you to get crafting! Be sure to check back often on the Gourd Videos page on our site. We will be adding more FREE videos as we are able. The more we add, the complex they will get. If you have a specific question or demonstration you would like to see, please email our Editor at editor@gourdzette.com. To view the current videos, click here!

(2) KEEP UP TO DATE ON CALIFORNIA GOURDS & THE GOURD WORLD!
Read the California Gourds Blog! Just added to the California Gourds website! Now you get the Special Announcements as they happen! Plus, any words of wisdom, gourd knowledge, tips, and ideas that we can share! Our mission is to provide you with as much information as we possibly can as well as share our love and enthusiasm for gourds! To read the latest posting on the California Gourds Blog, click here!

(3) NEW TO THE GOURDZETTE - THE OFFICIAL INTERACTIVE SITE FOR THE GOURD COMMUNITY!
For the past 4 years The Gourdzette has been your window to the Gourd Community! Bringing you info about gourd events, classes, specials, projects & so much more, all for FREE! Now you can step into the Gourd Community and interact on your own via The Gourdzette web site! We've expanded The Gourdzette web site to be more than just a place to subscribe to your favorite newsletter! Now you can check out all the great gourd happenings, tips, information, and deals 24/7! AND you can post all of your gourd info as well! And still all for the same great price!!!! FREE!!! Go now to The Gourdzette web site! Be sure to bookmark the site so that you can visit often! And tell your friends about it! Let everyone know where to find all of the top gourd info on the Net! The Gourdzette has been here for you and now it's even better!

FEATURE ARTICLE

Great idea for Gourd seconds!

MAKING GOURD PAPER

Ever wonder what you can do with the inside of gourds? Once you crack a gourd open a whole new world of creativity abounds. Who knew gourds could offer so many endless possibilities. One of those is to make gourd paper out of the pulp or membrane. Most everything you will need you might already have at home. So the only investment will be your time and creativity.

Ingredients are:
Gourd pulp (semi smooth light colored)
Cotton paper (100% available at craft stores)
Sponge
Towels (old)
Strainer
Blender
Screen (Frying screen for a pan will work)
Pam or spray vegetable oil

1) Shred and mix by hand same amounts of pulp and paper into a bucket or tub.

2) Add water and let soak overnight.

3) After a good soaking take the mixture and put in the blender, making sure the blender is half full of water. Blend at medium speed until the mixture has the consistency of thick cream of wheat or oatmeal.

4) Dump the mixture into the strainer and press out as much of the water as possible.
Lay the towels down then set the screens (after they are sprayed with nonstick spray) on top.

5) Spread the mixture evenly on top of the screen and with a sponge, tamp out as much water as possible (this will speed the drying process). It will be thicker than normal paper.

6) Let dry overnight and voila! You just made paper!

7) Have fun with it and let your creative juices flow!

While you are there, you can also make gourd glue and filler by mixing gourd dust and Elmer’s Glue together to fill in cracks and fissures on your gourd art, giving repairs a more natural look than just using glue by itself.

GREAT DEALS!

MisterArt.com Discount Art & Craft Supplies--Up to 75% off!

Ranger Distress Ink Pads and Reinker Bottles bottle tea dye
Ranger Distress Ink Pads and Reinker Bottles bottle tea dye

Ranger Distress Inks are a collection of twenty-four acid-free, non-toxic, fade resistant, water-based dye inks. They're perfect for the new vintage, stained, aged effect crafters are creating in their altered books, scrapbook pages, cards, and paper craft projects. These inks produce a realistic, weathered look on paper, photos, and decorative fibers. All the colorful Distress Inks afford added versatility when photo tinting and color layering. Inked pads measure 2 in. x 2 in. and are made with a higher raised felt for easier use with direct to paper techniques. Reinker bottles of each color are also available. The bottles are 1/2 oz. and have eye drop applicator caps.

Go to MisterArt.com and earn Cash today!!!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FREE ADVERTISING FOR YOUR GOURD CLASS OR EVENTS
Post your gourd art classes and your gourd events to the Gourd Events Calendar for free! The current month's events are posted on every issue of The Gourdzette. Let other gourders know what's going on in the gourd world! Let's get more people hooked on gourds! Post now on the Gourd Events Calendar!

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EVENTS FOR JULY/AUGUST (for next month's events Click Here!)
Georgia Gourd Show
Website: www.georgiagourdsociety.com
Details: July 20-22, 2007 - Georgia Gourd Society 5th Annual Gourd Show --Imagi-NATIONS, A Celebration of Gourding Around the World -- held in Newnan, GA. There will be workshops, competitions,crafted gourd vendors, raw gourd vendors, and an auction. We will have a parade of gourd clothing, embellishments and jewelry. Directions on GGS website: www.georgiagourdsociety.com

Painting, Gourd Art Classes
Contact: Sue and /or Diane
Website: www.giftsandgourds.com
Details: "Gifts For All Seasons" - a gift shop and painting and gourd art supply store. We teach painting classes and now we have gourd art classes every week. They are available Tues. evenings from 7:00 - 9:00 or Wed. afternoons from 1:00 - 3:00. Our phone number is 618-466-5580 and our email is sue@giftsandgourds.com or diane@giftsandgourds.com

SEE YOU NEXT TIME!

ABOUT CALIFORNIA GOURDS

California Gourds is the nation's leading online retailer of quality hard-shelled gourds and supplies. Our quality hard-shelled gourds and supplies are sold throughout the continental United States, Canada, Hawaii, Australia, and more. Dedicated to service and to the gourding needs of our customers, California Gourds seeks out the best pricing and quality of each gourd and supply we sell.

Presently, California Gourds features gourds from several California gourd farms, and that's just the beginning. Get wild on gourds! Craft a gourd today!

Visit our web site at http://www.californiagourds.com/

HOW CAN WE SERVE YOU BETTER?
California Gourds is dedicated to bringing you the best gourds, products, friendly service and prices possible! Please let us know how we can serve you better. What would you like to see changed or improved on: web site? newsletter? products or services? Send us an e-mail! Or give us a call: 951.639.3681

To contact California Gourds:

E-mail: info@californiagourds.com

The Gourdzette newsletter is a copyrighted publication of California Gourds. For information on reprinting this publication in whole or in part, please contact the Editor of The Gourdzette, at editor@gourdzette.com.

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