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Post by Hensaplenty on Dec 12, 2021 16:16:19 GMT -5
I have been meaning to make these for years and finally got to it this year! Making some for co-workers, family and friends. Any other hand made garden ornament ideas that you've used?
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Post by spike on Dec 12, 2021 17:40:35 GMT -5
That is just to cute!
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Dec 13, 2021 9:06:28 GMT -5
That's cute! How did you dry out the pod without it splitting?
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Post by Hensaplenty on Dec 16, 2021 18:47:59 GMT -5
Laura_in_FL, I let them dry on the plant until just brown. Mine split if I leave them on too long. Not sure if the variety matters but these were cow horn okra.
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Dec 17, 2021 4:50:48 GMT -5
Hey I like that! Very creative is you!
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Dec 17, 2021 12:43:29 GMT -5
Hensaplenty, do you paint or coat it with something it immediately after you take it off the plant? Otherwise I would expect it to keep drying and split. Also, what do you use to build up the texture and height of the beard, fur trim and ball on top of the hat?
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Post by hairymooseknuckles on Dec 17, 2021 15:18:36 GMT -5
Laura_in_FL, I don’t know, but I’m sure you could put a coat of polyurethane or something to keep it from splitting open. I’m just thinking out loud here. I’ve pretty much quit using poly these days though. As a final coat, I’ve started using modpodge. I do this because it seems like a “safer” approach. Time will tell it it holds up or turns “amber” like some coatings do, but so far I’ve been extremely happy with my carvings. I think modpodge would work nicely here too, but it’s just a guess on my part. On another note, just an FYI. I tried the water based polycrylic and it took the acrylic paint right off one of my little guys I had done. It made it look like it was painted long ago and had lived a hard life. Not a bad thing if I had wanted it to look old, but that’s not the look I was going for. Hahahaaa.
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Post by Hensaplenty on Dec 17, 2021 16:26:56 GMT -5
Laura_in_FL, I do not put anything on them before painting. I currently have 13 pods left that are 2 years old and unpainted. Only one of them has split. I paint 2 coats of red (acrylic gloss) and then do the face. The white is nothing more than basic white paintable caulk then sprinkled with glitter. A former school principal gave me one of these decorated okra Santas that he made from his garden 28 years ago, and it still goes on my tree and looks great. I hope mine last that long! :-)
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Post by bestofour on Dec 17, 2021 22:00:39 GMT -5
My mother painted a few okra ornaments one year. Love them.
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