How to Decorate a Black Gourd Cat Birdhouse

Allow your harvested gourd to dry inside a warm, dry room over the winter for two to three months, until the gourd seeds rattle when shaken. Scuff away black and white spots that have formed during the drying process with sandpaper.

Cut a hole 1 1/2 inches in diameter into the wide body of the gourd with a craft knife approximately 4 inches up from the bottom. Shake the seeds out of the gourd through the hole. Sand along the inside edge of the hole to smooth the edge.

Drill four 1/8-inch holes in the bottom of the gourd as well as one hole at the very top of the gourd. Screw the eye screw into the top hole. Place glue around the hole if the screw seems loose.

Spray a coating of black paint over the entire surface of the gourd; work in a well-ventilated area. Leave the paint to dry for one to two hours. Spray a second coating and let dry for two hours.

Use a variety of acrylic paint colors, as desired, to paint on cat eyes, a nose, whiskers, ears and a tail on the back. Place these cat details so the hole of the gourd is at the belly of the cat, or paint the cat so the hole appears as the cat's mouth.

Add in other details with the paint colors of your choosing, such as putting flowers around the base of the cat or on top of its head, adding a lady bug on the cat's tail, or painting on a colorful collar and pet tag. Allow paint to dry for two to four hours.

Spray over the entire gourd with a clear finishing spray to seal the paint and protect the gourd. Leave the clear coat to dry overnight. Hang the gourd as desired.