'Taint hard at all........

first......go to the local craft store or mail order and get one of the polymer clays (Fimo and Sculptey are two of the most popular and it is a matter of personal preference,,,,,they can also be mixed)

second.....there are plenty of instructional books on how to work with clay.....get one if you think you need one.

third.....play with the clay.....mixing and rolling and making canes etc.......make yourself a bead necklace with all your experimentation

fourth...pick up some clay tools.....the sewing room and the kitchen are the best places and the kitchen.....a piece of plastic tubing makes a great rolling pin, toothpick, awl, Exacto knife, wooden skewers.......etc.

five.....flowers are a great way to start because you can make up your own flowers. For petals and leaves one way is to roll out balls of various sizes.....(small for the inside larger for the outside) and squish and assemble. For the leaves make a tear drop and squish.

How to hold it on to gourd......?......I started forming them on the gourd, cooled them in the refrigerator and popped them off. Placed them on a piece of ceramic tile and put it in the oven. The temperature is according to the manufacturers directions. This method is OK with flowers but the noses got a little deformed in the oven and I had to do a little sanding to get them to fit correctly. I used Goop - because I had it. The wood glue Nails is great and almost the color of the gourd. - now I form the face on the gourd and put it in the oven for the recommended 5 or so minutes (no I haven't burned a one) . After it has cooled I try to pop it off.....if it stays fine and if it doesn't I glue it back on.

Finishing - I use a water soluble polyurethane and paint it on....two or three coats is enough in my opinion.....it also acts as an adhesive. The most important thing is to experiment and find out what is best for you.    Do not eat when you are working with polymers......it is a carcinogen and if possible when you are baking in the oven vent the air outside if possible. I work on the glass coffee table or on ceramic tiles. Anything else?