Create gourd art by drawing a design on a gourd and using standard wood-carving tools to scoop out the top layer of gourd. Gourds are quite hard, but they are hollow and the walls are thin, so be careful applying pressure. The top of the gourd (where it connected to the plant) is the strongest spot and a safe place to try using different degrees of pressure until you find one that cuts into the gourd without cracking it. There is no particular design you must use on these gourds, but it is common to see short horizontal lines going from top to bottom. These lines are scratched with a three-pronged metal stick to make music. You can also drill a hole into the gourds and use them as planters or bird houses.
Make a vejigante mask using paper mache and a balloon. Apply a thin layer of Vaseline to a taut balloon of the size you want the mask to be. Apply paper mache (paper strips dipped in a mixture of glue, flour and water) to half the balloon to make the "mask." Allow this to dry for a day or two until it feels solid but still chill or slightly humid, and then pop the balloon and remove it. The mask should be a slightly curved oval. Poke wire through the mask to make horns. You can also cut a mouth hole and use more wire (or toothpicks if it's a small mask) to make teeth, although many people prefer a snout. Use a glue gun to glue the horns and teeth in place and then build them up with more paper mache to shape them. Once you have finished making the mask, allow it to dry completely. Sand off any areas you want to fix, and paint the mask with bright colors and patterns like stripes, zig zags and polka dots.
Build a "casita" using clay or wood. The easier method is to take an air-drying clay and use a roller to flatten it into about 1/8 inch thick. Cut this slab of clay into the shape of a house. Remember that casitas are just facades, so you just need the front. Add additional details to the front, such as pillars, windows, doors and anything else that can be made out of clay, and then allow the house to dry and harden completely. Give the house a preliminary coat of paint and glue in details like railings (spray-painted plastic toys, perhaps) and wood work (popsicle sticks), and then glue a second slab of clay to the bottom of the facade so it juts out in front like a yard. Let this dry on tight and then decorate it. You can add tiny fruit baskets with a sign to make a store front or install tiny furniture. A cheap, but flimsier alternative to clay is cardboard.