Quick & Easy Planter Gnomes

It’s funny how ideas come to life. With Gnomes ‘on the brain’ I saw another easy way to add them to the outside decor. Let me entice you to make these quick & easy planter Gnomes!

The Outdoor Gnome fabrics:

I’m not actually sure why but I never pass up an interesting piece of faux fur; maybe it’s rooted in all the odd characters and dolls I used to make. Anyways this odd piece looked like it might have had a ‘fight’ with a dryer to become so ‘squiggly’ but I loved it’s character; perfect for a beard; awesome! Any fabric can work outdoors, but a polyester will stand up to anything. I chose a cheery red this time.

I use iron obelisks in my planters all year as it gives them height and allows plants to grow around them. I looked at them one day and immediately ‘saw’ the tall gnome hat – perfect! Once I did a search I found I was not alone, some even use tomato cages as the form.

Add some wire and a bundle of cedar boughs and you are practically there.

Wire’m up!

Depending on your size of frame and cedar cover the bottom portion. Wrap some wire around and twist in the branches, trying to align them around the same height.

Tall hat needed!

Measure a loose circumference just about the cedar ‘body’ and the height. I wanted a wrinkly hat so I used extra height. Make bottom of the hat a few inches bigger than the measured circumference.

I added and strip of the faux fur that I used for the Woodland Gnomes since it’s so rustic! Always look for the direction that fur likes to hang and cut from the backside trying to only cut the fabric. After stitching, turn right side out and push out point.

Yes, that’s a white beard; a triangle cut approximately the length of the body. To hide raw edges use a glue gun to fold over the edges. To make this able to be reused each year I glue the top edge over a rope.

Don’t forget the Pom-pom!

To make the great pom-pom, cut a circle and stitch around with long stitches and then pull tight to gather it.

Slip the hat point into it and stitch to secure (or use glue)

That was so easy! I’m almost embarrassed at how easy it is!

Oh Wait!

Don’t forget the nose!!! I used some flesh coloured knee-highs and stuffed a ball shape. Tie it tight and cut excess off with a couple inches to secure it to the hat. A couple stitches through the bottom will imitate nostrils. A bit of blush or pink dry-brushing and it’s a nose!

Tie the beard on and then slide on the hat to cover the top of the cedar. I just had to smile at the cuteness!

Since the planters are quite large these planter Gnomes (I should make some ladies too!) are over 5 feet tall. They flank the doors perfectly but you can adjust for your own scale.

What is he muttering?! ‘Too much standing around waiting for people…

But to all our amazement we already experienced an ice-storm! Now he was really complaining! Don’t despair, he’s warm and can handle it quite well.

Here’s to a great Holiday season and so many smiles as friends & family come by to visit. I hope you too plan to spread the smiles with these planter Gnomes!