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 for Holiday and Christmas decorating . 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. Feel free to use other fabric to make a beard. Cutting yarn and tying together would also make a fluffy beard, or even a mop head.

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. The pyramid could also be made with a few stakes tied at the top.

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

Wire’m up!

Depending on your size of frame add cedar or evergreens to cover the bottom portion. Wrap some wire around and twist in the branches, trying to align them around the same height. This represents their body.

Tall hat needed!

Measure a loose circumference just above the cedar ‘body’ and measure 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 and not the hair. After stitching, turn right side out and push out point. If sewing is a problem it is also pretty easy to use glue.

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. I plan to reuse these these Christmas gnomes each year so each year I glue the top edge over a string.

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 hot glue).

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

Oh Wait!

Don’t forget the gnome’s 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 becomes a frosty nose!

Stitch the nose to the brim of the hat.

Tie the gnome’s 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 on the porch but you can adjust for your own scale.

Another option would be to use some tall Christmas trees and give them a hat and gnome’s beard.

What, is he muttering something?! ‘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 the outdoor use 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!