Up your gift-giving game and present the gnome lovers on your list with a bottle of their favorite drink topped with a delightful handmade gnome. These little Nordic folklore creatures were originally thought to protect the homestead unless they weren't treated well – in which case, look out because they could become very mischievous.
Nowadays, the gnomes' pointy hats, round noses and long beards are quickly becoming a holiday decorating phenomenon. Made from old sweaters or felt, these little Scandinavian hooligans will make gift wrapping and staying "gnome" for the holidays fun again. (Gnome pun intended. Ha!)
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Things You'll Need
Old sweater (or felt)
Sharp scissors
Tape measure
Hot glue gun
Pom pom (optional)
Faux fur
Marking pen
X-ACTO knife
Wooden bead
Step 1
Cut a triangle with an 8-inch base from an old sweater (or you can use a piece of felt). Use the bottom edge of the sweater for the bottom of the gnome hat so it will have a finished edge.
Tip
To make use of the rest of the sweater, check out these cute sweater trees and "smittens."
Step 2
Place the triangle with the right side up. Run a bead of hot glue along one of the side edges. Fold the other side over and line up the raw edges. Smooth the edge until the glue dries.
Step 3
Turn the hat right side out and attach a pom pom to the top with hot glue.
Step 4
To make the beard, turn the faux fur over so the wrong side is facing up. Make sure the nap of the faux fur is going away from you. With a marking pen, mark a triangle that has a 4-inch base. Use an X-ACTO knife to cut the triangle from the back so you're not cutting the fur. The 4-inch base will become the top of the gnome's beard when you turn it over.
Step 5
With the nap of the faux fur now going down, hot glue the 4-inch edge of the fur triangle to the inside of the hat front. Then, glue the wooden bead a little bit under the center of the hat.
Place him on top of a bottle for a fun and festive gift that your friends and family will love "gnome" matter what. (Pun intended again. Ha!)
