I wanted a light up gnome. I didn’t want to pay light up gnome prices so I made this Season Changable Milk Jug Gnome. Initially I planned to put it outside but it might become an indoor gnome instead.
It’s nearly mid November and I am still loving doing the fall crafts. I have SO many more planned but I think this will be my last. I am a month behind starting Christmas already. Also, we got our first snow recently so it is starting to feel less and less like fall. Goodbye my favorite season.
Video tutorial also available HERE on my YouTube Channel.
Ok…..Let’s Create!
Supplies List
- Milk Jug
- Gnome Towel (Dollar Tree)
- Faux Fur 10×10
- Felt or material 16×7
- Half wooden ball or bead
- 2 Faux Leaves
- Pompom or yarn to make one
- Thick twine
- Fairy lights
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors
- Razor Knife
Instructions
The Milk Jug
Start by washing the milk jug. You don’t want a stinky gnome. Remove labels if they will interfere. I was able to cover them so I didn’t take the time to finish doing this.
The Body
Cut a piece of felt or material roughly 16×7 inches.
Wrap the piece you cut around three sides of the milk jug leaving a little hanging over the bottom. Make sure that the area you don’t cover is free of any stickers. Glue the felt at the start and end as well as the bottom with a hot glue gun.
The Fall Hat
Cut the white trim off the dish towel. Then fold it in half and cut a triangle out of it. I started from each bottom corner cutting to the top center. Then cut the fold so you have two identical triangles. With right sides facing each other glue two of the three sides together. The side not glued will be your opening. My triangle was pretty even on all sides but be sure to glue the right two sides together. I actually glued the hat opening closed but since they were close in size I was able to make it work.
**I did these next steps after doing the beard and nose because I was still undecided on what to do. You will likely have a full plan and can do it now though.
Once the glue is set up, turn the hat inside out and glue on a piece of twine or trimming of your choice to cover the cut edge.
I then made a pompom from chunky yarn and glued that on the top of the hat. I made a bunny tail like this and explain how to do that here. You could also use a purchased pompom.
The Beard
On the back side of the fur, with a ruler, I drew a line diagonally about an inch from the halfway mark. This is a 10×10 piece for size reference. With a razor blade, I cut it apart on the line. The larger of the two triangles will be used for this project.
To make sure the hat would cover correctly I put the hat on before attaching the beard. When I knew where the beard should go I glued it across the front and then down on the sides as well. Make sure the beard goes a little lower than the milk jug so you don’t see the jug behind.
Since I wanted it to be season changable I did not glue the hat on and instead just put it over the top of the milk jug.
The Nose
Grab a wooden half ball or bead and glue it to the beard where you want the nose.
Lights
I added fairy lights for the light up part. You could use any battery operated light though. I cut the bottom and put them in the jug that way. The battery pack could be hidden inside and with a remote I didn’t need daily access to it. You could also just set it behind if you need it easily accessible for turning on. If you get the lights without the remote you could also put them in through the top. That way you can hide the pack under the hat and just remove the hat to turn them on.
The Faux Leaf Accents
I just stuck these on the beard rather than gluing them. I wanted to be able to change them out and use it for Christmas as well as other holidays and seasons.
Done.
All decorated for Thanksgiving / Fall.
A quick hat and accessory change and all set for Christmas.
Your Turn to Create
I would love to hear if you gain inspiration from this post and make your very own Season Changable Milk Jug Gnome
