DIY Witch Gnome

Create an adorably wicked Witch-themed Gnome to adorn your home for Halloween!

Spooky season is upon us, and I could NOT be more thrilled about it. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and I especially love crafting for it! I'm adoring the gnome craze right now, and wanted to make a spooky version to add to my Halloween decor. If you're looking for something to make for a "ghouls" crafternoon, this DIY Witch Gnome is so fun and easy to make!! I just love how it turned out, and hope you are inspired to give it a try for yourself! 

To make your own DIY Witch Gnome, you will need these supplies:

• Witch Gnome Pattern (for personal use only)
• 6"x3" Foam Cone
• E6000 Fabri-Fuse
• E6000 Adhesive
• Scissors
• Pins and Clips
• 9"x12" Felt Sheet
• Spiderweb Tulle
• 3/8" Metallic Ribbon
• Yarn
• 1/2" Wood Button
• Miniature Halloween Accessories (optional)

Use the pattern (listed above) to cut all of the witch gnome pieces out of felt. Set the "dress" piece aside, and cut slightly larger pieces of spiderweb tulle to put over the felt hat pieces.

Apply a thin layer of Fabri-Fuse over the entire front sides of the felt hat pieces, and spread it around evenly using a paint brush or your fingertip. Wash your hands/brush well while the adhesive is still wet! 

Place the spiderweb tulle over the felt, and lightly press it down so that it's smooth. Fold the tulle over the edges use pins or clips to hold the tulle tightly in place. Repeat the process for the hat brim piece. The adhesive goes on white, but will dry clear. 

Once the Fabri-Fuse is completely dry, remove the pins or clips and use scissors to trim away the excess tulle. If you have any areas that aren't sticking, you can apply a little more adhesive and use clips again to press the fabrics together.

While the hat pieces are drying, you can start to put the gnome together. Wrap the "dress" pattern piece around the cone, making sure the bottom edge of the felt lines up with the bottom of the cone. Apply a thin line of Fabri-Fuse to one end of the felt, and place the other end on top. To hold the felt in place while the adhesive dries, stick pins straight through the felt into the cone down the entire seam.

Fold the hat brim piece in half, and cut a straight line through the center, but not all the way through to the end. Fold the piece in the opposite direction, and make another cut. Adding these cuts will help you be able to put the hat brim onto the cone with ease. Lay the hat brim flat with the tulle facing up. Place it over the top of the cone and gently pull it down until it is just over the top edge of the dress. The brim should be firmly in place, but you can add a little bit of Fabri-Fuse around the bottom edge of the brim if you'd like.

Add a little bit of Fabri-Fuse over each of the triangles poking up from the brim. Place the bottom edge of the hat piece on top of the brim, and wrap it tightly around the cone. Add a line of adhesive to one edge of the back of the hat, and place the other end on top. Again, use pins to hold the felt in place until the adhesive has completely dried.

While the felt is drying, you can start to create the gnome's fluffy beard! White yarn is a more traditional "gnome" beard color, but I decided to make it purple instead to give him a more witchy vibe. Green would also be a fun color to use! Wrap the yarn around your four fingers (not too tight, not too loose) about 20 times. Cut the yarn, and then cut a small piece. Thread the small piece through the top of the wrapped yarn and tie it into a knot like you would to make a tassel to keep the yarn together. Carefully slide the yarn off of your hand and cut through the bottom edge of the yarn loops. 

Lay the yarn flat, with the knot in the center. Use a small brush (pet brush, macrame comb, or even a doll brush) to comb through the yarn and give it a fluffy texture. The yarn WILL shed as you brush it, so don't panic when you remove clumps of yarn from the brush. The ends will also become ragged and uneven.

Fold the yarn back in half, with the knot at the top. Add a thick layer of Fabri-Fuse or E6000 Adhesive along the top and back edge of the yarn, and stick it to the front of the gnome, right under the brim. This will take longer to set, so I would definitely recommend sticking pins into the top of the beard and into the cone to keep it in place while the adhesive dries! As long as it's pinned in place, you can use scissors to trim the beard into shape.

While the beard is drying, you can add a pop of color to the hat. Apply a line of Fabri-Fuse right above the hat/brim seam and then place a length of metallic ribbon over the adhesive. To keep the ribbon in place, use a couple of pins.

Separate the center of the beard at the top, and make a space about halfway in to place the nose. Keep a finger on the area to keep it open, and apply some E6000 to the back of the wood button. Press the nose into place, and hold it there tightly until the glue sets.

To really push the witchy vibe, I found some fun miniature Halloween accessories like a little bat to put in the beard and a dollhouse-sized broom. If you decide to add accessories, use E6000 to attach them to your gnome.

Once the adhesive has dried completely, your little DIY Witch Gnome is ready for spooky season!! Now that I made this little guy, I kind of want to make a whole bunch of Halloween friends for him to hang out with. What do you think?!

As always, I would love to see your creations! Share yours on Instagram, Facebook, or leave a comment/photo on the project pin on Pinterest! #AFMCrafts

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