Easy Gnome Christmas Ornaments You Can Make This Holiday

Gnomes have always been a thing in our house.

My kids fell in love with them years ago when we started adding little garden gnomes to our yard every spring, and somehow they’ve become part of our family’s seasonal traditions.

So this year, I decided to bring that same gnome magic indoors and into Christmas by turning them into easy, handmade ornaments we can hang on the tree together.

These easy gnome Christmas ornaments are simple to make, low-stress, and perfect for a cozy afternoon craft with kids, or a quiet creative break for yourself.

If you’re making a few for your own tree, gifting them, or even selling them this holiday season, these little gnomes are such a fun way to add personality and handmade charm to your Christmas decor.

Easy Tutorial on How to Make a Gnome Christmas Ornament

To make this woodland garden Christmas gnome and others, make sure you have these materials on hand:

Wooden beads (¾–1 inch) – for the nose
Faux fur or long-pile fabric – for the beard
Felt sheets – for the body and hands
Fabric for the hat – buffalo plaid, holiday cotton, flannel, etc.
Jute twine or rustic string – for hanging loop
Hot glue gun + glue sticks
Sharp fabric scissors
Poly-fill or cotton batting – for stuffing
Small beans, rice, or sand (optional) – to weight bottom
Cardboard cone or paper cone form (optional but helpful)
Ruler & pencil/pen for marking
Needle & thread (optional if you prefer to sew instead of glue in a couple of spots)

Other materials you might need to make other types of gnomes include:

Mini bells
Mini pinecones
Snowflake charms
Tiny holly
Wooden stars
Pom-poms
Lace trim
Ribbon bows

Step By Step Christmas Gnome Ornament Tutorial

Make the Base

Start by making the base of your gnome, which is just a simple felt body or you can use a wool sock.

Cut a rectangle of red felt and roll it into a small tube, gluing the seam to hold it in place.

Close the bottom with a felt circle so nothing spills out later. Before sealing everything up, add a little rice or beans for weight, then loosely stuff the rest with poly-fill so the body feels soft but full.

If you are using a sock, add your rice and then the batting to make it full.

Once it’s stuffed, gather the top slightly with glue so it curves inward instead of staying wide open. This part doesn’t need to look perfect since it will be hidden by the beard and hat.

Time to Make the Beard

For the next step, we’ll be making the beard, which really gives your gnome its personality.

Cut a wide triangle or rounded teardrop shape from faux fur for the beard.

Always cut faux fur from the back with a craft knife so the fibers stay long and fluffy.

Once it’s cut, glue the top of the beard right to the front center of the gnome’s body and let it hang down naturally.

Then add the nose by gluing a wooden bead right at the top edge of the beard so it sits half on the fur and half above it.

This creates that classic gnome look right away.

Make the Arms (Optional)

If you want to give your gnome little arms like the one in the photo, cut two thin strips of red felt for the arms and two tiny mitten shapes for the hands.

Glue a mitten to the end of each strip, add a touch of stuffing if you want them slightly puffy, then fold and glue the strips closed. Attach one arm to each side of the body so the mittens hang down naturally.

This step is optional, but it really adds to the handmade charm.

Create the Gnome Hat

To make the hat, cut a tall triangle from your buffalo plaid fabric and fold it in half with the right sides together.

Glue or sew along the long edge to form a cone, then turn it right side out and gently shape the tip.

If this is too complicated consider glueing the fabric to a cardboard cone.

Before attaching the hat to the gnome, add your rustic hanging loop by tying a piece of jute twine into a loop and gluing the knotted end inside the tip of the hat.

Once that’s secure, slide the hat over the gnome’s head, letting it sit low over the wooden nose for that cozy tucked-in look. Glue it in place along the back, sides, and just above the nose so it stays put.

Add the Details

Now for the details that really make this ornament stand out.

Trim a small piece of faux greenery and glue it to one side of the hat brim.

Then add a tiny cluster of red berries right where the greenery meets the hat.

This little accent instantly gives your gnome that festive, rustic Christmas feel. After everything is attached, fluff the beard with your fingers, trim any stray fibers, and clean up any visible glue strings so it looks neat and finished.

Finally, give your gnome a quick test hang on the tree to make sure it balances nicely.

If it leans a little, a tiny dab of extra glue inside the hat can help adjust the position.

And just like that, you’ve got a handmade buffalo plaid gnome ornament that looks beautiful on the tree and is perfect for gifting or selling during the holidays.