Seasonal Gnome Porch Sitter

deenagoodale
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Adding a heart to the finished gnome. This is a gnome that can stand upright on the front porch and be decorated with changeable holiday or seasonal decor. This one is for Valentine's Day. For other holidays, you could use a shamrock for St. Patrick's Day, an egg or an Easter basket with eggs for Easter, flowers for spring, flag for 4th of July, school book or apple for fall, pumpkin for Halloween, and tree for Christmas.

Total Time: 2 hours plus paint drying time

Yield: 1

Supplies:

wood
sand paper
paint
large wood bead for nose or old door knob handle
paint brushes
spray varnish
scroll saw
knob for nose
small piece of dowel

Steps:

First, I found an image from the internet of a gnome and made a paper pattern enlarging the design and printing on two 8 1/2 by 11 inch printer paper. Then, I taped the two pieces together.

The wood I used was about the same width as the printer paper. I cut the pattern out and then, using a glue stick, glued it to the wood. Then, I cut out the body of the gnome using a scroll saw. I also enlarged the hands and shoes onto printer paper, cut them out, and repeated the steps above. The nose can be made using a large round wood bead or, in my case, an old drawer knob.

Last, I cut out a heart shape with the scroll saw. With a pencil and looking at the original design, I lightly drew lines onto the wood to follow while painting.

A printed paper gnome to use as a pattern.

Cutting out the board in the shape of the gnome.

Paint the hands, shoes, nose, holiday shape (Valentine), and body of gnome. Use as many coats of paint as necessary (usually two to three) allowing plenty of drying time in between coats of paint. After paint has thoroughly dried, you can take a piece of sand paper and rough up the edges and surface to give it a more weathered or distressed look.

Use as many coats of paint as necessary (usually two to three) allowing plenty of drying time in between coats of paint. After paint has thoroughly dried, you can take a piece of sand paper and rough up the edges to give it a more weathered or distressed look. Lightly spray with varnish to preserve paint since if it will be placed outdoors.

Cutting out the hands and feet of the gnome.

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