Cybil's Christmas Gnome - Craft Room Secrets
- Sarah Ickes
- Nov 1, 2024
- 5 min read
Wondering what Cybil's choice of craft looked like in The Ghost of Christmas Pastel? Or perhaps you are just in the market for a neat outdoor decoration to spruce up your place this holiday season? Either way, here are two different examples of the final product Cybil created to fulfill her boss's project in my "Cybil Lawson Mystery" series.
While the following instructions will be demonstrating the gnome on the right side of the above image, the one on the left is very similar and can also be done with only a few modifications. And, as in any craft, the options are endless. 😃 So have fun crafting your own Christmas Gnome to help spread some cheer this year!
Disclaimer: I am not held responsible for any damages to yourself, or any object in your house, should you decide to give this craft a try. This is just a suggestion, nothing more.
My Supply List: (none of the following links are monetized)
one tomato cage (purchased through a home improvement store or local garden center)
non-wired green garland (purchased wherever outdoor Christmas decor is sold)
diagonal cutters (pliers)
duct tape (a durable version)
styrofoam block (can be dry floral foam as well, just not wet floral foam)
Christmas table cloth or fabric (can be from a dollar store, craft store, or personal supply)
something round for the hat’s tip (a Mini Brands Ball container was used in the example)
something for the nose (a red collapsible dog’s water bowl was used in the example)
green crafting wire (not extremely strong wire, as it needs to be very flexible)
newspaper to protect crafting surfaces, or other protective measures
Optional:
upholstery foam or outdoor foam for cushions can be used inside the hat, as per the example on the left side of the image
**all of the product links, and companies mentioned, are owned by their respective parties, and I claim no ownership nor am I affiliated with their companies in any way. All of my opinions in this post, and blog, are of my own doing and are not reflective upon any of the companies mentioned.
One Thing to Note: While I did not use pre-lit garland for this project, it can be done. But please take cost, length, and wrapping technique into account before purchasing your supplies. The non-wired garland used in this project took 100 ft of flexible greenery that was sold in 50 ft bundles for approximately $10 a piece (remember that Christmas items are cheaper right before and after the holiday season). But the overall length of garland that is required depends upon the size of the tomato cage.
Step 1: To create the point where the top of the hat will be, first use some duct tape to join the three legs of the tomato cage together. Be careful while handling these ends, as they can be very sharp!
(Artist Tip: For the beginning couple of steps, I found it best to do them outside because of the size of my tomato cage; and the need to flip it around so many times whilst working with it. I also worked on a table surface that was already rough from the outdoor elements and wouldn't make a difference whether it was damaged by the thick wire.)
Step 2: Starting with the largest section of the tomato cage, which is also considered the "top" of the cage and the "bottom" of this project, take the garland and knot one end on either the bottom most rung or the top rung of the bottom section. From there, weave the garland from top to bottom, inside and out, in a repetitive fashion, until the bottom section is completely filled.
(Artist Tip: I found that it helps to eliminate holes if you do it like a figure eight and continue going back and forth between the weaves. The amount of garland needed for this project will depend on the size tomato cage you have. Mine was larger, so it took more to finish the job, and 100 ft of garland.)
Step 3: Keep weaving each section one at a time, moving around the "bottom" level and working your way up to the "middle" level, as described in the previous step. Do not go beyond the "middle" level, as this is where the hat will cover up the rest of the wire frame.
As you go along with the garland, try to maintain an even amount of space between the weaves in a "Goldilocks" style (not too tight and not too loose either).
Step 4: Gather the rest of your supplies and make sure to have some protection for your surfaces, such as newspaper, because of the tomato cage's hard edges. Due to the height of your cage, it might be easier to work on the floor.
For this step, and the rest afterwards, I brought the cage indoors to work on it for the example.
Step 5: Take a styrofoam block, or a square of floral foam, and shove it over the exposed ends that were taped earlier. Once it is in place, use the duct tape to secure it onto the wires.
You can use a retractable knife to shape the foam, but please remember that the blade is sharp and there is the potential for damage to you and your furniture if mishandled.
Step 6: Take the collapsible dog bowl, which usually comes with a carabiner clip, and hook it onto the top of the "middle" section. The bowl can be used in either its popped-out form, as in the example image at the top of this post, or collapsed.
Step 7: Now is where the trickier part comes into play; trying to get the fabric, or table cloth, to drape the way you would like. If you manage to get it right the first time, that's great! But don't get discouraged if it takes a few attempts to put it into place, like it did for me.
Next, take the safety pins...different sizes work...and close over any gaps in the fabric.
Step 8: Clipping on the ball tip of the hat is fairly simple if you have a Mini Brands plastic ball and thinner fabric/table cloth material. If you don't have either, or even one, make do with what you have lying around! Be creative and have some fun with it. 😀
This next step is optional, as you don't have to add anything else to the hat. But I felt that mine was in need of some extra fluffy whiteness to make it appear more like Santa Claus's hat.
To achieve this look, I bunched up the white table cloth and used my green crafting wire to attach it to the tomato cage underneath (it also helped to hide any imperfections where the hat met the garland).
Step 9: And presto! Magnifique! Your one-of-a-kind gnome is done and ready for displaying on a porch, back patio, or inside your home. These gnomes do better where there is partial shelter from the elements; especially if you live somewhere where the weather can be very bad during the winter months.
Well...thanks for reading through Cybil's Christmas Gnome craft! It was a blast making this gnome friend for a local bookshop around the holiday season, and I can't wait to see the one that you create! 😉 Until next time, be sure to grab your copy of The Ghost of Christmas Pastel, the first installment of the "Cybil Lawson Mysteries."
And remember to have fun with any craft project that you do. Because we all could use a little more smiling in our lives! Merry Christmas, My Friend. 🎄
That's all for now! See ya next time! #crafts #inspiration #bookcrafts #cozymystery #gnome #Christmas #readers #creativity #tomatocage #garland
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