05 Mar Lucky Irish Girl Gnome

We’ve all seen the classic gnome boys with their big fuzzy beards and hats pulled low over their eyes. But this week we’re mixing things up with a little Irish lass instead. After all, those lucky fellas could use a little company!

With bright orange braids, a floppy green hat, and a delightfully oversized nose, this Dollar Tree DIY is packed with personality and St. Patrick’s Day charm. She’s sweet, a little silly, and guaranteed to bring some cheerful Irish charm to your holiday décor.

You’ll need…

• A 5 inch twine-wrapped foam Easter egg
• 1 pair of shamrock socks
• Orange chenille yarn
• Thin green ribbon
• Large 2 inch white pom pom
• Scrap of green fleece
• Needle and embroidery thread
• Small faux flowers or shamrock beads
• Green felt
• Cardboard
• Fabric glue
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun and sticks

1. Stuff the egg into the St. Patrick’s Day sock, making sure the pattern lines up nicely across the egg. Cut away any excess fabric. Fold the loose fabric over and glue the ends down, so the egg is completely covered.
   
2. Wrap yarn around a 10 inch piece of cardboard about 30 times. Tie one end together and snip the loops of yarn at the other end. This will give you two sections of 30 strands of yarn.
   
3. Divide one section of yarn into thirds and braid it. Tie it off using a thin ribbon or rubber band. Repeat this with the other section of yarn, so you have two long braids. Then glue the braids to the top of the covered egg.
   
4. Take a 2 inch white pom pom (we removed the cotton tail from a decorative bunny pick at Dollar Tree) and paste it onto the egg (tucked under the braids) for the gnome’s nose.
   
5. Cut out a circle of green fleece that’s about 7 inches in diameter. Using a needle and thread, make a running stitch all the way around the circle that’s about 1.5 inch from the edge.
   
6. Pull the thread tight until the floppy hat is formed and secure everything with a couple of knots to keep the pleats in place.
   
7. Add a small amount of polyfil stuffing into the hat so that it retains its shape. Then glue the hat onto the top of the girl’s head. Embellish with a tiny flower or shamrock, as desired.
   
8. Cut out a piece of cardboard for the feet. This is basically a 3×3 inch heart shape with the pointy bottom removed. Then cut a piece of green felt that’s slightly bigger than the cardboard and glue it on top. Be sure to press and glue the felt down around the cardboard edges to hide it. (No need to fold the felt completely over the edges. You can press the felt down just enough to cover the cardboard but still have the felt lay flat.) Attach the feet to the bottom of the egg.

And just like that, your lucky little Irish lass is ready to take her place in your St. Patrick’s Day décor. Set her on a shelf, tuck her into a centerpiece, or in a festive display.  Make a few more and you’ll have a whole cheerful crew of lucky lasses ready to bring smiles wherever they sit.

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