Elegant Wine Bottle Gnome DIY

If you love to recycle, this elegant wine bottle gnome craft is for you! Clean a wine bottle, grab some paint and join me for this easy DIY gnome that doesn’t require any sewing or gnome pattern.

You will need a clean bottle (of any kind), paint, a scrap of faux fur, and a wood ball or bead to get started. Grab some friends and make this a craft night idea for the holidays.

Horizontal close up image of a wine bottle gnome made with paint, fur, ribbon, and flowers placed on a light wood background.
This elegant, smoothly painted wine bottle gnome is a fun DIY and can be easily customized.

RELATED READING: Christmas Gnome Wine Bottle Topper and Gift Bag

Easy Wine Bottle Gnome Craft

Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots, I love a hearing from readers and getting challenges and requests. This gnome bottle was one a reader sent in back in April of 2021 and by May it was completed.

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collage of diy gnomes teaching how to make a gnome with or without legs and with or without sewing

And I promptly forgot about it until 18 months later…

That’s the way it goes with me: sometimes I am hyper-focused on getting something done and published on YouTube and here on the site; sometimes crafts sit for years until they’re completed or shared. What can I say? I like the actual crafting part best of this job.

Even though I’m just getting around to sharing this cutie, I figured he was definitely worth putting out there. It’s an easy craft and one that can be put down and picked up at your leisure. Who doesn’t love that?! Let’s get started.

No Time to Make This Now? Save or Share for Later

If you need to drink a bottle of wine (no judgement here) or gather up some supplies, save this to a DIY pin board or share it on Facebook. Either will make this easy to find when you’re ready to begin and I thank you for the share.

Vertical image of a painted wine bottle gnome with white beard, ribbon, and flower decorations on light wood background with copper vase.
Any style of bottle will work for this wine bottle gnome craft – short, tall, thin, wide – anything!

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Tips for Making This Style of DIY Gnome Decor

  • If you don’t have glass paint, use a chalk paint (my choice) or gouache paint. Both provide an opaque finish in just a few coats.
  • Do not skip sealing the paint. All types of paint should be sealed when working on the outside of glass. Chips and dings will flake off and scratches will show easily if the paint isn’t sealed.
  • Ideas for sealant: Liquitex varnish (my choice), polyurethane sealant (I prefer the spray-on style), and ModPodge are all good options. Apply sealant in long, light brush strokes or long, thin passes with the spray can.
  • For a modern look, use a smaller triangle of faux fur (any style, any pile length) fo rthe gnome beard. For a more traditional look, use a rectangle or triangle of faux fur which extends from side to side.
  • The gnome nose I used was a wooden ball (no holes), but you can use a wooden bead, a round of fabric stuffed with Poly-Fil, or even a button.
  • Make this a year-round gnome easily. Choose a neutral color for the body paint and swap out the decorations on the top for each season, holiday, or event. Head over to the Dollar Tree or other discount stores to pick up small accents.
  • I’d love to see if you make this into a Christmas gnome! Come share it in the Facebook group here.
Square close up image of a green painted wine bottle gnome with white beard and flowers on a farmhouse decor background.
Make an adorable wine bottle gnome using a recycled bottle, some paint, and a bit of faux fur.

RELATED READING: Easy Gnome Bottle Topper

DIY Wine Bottle Gnome Instructions

Below is the full written and printable step-by-step tutorial on creating this easy gnome craft idea using a bottle for the gnome body and hat. If you are a visual learner, watch the short wine bottle gnome tutorial here on YouTube.

Be sure to subscribe – we have a lot of fun there with gnomes and other crafts!

Yield: 1 Bottle Gnome

Wine Bottle Gnome DIY

Square close up image of a green painted wine bottle gnome with white beard and flowers on a farmhouse decor background.

Use a wine bottle to create a gorgeous display for any season, decor, or holiday. You will need paint, faux fur, and a few bits and bobbles for decorations to fit your theme.

Active Time 45 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $5

Materials

  • Wine Bottle, cleaned
  • Chalk Paint
  • White Faux Fur
  • Wood Ball (3/4 - 1 inch)
  • Ribbons
  • Paper Flowers or Other Accent

Tools

Instructions

  1. Use the sponge dobber to apply a thin coat of chalk paint to the outside surface of the wine bottle, covering it completely but sparsely. Air dry or use a heat gun to speed up the process. Crafter showing how to lightly paint a wine bottle the right way.
  2. Apply a second and (possibly) third coat to make the paint opaque. Crafter showing a completely opaque painted wine bottle for crafts.
  3. Cut a faux fur beard rectangle using an X-Acto knife or a razor blade, cutting through the fabric-backing only. The width and height are dependent upon your preferences and your bottle. Mine is approximately 4 inches wide by 2.5 inches high. Crafter cutting a rectangle gnome beard from faux fur.
    Fold down and use hot glue to secure the top 1/4-1/2 inch (fur pile pointed down) to create a tailored look to the top of the beard. Crafter creating a tailored gnome beard by folding down the top edge.
  4. Create a faux fur mustache (optional) by cutting a thin rectangle (1/3 the height of the beard) and gluing the top and bottom into the center back. Brush from the middle to each of the ends to create separation. Crafter making a gnome mustache for a recycled gnome bottle topper.
  5. Seal the paint by coating the entire bottle in a sealant (I used Liquitex and a paintbrush). Allow to dry completely. Crafter painting on a strong sealant to protect a painted wine bottle.
  6. Use hot glue to secure the beard to the front of the bottle and brush up the top 1/4 inch. Crafter gluing on the gnome beard to the painted wine bottle.
    Add the gnome nose wood ball with hot glue and attach the mustache to the bottom of the nose with glue (back toward the gnome beard). Crafter adding a mustache under the gnome nose.
  7. Tie on decorative ribbons to the top of the wine bottle and add paper flowers. Display the wine bottle gnome. Crafter tying three stacked ribbons at the top of the wine bottle for the gnome decoration.

Notes

Sealant can be a spray, a varnish, or ModPodge. Use long, even brush strokes or passes to minimize texture.

If you would like to change out the bottle for holidays, seasons, or events, do not secure the ribbon and decorations with glue.

Recommended Products

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Did you make this?

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Your shares are how this site grows and I am sincerely grateful. Please save this adorable gnome idea to a DIY crafts pin board or share it with a crafty group on Facebook.

Stacked vertical image collage of wine bottle gnome with text which reads turn a wine bottle into a gnome.
Create a whimsical gnome using a wine bottle, fur, and a bit of ribbon.

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