Adorable Gnome Peg Dolls Craft for Kids
These gnome peg dolls are simple and easy to make using scraps of fabric, felt, and some paint. They’re an adorable addition to any pretend play or imaginative play busy bag or box.
You can opt to make them yourself or as a supervised craft with little ones because I used hot glue while she was creating next to me. Keep reading for some additional ideas to make an entire play set using scraps of felt.
What You'll Find On This Page
Gnome Peg Dolls
Here are Ruffles and Rain Boots, we make a lot of our own pretend play, from dress up to puppets. I saw the raw peg dolls and knew my daughter would love making a woodland gnomes set of her own.
I love the versatility of wooden peg dolls because with just a bit of paint and felt, you can turn a plain peg into so many things. Below, I share some ideas on how we have added to this little play set but would love to hear yours in the comments.
Get Secret Gnomes, Tips, & Freebies Delivered!
What is the best pattern to use when you don’t want to sew? Do you know the secrets to a properly-proportioned gnome? Do you know where to get the best-priced fur?
Get all of this (and exclusive content just for you) delivered right to your inbox with the gnome-making series, free of charge. Sign up to get the once-weekly newsletter (and a jaw-dropping special offer)!
If you want your own set of handmade peg doll gnomes, let’s get started.
RELATED READING: Make This Adorable, Easy DIY Scandinavian Gnome with Braids
No Time to Make Them Now? Save or Share This for Later
If you need to gather up supplies or pick up some peg dolls, save this to a crafts pin board or share it to Facebook. You will be able to find it easily when you’re ready to begin.
Tips for Making Montessori Gnomes
- Using a smaller paintbrush will help you get finer details for your gnome, but for young kids, a paint pen might be best.
- We often drew on details using the end of the paintbrush because the peg dolls are small.
- Urge the kids to make each one unique and give them funny faces. My daughter even made one with an angry face.
- Scraps of felt or fabric are perfect for kid crafts like these peg dolls. Be sure to let them have the run of the scrap bin.
- If you have some extra felt, let the kids create a play scene. Some ideas are simple felt trees (triangles), mountains (triangles), and small animals and extras like butterflies, fish, and birds.
How to Make Gnome Peg Dolls
These quick and easy directions make it super simple to follow along, so if you want to prop this open for the little ones or print it out, you can. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments below.Â
Gnome Peg Dolls
Use scraps to make these adorable Montessori gnome peg dolls, perfect for busy bags, sensory bins, and pretend play.
Materials
- Wooden peg dolls
- Craft paint
- Craft felt and flannel
- Optional- wood disk or large wood slice for a play base.
Tools
- Small paint brushes
- Glue or Supervised Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Instructions
- Paint the main body color (the clothes). This will help you add the details neater and much easier. We just used a few simple colors for ours.
- It is optional, but you can paint the head. As most of it was covered and the wood was a nice flesh color, we left it as is.
- Once the base paint has dried, add details to the clothing like polka dots, stripes, aprons, etc. Use the small end of a paintbrush to paint details. For buttons, polka dots, and even suspenders, we used the end of the brush dipped just lightly in paint and “drew” them on rather than brushed.
- When all the paint is dry, use the wooden peg as a reference to cut white felt into a beard shape of the right size and for their hats. We just wrapped it around the hat and glued it. Secure beard in place.
- Cut the hat fabric into a triangle and slightly round each corner. Roll fabric into a cone shape and hot glue securely. Run a bead of glue all around the inside of the hat and slip over the head. Mix and match paint colors for clothes and fabrics to give each a unique personality.
- Paint one side of the wooden disk/wood slice with green and blue for grass and water, let dry. Flip it over and paint white for snow. This rounds out your little play set and gives the gnomes a fun place to hang out.
Notes
For more fun crafts for kids, visit Ruffles and Rain Boots.
More Gnome Crafts You Might Like
- Christmas Gnome Mason Jars – These are simple and fun to make (and give).
- Christmas Gnome Rock Painting Idea for Story Stones – You’ll love these gnome story stones.
- Adorable Cone Gnomes – Sugar Spice and Glitter shows the kids how to make these adorable cone gnomes with basic craft supplies. So cute!Â
Please Save or Share This
Your shares are how this site grows and I am sincerely grateful. Know a friend who’d like these peg gnome dolls? Please save it to a DIY pin board or share it to a crafty group on Facebook.