The Cutest Flower Pot Gnomes Craft

You can make these flower pot gnomes with paint, a bead, and dollar store clay pots. They can be made any size, so if you have terra cotta pots on hand, use those.

This painting project can be set up for kids or adults and they’re so much fun to decorate. And it’s so easy to match any theme, holiday, occasion, or decor!

Horizontal image of garden gnomes made with clay pots and painted with gnome beards and a nose on wood rounds in front of a flower garden.

RELATED READING: Clay Pot Garden Gnome DIY – It Went Viral for a Reason!

Easy Painted Gnomes Craft

Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots, I’m known throughout the Internet as someone who makes a lot of DIY gnomes, free gnome patterns, and other fun gnome crafts. It’s something I’ve been doing for years, long before their new-found popularity here in the States.

This easy craft can be set up like so many others: with a couple of basic craft supplies like paint and glue and a trip to the Dollar Tree or other dollar store. Clay pot crafts are so much fun for kids and adults because the “body” is done for you!

If you want to set up this fun gnome painting craft but can’t begin now, save this to a DIY projects pin board or share it to Facebook. Either way will make it easy to find when you’re ready to begin.

Vertical image of two pot gnomes in a flower garden painted with red hats, white beards, and pink and blue bodies.

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RELATED READING: The Original Pot Head Gnomes (So Cute and Simple)

Materials for Clay Pot Gnomes (for Kids or Adults)

Head over to the dollar store for the terra cotta pots. They come in multiples (smalls have three, medium has two pots) and are perfect for this craft. You will need:

  • clay pots in two sizes
  • paint
  • a gnome nose (wood ball, bead, etc.)
  • paint brush
  • glue gun or E6000

Best Paint for Garden Gnomes

I want to put a note to state that if you are putting these outside, dollar store paint might not be the best for this project. When I shared how to restore a garden gnome, I recommended the following because they work and they hold up!

  1. Primer – The colors will be SO much better! I use this primer on all outdoor projects because it holds up.
  2. Outdoor Paint – This is the outdoor paint set I used and it has held up well.
  3. Sealant – You will need a tested winner for an outdoor sealant with UV protection like this.

Flower Pot Gnomes Video Tutorial

If you’re a visual learner, see how fun this project can be with the flower pot gnomes video tutorial. While you’re there, be sure to subscribe – we have a lot of fun.

Horizontal image of a video thumbnail with two clay pot gnomes and text which reads fun and easy painted flower pot gnomes DIY.

How to Paint a Gnome Clay Pot

Spray paint the pots or paint them white. This will help any color really POP and works great when using cheap paint. 

Crafter using a foam brush to apply paint to the primer coated small and medium pots.

Turn both pots upside down (so the opening is at the bottom). Paint the “top” pot (the gnome hat) one or two coats of a color. Set aside to dry fully. 

Paint the “bottom” pot (the gnome body) another color, leaving room for a white gnome beard. An upside down triangle or a U-shape both work great for this. Repeat with another coat of paint, if necessary. Set aside to dry fully. 

Crafter using a square paint brush to paint on a gnome beard to the terra cotta pot flower pot gnome body.

Glue the smaller pot onto the top pot with a generous line of glue along the edge (not on the flat surface, but the brim). Let dry fully before moving.

Crafter using hot glue and E6000 to secure a small clay pot onto a medium terra cotta pot to form a gnome.

Glue on a small wood ball or round for a nose and display your flower pot gnome! 

Crafter using hot glue to affix a small wood bead to use as a gnome nose on a flower pot gnome set.

Note: once all paint and glue is dry, you can spray them with a sealant to place outdoors or to avoid scratching the paint.

More Easy Crafts You Might Like

Please Save or Share This Terra Cotta Pot Gnome Craft

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

Cute close up image of two clay pot gnomes with red hats and wood noses in front of a flowering garden with text which reads Flower Pot Gnomes.
Yield: 2 Clay Pot Gnomes

Flower Pot Gnomes Craft

Square close up image of two painted gnomes made from clay pots from the Dollar Tree sitting on a wood round in front of a flowering garden and wooden fence.

These terra cotta pot gnomes are the cutest craft for kids and adults. Flower pot gnomes are easy to create with a paint of paint and some glue, so let's grab a few basic craft supplies to get started. Set up this easy DIY gnome craft for kids or adults and follow the lessons learned or paint tips to make the colors pop!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 15 minutes
Drying Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $4

Materials

  • Clay Pot (Small, about 2 inches)
  • Clay Pot (Medium, about 3 inches)
  • Wood Ball or Half Back
  • Paint (two colors and white for the beard)
  • Optional, Spray Paint
  • Optional, Sealant

Tools

  • Paintbrush
  • Glue Gun and Glue Sticks (or E6000)

Instructions

  1. Optional: spray paint the pots or paint them white. This will help any color really POP and works great when using cheap paint. 
  2. Turn both pots upside down (so the opening is at the bottom). Paint the “top” pot (the gnome hat) one or two coats of a color. Set aside to dry fully. 
  3. Paint the “bottom” pot (the gnome body) another color, leaving room for a white gnome beard. An upside down triangle or a U-shape both work great for this. Repeat with another coat of paint, if necessary. Set aside to dry fully. 
  4. Glue the smaller pot onto the top pot with a generous line of glue along the edge (not on the flat surface, but the brim). Let dry fully before moving.
  5. Glue on a small wood ball or round for a nose and display your flower pot gnome! 
  6. Optional: once all paint and glue has dried, spray them with a sealant to place outdoors or to avoid scratching the paint. 

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