DIY Treat Bag Gnome for Any Occasion

Let’s make a pair of treat bag gnomes two ways using the same easy techniques and a hot glue gun. One is actually a gnome treat bag filled with candy. The other is a stuffed gnome made with a treat bag.

Supplies vary depending on the style you want to make but all are listed with options so you can use what you have on hand. Create both of these gnomes without a gnome pattern – just grab what you have and let’s get started.

Horizontal image of two gnomes with pink beards and gray hats in front of marble background on wood planks.
Create two styles of gnomes with floppy hats using treat bags!

RELATED READING: Christmas Gift Bag Gnomes – So Cute and Easy

Gnomes Made with Dollar Tree Treat Bags

Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots, when I was packing for a big move, I found a TON of craft supplies I forgot I had – tell me I’m not the only one! These Dollar Tree treat bags were in that stash and I started playing around with a couple of ideas immediately.

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

Whether you want to make a gnome treat bag or a gnome WITH the treat bag, this quick DIY tutorial will walk you through both. These easy no sew gnomes come together in about 7 minutes, so they are a good afternoon craft.

I am creating these for Valentine’s Day, but you can use the same method to create Christmas gnomes, birthday favors, or gnomes for any occasion. And the treat bag style that sits on top can also be used as a gnome wine bottle topper!

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Vertical split image collage showing two gnomes with gray hats and pink beards on top of crafter add glue and wood bead to gnome.
You can make these adorable gnomes using a hot glue gun, a dollar store staple, and some fur.

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RELATED READING: Easy Valentine’s Day Sock Gnomes with Twisted Heart Hats

Materials Needed for a Valentine’s Day Gnome Treat Bag

Below are the materials I used for these treat bag gnomes. Check your stash – and be sure to check your party supplies – before you head to the store. A quality faux fur isn’t really necessary on this craft but it can sure change the look.

  • Treat Bags or Canvas Gift Bags – I used two sizes from the Dollar Tree, 4×6 and 7×9.
  • Faux Fur – This is a very beautiful faux fur and I highly recommend it. I used pink because I was creating a Valentine gnome, but the sky is the limit!
  • Wood Ball or Wood Bead – You can use anything, even a pom pom for a gnome nose.
  • Poly Pellets – These are the preferred method for weighting stuffed animals and plushes.
  • Poly Fill – Use more than you think you need, as it will compress.
  • Optional: candy or decorations
Horizontal image of supplies to make a gnome including treat bags, fur, and fabric.
Both sizes of treat bags from the dollar store will work to make adorable no sew gnomes.

RELATED READING: No Sew Mini Felt Gnomes for Valentine’s Day

How to Make Treat Bag Gnomes

Below are the step by step instructions for making both the large, stuffed gnome and the small treat bag gnome topper. Keep this page open, follow along, and use the comments section for any questions.

If you are a visual lerner, watch the full treat bag gnome video tutorial which shows how to put both together. We have a lot of fun over there, so be sure to subscribe.

First, turn the treat bag inside out. Glue each point to the bottom to create a box pleat. Once dry, turn the bags right-sides out.

Crafter gluing the corners of a treat bag with hot glue.
Use hot glue to create a box pleat bottom.

Turn the treat bag right-sides out and fill. If making a treat bag, add candy, pull the strings, and tie them in a bow. If making a stuffed gnome, add weight and fill the remainder of the bag with stuffing. Pull the strings, double-knot them, and cut off the excess.

Crafter adding poly fil stuffing to the treat bag for a gnome body.
Add weight and stuffing to create a gnome body.

Create a gnome hat with the fleece fabric. Measure the fabric around the widest part of the gnome and add one inch. Measure 9 inches high for the small gnome and 11 inches for the large one.

Fold up the bottom on the wrong side to make a brim. Fold the right sides of the fabric together and cut a triangle to the folded edge. The rise for the small gnome is 2 inches, the large gnome is 3 inches.

Glue the right sides together, up along the rise through to the tip of the hat. Let dry and turn right-sides out.

Crafter using scissors to create a slouchy gnome hat pattern.
Put the right sides of the fabric together and create a gnome hat with a rise.

Cut a gnome beard from faux fur with an X-Acto knife. The small gnome beard measures a 2×2 inches and the large gnome 4×4 inches. Glue the beard to the inside brim of the hat (for the treat bag gnome) or onto the body for the stuffed gnome.

Crafter using an X-acto knife to cut the backing of pink faux fur.
Cut the fur to create a square gnome beard.

Split the fur to the fabric backing, add glue, and press on the wood ball or bead for the gnome nose.

Crafter using hot glue to affix a one inch wood bead to the fur for a gnome nose.
Split fur to the fabric backing, add hot glue, and press the wood bead into it.

Secure the brim of the hat to the top of the nos. For the stuffed gnome, glue down the hat.

Crafter gluing a gnome hat to the top of a gnome body.
Secure the brim of the hat to the nose and glue the hat to the body.

Create a pompom from the faux fur used for the beard and glue onto the tip of the hat. Glue down the flop over portion of the hat to the side of the hat and display!

Crafter gluing down the floppy end of a gnome hat.
Glue the side of the hat to itself and attach the pompom to the end.

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Yield: 2 Gnomes

Easy Treat Bag Gnomes

Close up square image of large gnome with pink faux fur beard, gray fabric hat, and wood bead nose.

Use dollar store bags to create these adorable treat bag gnomes. Whether you want to fill it with candy or create a piece for your decor, each gnome only takes 7 minutes to create with a hot glue gun, some fur, and a wood bead for a nose. The smaller design can even be used as a gnome bottle topper for the perfect hostess gift.

Active Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost $10

Materials

Tools

Instructions

  1. Turn the treat bag inside out. Flatten the bottom. Take each pointed corner and glue it to the bottom of the treat bag. Let dry.
  2. Turn the treat bag right-sides out and fill. If making a treat bag, pull the strings, and tie them in a bow.

    If making a stuffed gnome, add 1 cup of poly pellets and fill the remainder of the bag with stuffing. Pull the strings, double-knot them, and cut off the excess.
  3. Create a gnome hat with the fleece fabric. Measure the fabric around the widest part of the gnome and add one inch. Measure 9 inches high for the small gnome and 11 inches for the large one.

    Fold up the bottom 1/2 inch on the wrong side of the fabric and secure with glue to make a brim.

    Fold the right sides of the fabric together, measure the rise, and cut a triangle to the folded edge, leaving about 1/2 inch flat. The rise for the small gnome is 2 inches, the large gnome is 3 inches.

    Glue the right sides of the fabric together along the outside edge of the folded pieces. Take care to glue the tip of the hat well. Let dry and turn right sides out.
  4. Measure a gnome beard and cut it out with an X-Acto knife. For the small gnome, measure a 2x2 inch faux fur beard. For the large gnome, measure a 4x4 inch faux fur beard.

    Glue the beard to the inside brim of the hat (for the treat bag gnome) or onto the body for the stuffed gnome.
  5. Split the faux fur to the fabric backing, add glue, and press on the wood ball or bead for the gnome nose.
  6. Secure the brim of the hat to the top of the nose for both sizes. For the stuffed gnome, glue down the hat all around the back of the body (do not glue to the faux fur).
  7. To create a pompom, cut a square of faux fur (1 inch for the small, 2 inches for the large). Glue each point into the center of the fur's fabric backing, let dry, and fluff.
  8. Put the hat onto the gnome body with the seam on the side. Glue the top of the hat to the body of the hat along the side, glue the pompom to the tip, and the gnome is ready!

Notes

For the stuffed gnome, you can use clean aquarium gravel for weight.

The treat bag gnome can also be used as a wine or other bottle topper or as a mason jar topper.

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