Want to know why unfinished wood gnomes are so popular? They’re cheerful, easy to personalize, and they make people smile. They’re also great because, as a crafter, you can keep the same base pieces and reinvent them all year long!
Woodpeckers carries several styles — everything from tiny peg-doll gnomes to chunky stand-alone silhouettes and larger gnome wood cutouts — so you can match the project to your time and skill level:
- Gnome Peg Doll (2-¾”)
- Interchangeable Seasonal Gnome Cutout
- Large Wood Gnome Cutout (12”)
- Chunky Gnome Cutout
- Classic Wood Gnome Silhouette
We’ve got even more styles and designs of wooden gnomes for sale that take paint beautifully and survive being handled and stored year after year. We’ll also help you find practical finishes and a bunch of gnome craft ideas for Christmas and all the other seasons of the year!
Meet our wood gnome lineup
Gnome peg doll
Small in size, big on charm. These make quick ornaments, place-card holders, or tiered-tray accents. Since they’re tiny, they’re perfect for batch gnome crafts: prime a dozen, line them up like a little gnome factory, and apply colors to meet your preferences.
Quick make: Prime and block in three areas — hat, beard, and body. Dot a round wood beard or paint a peach “nose” circle. Add a simple shadow beneath the hat brim with a dry-brush of a darker tone. Seal with matte spray.
Interchangeable seasonal gnome cutout
This one is the Swiss Army knife of DIY wood gnome projects. The arms and hands can be swapped out, which means one cutout can carry a snowflake in December, a heart in February, an egg in April, and a pumpkin in October. It’s budget-friendly and storage-friendly: a single gnome with small seasonal bits tucks into a drawer with ease.
Pro tip: paint the base in neutral tones (charcoal coat, natural beard); make the interchangeable pieces the “pop” of color so the look changes with almost no effort.
Large wood gnome cutout
A great size for a door hanger or a wall plaque. Large enough for stripes, polka dots, buffalo plaid, or lettering — think “Gnome Sweet Gnome” or “Gnome for the Holidays.” If you’re working on sign-making techniques, this cutout is a great base to perfect your craft!
Display ideas: hang on a wreath, mount to a shiplap board, or screw a stake to the back for a planter pick.
Chunky gnome cutout
The chunky profile means this stands on its own — no base, no easel. If you do mantel displays or set up a hot chocolate bar, a chunky gnome is a perfect addition. It also travels well to craft shows because it’s sturdy and won’t topple over if someone bumps the table.
Finish that sells: satin black hat, soft gray body, cream beard, warm wood nose. Simple, neutral, and beautiful.
Classic wood gnome silhouette
This one’s the “little black dress” of gnome wood cutouts — clean shape and easy to decorate with add-ons (felt trim, mini jingle bells, ribbon, etc). Keep a few on hand for last-minute DIY gifts!
Core techniques for decorating DIY wood gnomes
Soft beards without fear: base coat a beard in a mid-gray. Load a dry, scruffy brush with white, wipe most off on a paper towel, then sweep in the direction of hair. Add a tiny charcoal shadow under the nose. Done!
Buffalo plaid, the easy way: paint the hat a mid red. Tape vertical 1” stripes and stencil a slightly darker red; rotate tape 90 degrees, stencil again. Add thin black lines freehand where the squares meet. Looks fancy, but it’s easy to do.
Night-sky hat: navy base, speckle with watered-down white (tap a loaded brush against a pencil). Dot three larger “stars.” Outline the brim with a silver paint pen.
Noses with depth: mix a tiny bit of your beard gray into peach to dull it. Paint the nose. Swipe a small highlight of straight peach at the top left; add a soft shadow underneath with diluted gray.
Wooden Christmas gnomes
If you’re starting with wooden Christmas gnomes, pick a limited palette — say, two reds, two greens, a neutral, and metallic gold — and repeat it across several pieces. The collection looks cohesive even when patterns change.
Door-hanger greeting (12” cutout)
- Hat: evergreen with skinny white stripes
- Beard: dry-brush white over a soft gray base
- Body: cranberry red, then add a darker cranberry shadow on the left edge
- Tassel: tie on a narrow plaid ribbon at the hat tip
- Hang from a wreath for instant curb appeal
Cocoa-bar trio (chunky gnome + two peg dolls)
- Chunky: matte black hat, gray body, cream beard; glue a mini candy cane where they “hand” would be
- Peg dolls: one in peppermint stripes, one in gingerbread brown with white “icing” squiggles
- Group on a tray with a jar of marshmallows and cinnamon sticks
Wooden deep winter gnomes
Not everything has to scream “holiday!” Switch to winter tones and you can keep your display until the first spring flowers show up.
Snow-day gnome (classic silhouette)
- Hat: denim dry-brushed with white at the brim for a frosty edge
- Beard: same technique, a tad cooler
- Accessory: felt scarf fringe glued at the neck
- Base: mount to a painted scrap board with a cluster of faux evergreens
Wooden year-round gnomes
The Interchangeable Seasonal Gnome Cutout shines here. Painted once, it becomes a year-round greeter with tiny prop swaps.
- Valentine’s: pink or burgundy heart in hand
- Spring: Soft yellow egg in hand
- Patriotic: Red, white, and blue heart in hand
- Harvest: Burnt orange pumpkin in hand
- Winter: White or ice blue snowflake in hand
Gnome craft ideas for kids
Working with little crafters? Keep the work fun and the cleanup easy.
- Sponge hats: pre-tape a triangle for the hat; give kids a makeup sponge and let them tap on color. Peel tape to reveal crisp edges — instant oohs and ahhs!
- Sticker faces: Paint the base, then hand over foam stickers and a bag of mini pom-poms. A pom makes a great nose and keeps paint off fingers.
- Name gnomes: 12” cutouts with a child’s name lettered on the body. Great classroom project or bunk-bed sign.
- Ornament assembly line: peg dolls + twine + one color of paint + glitter. Ten minutes later, you have a set for the tree!
Make your next wooden gnome with Woodpeckers
Whether you grab a handful of peg dolls for a quick craft night or settle in with a chunky gnome cutout and a mug of hot chocolate, these pieces are easy to learn and satisfying to finish. Start with one DIY wood gnome, and by the end of the weekend, you’ll have a small clan lined up on the mantel — each with a different look, each with a unique personality.
Browse our gnome wood cutouts ready for painting and pick the form that fits your plan. Keep one for Christmas, dress another for deep winter, and leave a neutral “everyday” guy (or gal) by the front door. That’s the magic of gnome crafting: same shape, new story, again and again.
Did you enjoy our guide to crafting with wooden gnomes? Be sure to check out our wooden gnome shop to find the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one!
