Create a charming Grinch gnome ornament for your Christmas tree using simple supplies: cardboard, felt, yarn, pom poms and cotton balls. This easy craft is perfect for kids after watching The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and makes a sweet, handmade keepsake.
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is a holiday favorite for many families. The story’s moment when the Grinch’s heart grows and he discovers the true meaning of Christmas is always moving, and it inspired this playful ornament project.
And what happened then? Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day. And then the true meaning of Christmas came though, and the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches plus two.
See a list of all of our favourite Christmas movies here.
Make our Grinch Gnome after watching “The Grinch”
We thought it would be fun to follow the movie with a simple craft the kids can make. Painting a detailed Grinch face proved tricky for little hands, so we adapted an easy gnome ornament idea to make a Grinch-inspired version that’s much simpler and super cute.
The finished Grinch gnome is quick to assemble, uses minimal materials, and is charming enough to warm even the grumpiest heart.
Supplies:
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- cardboard (a cereal box works well)
- pencil and scissors
- red felt (or red fabric or red paint)
- green yarn
- pom poms (one white, one green)
- cotton ball
- white glue and a hot glue gun
- thread or yarn for hanging
How to Make a Grinch Gnome Ornament
How to Make a Grinch Gnome Ornament
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Sketch and cut out the cardboard base.
On thin cardboard (a cereal box is ideal), draw a triangle about 3.5 inches wide at the base and 5 inches tall. Add a couple of sharp bends near the top to create the droopy tip of the Grinch’s hat. Cut out the hat shape.
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Glue the cardboard to felt.
Spread a thin layer of white glue on the cardboard and press it onto a larger piece of red felt. Smooth it down so it adheres well. If you prefer, you can use red fabric, paper, or paint instead of felt.
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Trim excess felt.
Turn the felt-faced piece over and trim away any excess felt so the edges are neat and flush with the cardboard.
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Prepare the green yarn beard.
Cut approximately 100 strands of yarn at 5 inches each, or loop yarn around your hand about 50 times and cut to create 50 strands about 10 inches long. Folding 10-inch strands in half will give the right look and fullness.
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Attach the beard to the hat.
Place the cardboard hat with the cardboard side up. Fold a bundle of 10-inch strands in half and use a hot glue gun to attach them along the bottom edge of the cardboard. Once secure, trim the ends so the beard is even. Keep a bowl of cold water nearby when using hot glue as a safety precaution.
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Add white trim to the hat.
Stretch out a couple of cotton balls and glue them along the base of the hat to create the fluffy white trim.
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Attach pom poms.
Glue a white pom pom to the tip of the hat. Glue a small green pom pom just below the hat’s trim to form the Grinch’s nose.
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Add a felt heart.
Cut a small heart from red felt and glue it onto the beard as a sweet finishing detail.
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Attach a hanging loop.
Cut a short piece of yarn or metallic thread, knot the ends together to form a loop, and secure it to the back of the ornament with hot glue. Allow everything to dry completely before hanging.
Hang the Grinch gnome in a special spot on your tree so it can remind you of kindness, generosity and the true spirit of the season every time you see it.
You may also like:
- Yarn and Cardboard Santa Ornaments
- Easy Gnome Ornaments
- Fabric Scrap Christmas Trees
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