Aren’t these little fellows adorable?! I love how they turned out and bonus – they’re are seriously easy to make, unlike the deceptively hard Holiday Honeycomb Wreath. Yes, I’m still reeling from that craftastrophe but these tomten are helping me heal 😉

This project is inspired by Scandinavian folklore that describes a tomte much like a garden gnome. They are small in size, often wearing red caps and donning long beards. In addition to the traditional depiction, they have many different representations including the baby-faced, white-fleece wearing ones we’ll be making today.

It’s easy to assembly-line these guys where you can make several at once with relatively inexpensive materials. They’d be fun stocking stuffers or as a special touch to holiday gift wrap. As for my plans, I’ll be placing them alongside bottlebrush trees as part of my holiday decorations.

DIY Holiday Tomte Family

Approximate time: 30 minutes per tomte, which includes paint drying time

Skill Level: Beginner

Materials and Supplies

• Assorted wooden balls and/or beads for the body and head
• Heart-shaped wooden pieces for the feet
• White paint
• White fleece or felt
• Tomte hat template (PDF)
• Hot glue and glue gun
• Paint brush
• Black fine tip marker
• Scissors

Step 1

Start by painting the wooden heart piece and wood bead/ball that serves as the body. I only did one coat as I like having some of the grain and color of the wood come through. Allow to dry.

Step 2

Using the tomte hat template, trace and cut out the hat shape. Finish the hat by gluing or sewing the seams together and reversing the fabric (so the seam is on the inside). Set aside.

Step 3

Glue the body to the heart shape (which serves as the feet). Next attach the head to the body.

Step 4

 

Place and secure the hat with a small amount of glue.

 

Step 5

Using a pencil outline where you want the eyes and mouth. Trace over with your black marker. Optionally, add some rosy cheeks with pink paint.

Step 6

Cut a small strip of fleece to make the scarf. Wrap and tie around the tomte’s neck.

Skål! You just made a tomte figure!