When the weather outside still feels like Summer it can be hard to believe the holidays are on their way. But, have no fear! Our Self Storage Thousand Oaks team discovered a silly DIY tree gnome to perk up your front porch and bring some fun to the neighborhood. The best part? With just a simple change of material, this must-try evergreen will welcome everyone to your ‘gnome’ no matter the time of year.

Front Porch Gnome Tree

To get started, round up these tools & materials:

• 1-2 potted upright, triangular shrubs/trees (we love juniper!) Artificial or Live? You Decide!
• 1-2 tall white kitchen trash bags
• 1 roll of chicken wire (1” x 3 ft. or 1” x 4 ft.) depending on the size of your tree
• Scissors
• Handful of Batting
• 1 piece pre-cut fabric of your choice to represent the gnome’s nose
• 4” wide Ribbon of your choice
• Roll of 1mm craft wire
• Wire cutter
• Safety gloves

Prepare Your Gnome

Create a cylinder of chicken wire around the pot and lower section of the tree.

Starting from the base, wrap the pot and about 3-4” of the evergreen with chicken wire, then trim with a wire cutter Wrap the edges of the chicken wire together with craft wire to connect and hold the cylinder together around the pot/tree

Make the Beard

In this step, cut long strips of the trash bag.

Grab the trash bag and cut off the sides, top and along the bottom seam to open it upThen, cut 1.5” – 2” wide stripsTake a strip and fold in half. Then loop it through the chicken wire

Continue looping to fill in the shape of the beard

Make sure to leave 4” at the Top of the chicken wire

Make the Hat Band

Take your ribbon and place it over the top edge of chicken wire to cover your strips, then secure with craft wire

Create the Nose

Take a handful of batting and wrap it in the square piece of fabric

Twist the ball closed with craft wire

Hint: the more imperfect and unusually rounded, the better! Afterall, a gnome’s nose is the silliest part!

Secure the nose to the tree with craft wire just between the ribbon and beginning of the strips

   

Top it off

Make a pom pom from the ribbon and secure to the top of the evergreen with craft wire.

Hint: To make a great gnome, it helps to gather some of the evergreen branches and twist them into a bunch at the top using your craft wire

 

Voila! Now you’re ready to show them off! Set them apart or together on your front porch.

Then, when it’s time to change holidays, simply swap out the ribbon and these silly guys are ready to welcome everyone ‘gnome’ no matter what time of year!

 

We love creating fun DIY projects. If you do too, but find your home is unable to accommodate the space to work on them, consider self storage in Thousand Oaks. We offer the first month free and the Lowest Price-Guaranteed in the Conejo Valley. Transferring items away from your home will allow you to spread out your DIY supplies so you can have more fun this holiday season!