Date : December 19, 2020
Our imaginations can go wild when we’re out in nature.
Characters can be created out of foliage and stories can be shaped from the landscape.
The Australian landscape was May Gibbs’ inspiration for the stories we love when we follow the adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.
Turning a stick or gumnut or leaves into something creative like a costume or a new character can be fun. It stretches our imagination and it can also be a welcome distraction to relieve stress.
Christmas is a wonderful opportunity to be creative. Turning Gumnuts into Christmas Gnomes was an idea I came up with while going for a morning walk.
What do Gnomes have to do with Christmas?
Gnomes are mythological creatures from Scandinavian folklore.
The Scandi trend in interiors has been popular in recent years. The gnomes are typically brought out in décor during Christmas or the Winter Solstice.
While Australia experiences summer during the festive period, we can still introduce Gnomes, but with an Aussie twist – using gumnuts. They are the perfect shape for miniature gnomes.
Materials
Gumnuts
Red paint
Paintbrushes
Plate for paint
Paper to protect work surface
Small pom poms
Cotton buds
Hot glue gun
Instructions
1. Paint the gumnut red and allow to dry.
2. Pull the white cotton wool balls to create long lengths. This will be for the gnome’s hair and beard.
3. Glue the elongated cotton balls around the base rim of the gumnut.
4. Glue a small pompom on for the nose.
It’s truly a gorgeous craft to create and the more gumnuts you have, the more gnomes you can make.
Your cute creations can be given as gifts or as a favour on the Christmas table.
Crafty Bec
Crafty Bec is here to help stimulate little imaginations and spark a creative flame in little people. Inspired by May Gibbs’ own passion for creative writing and art, Bec helps educators and mums to embrace nature inspired creativity.
