What I love about this shim witch is how she looks handmade in the best possible way. You won’t find anything like her in a store
The uneven shims actually make her more authentic, like she stepped straight out of a pumpkin patch. Her hat is tall and pointed, balanced with a purple flower, and the bow at her neck gives her a dash of sweetness.
She’s the kind of decoration that makes people stop and smile, because it carries that unmistakable warmth of something made with care.
If you enjoy crafts that mix humor with heart, this one is going to win you over.
Materials Needed
- 10-12 wood shims, each 8″ long (enough to form a triangular body)
- 1 extra shim cut down to 3″
- Acrylic paint in green, black, purple
- Handful of Spanish moss, about 6-8″
- Wooden or foam flower embellishment, around 2″ wide
- Ribbon, 12-15″ long (plaid, gingham, or orange)
- Hot glue gun with extra glue sticks
- Small detail brush or black marker
- Optional: matte sealer spray
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Lay out your shims on a flat surface, fanning them into a wide-bottom triangle. This will form the witch’s body. Adjust until you’re happy with the shape, then glue the pieces side by side.
Don’t worry if they’re not perfectly straight as her wonky look is part of the charm.
Step 2: Paint the bottom half green for the face. Use two coats so the color is bold. Then paint the top portion black to form her tall hat. Let each layer dry before moving on.
Step 3: Trim one shim down to about 3″ and angle the end so it sticks out like a hooked nose.
Now you paint it green and glue it across the middle of her face. This crooked nose gives her instant personality.
Step 4: Draw or paint on her facial features. A wiggly smile, two tiny eyes, maybe even some eyebrows, this is where she comes alive. Don’t overthink it, just let her expression be playful.
Step 5: Add Spanish moss right under the hatline as hair. Let it spill out a little for that wild, witchy look.
Next, glue the flower to one side of her hat. Finally, tie a bow from your ribbon and glue it at the bottom. Now she looks dressed for the holiday!
Tip:
I like to spray mine with a quick coat of matte sealer as it keeps the paint bright and stops the moss from shedding all over the shelf.
And here’s the fun part: if you tilt her nose up or down when you glue it, she takes on a whole new expression. I tried it once and ended up with a smirking witch that became my favorite piece.