Clean lines, simple colors, and rustic textures, these Santa gnome ornaments capture the charm of Scandinavian holiday décor.

Each one is just a small triangle of wood turned into something magical with red, white, and a tiny wooden bead nose.

They’re proof that sometimes less is more.

Also, hang them on a natural tree, pair them with straw stars and paper snowflakes, and you’ll have a Christmas look that feels straight out of a Nordic cabin.

Materials Needed

• Wooden triangle blocks (3-4 inches tall, 2–2.5 inches wide at base, 0.5 inches thick) - 5-6 pieces
• Small wooden half-beads (0.5 inch diameter) for noses - 1 per ornament
• Acrylic paint (red for hat, white for beard, optional beige for face)
• Paintbrushes (1 medium flat brush, 1 small detail brush)
• Hot glue gun or strong wood glue
• Jute twine (10-12 inches per ornament)
• Hand drill or small screw eye hooks
• Sandpaper (fine grit)

Step-by-step Guide

Step 1: Cut or buy pre-made wooden triangle blocks. Then sand the edges lightly so they’re smooth to handle.

Step 2: Paint the top third of each triangle with red acrylic paint for the Santa hat. Let it dry completely.

Step 3: Paint a white triangle underneath the hat, filling the lower section to look like a beard.

You should leave a small space in the middle for the nose area.

Step 4: Glue a wooden half-bead right in the center where the hat and beard meet. This becomes Santa’s nose.

Step 5: Drill a tiny hole at the top of the triangle or screw in a small eye hook.

Next, thread a piece of jute twine through and tie a knot to create a loop for hanging.

Step 6: Repeat for all your gnome ornaments and let everything dry before hanging.

Tip:

If you’d like to add variety, paint some hats in green or gold, or use glitter paint for a sparkling effect.

You could even give your Santas rosy cheeks with a dab of pink paint.