Dollar Store Slippers Gnome Ornament

It's that time again for our Monthly Challenge Blog Hop!

I've joined a group of creative bloggers to bring you a monthly challenge blog hop. On the 2nd Monday of each month we share our themed creations for the month.  This month it's a Dollar Store Craft!  And who doesn't love creating something awesome using items from the dollar store!

 Gnomes continues to be quite popular and trendy this holiday season! They are  the absolute cutest and can be found just about everywhere in all kinds of materials, colors, shapes, and sizes!  And they're also the perfect addition to almost any type of holiday decor! So I've jumped on the band wagon to create my own using plaid slippers from the Dollar Tree!

I hope the first thing you thought when you saw this wasn't, "Oh no she didn't! I can't believe she destroyed a perfectly good pair of slippers to make this gnome ornament!" Well, yes I did! But please remember they were just a dollar!  Besides, I bought an extra pair to wear around the house! I couldn't resist! They are so cool and comfortable! Cool as a pair of slippers and cool as a gnome ornament, too! And the best part, you really don't need to spend anymore than a couple of dollars to make this adorable ornament! You better believe it! And I'm sure you have all the other items you'll need in your stash to put it together, too!

Materials:
Dollar store faux fur lined slippers
Dollar store nude foot-ped
Seam Ripper or craft knife
Cardstock to draw hat template
Fabric glue or hot glue
Fiber-fil or cotton ball
Cardboard
Twine/thick thread

Let's start by taking the slippers apart. I used a craft knife to break the side seams and I'm sure a seam ripper would be much easier for this, but I couldn't find mine - too much clutter right now, lol! 

The best thing about opening up the seam is that the faux fur lining separates from the sole completely into one piece.  And it's perfect to use for the beard!

Next, lay out the opened slippers and cut off just enough to make the hat! Save the rest for another awesome project!

Then, make a template of a gnome's hat out of cardstock - I purposely drew the hat to include the curvature of the slipper - it's a great spot for the nose! Next, place the pattern on top of the slipper fabric .  .  .

and cut out.

Place right sides (plaid)together and run a bead of glue along the inside edges, leaving the bottom open. Firmly press the edges together and let dry completely.

Once dry, turn the hat inside out. Oh boy, doesn't this look awesome!

Next, fold the faux fur from the sole in half, coating with glue inside to seal the piece together and let dry.

Insert faux fur at the fold into the bottom of hat, adjusting fit and gluing in place.

Then round off the shape of the beard with scissors.

Don't you just love how it's taking shape!

To make the nose - take a small amount of fiber-fil or a cotton ball from the medicine cabinet, and shape into a ball .  .  .

stuffing it in the toe area of the foot-ped and tying the ball tight with a cut-off strip from the ped.

Then cut off the excess fabric .  .  .

and glue nose onto center curve, just below hat edge.

Make a hanger by wrapping twine around cardboard - grouping in three, 
3 strands and tying in a knot .  .  .

to braid.

Once braided, fold twine braid to make a loop, adding glue to ends and insert into center top of hat for hanger. Let dry.

What a fun and easy way to add a bit of whimsy to your holiday tree this season!

Want to see more of what can be created from dollar store goodies? Be sure to visit each and every blogger who joined in this month's challenge! 

Meet this month's co-hosts!

Across the Blvd | Purple Hues & Me

This Autoimmune Life | Our Unschooling Journey

Domestic Deadline | Sew Crafty Crochet

Stone Cottage Adventures | Sum of Their Stories | Two Chicks & a Mom

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