Most garden gnomes are brightly colored. I have seen some pretty cute theme ideas on Pinterest you could paint your little men too. I stuck with colors that you can find in my yard decor, a turquoise blue, brick red, sunshine yellow, and vibrant purple.
Restoring Hand-Painted Garden Gnomes
What’s up gnomies! I’ve got a fun project to show you today. At least it was fun for me. Do you have any garden gnomes hanging around your yard looking a little faded? Let’s add some bright attitude back to these playful decorations with a little paint. That’s right, I’m showing you how I restored these hand-painted garden gnomes to give these antique men a fresh look.
Also, be prepared for some serious gnome puns throughout the post.
This post is a part of the Less Is More Thrifty Thursday series where our group of designers shows you ways to make the most of thrift, repurposed, and dollar store decor. Make sure to check out the links to their projects at the end of this post.
The Story Of These Little Men
I was recently gifted these 2 garden gnomes from my Grandma as she was cleaning up the house. She knows that I have a collection of gnomes throughout my backyard. I tuck them into various spots under bushes, behind trees, and between flower pots. It’s amusing to come across ones peeking through the greenery as the summer days get longer.
What’s special about these antique gnomes is a memory I have of them. They may not look like much but I remember watching my Grandpa paint these. I can’t recall if he was doing touch-ups because they had faded once before, or if they came without colour and he was brightening them up. They sat in the window sill of their front living room for years, tucked behind a coffee table. I would sneak behind that table which was covered in houseplants plants to admire the little gnome men my Grandpa had hand-painted.
These 2 Antique Hand-Painted Garden Gnomes are diamonds in the rough
My Grandpa has since past away, which is one of the reasons why my Grandma has been downsizing her belongings. I am glad I got these antique gnomes. They were needing some attention, and I wanted to do a good job to make my Grandpa proud.
The Prep Process
The paint was not only fading but also chipping off the garden gnomes. The first thing I did, and what you should do too, to clean them up is to use a soft bristle brush on them. Gently brush off all the loose and chipping paint. You could use a toothbrush or a vegetable brush.
After that, I used a diluted mix of soapy water and a microfibre cloth to give the gnomes a could cleaning. Make sure to get into all the nooks and crannies. You want to get all the loose and stuck on dirt off them. This way you’ll have gnome regrets when your busy painting. Your canvas will be clean.
How To Paint A “Camping Gnome” – Step By Step Painting
June 17, 2023 June 14, 2023 by Tracie
Paint an adorable camping gnome! This acrylic paint tutorial is done on an 11 x 14 canvas pre-painted black. There is an optional traceable for this and I will also show you how to draw the gnome. Enjoy and happy painting! Materials Needed: Download Tutorial: Download PDF instructions, bonus sized …
Spring Gnome – Acrylic Painting Tutorial
May 11, 2023 February 15, 2023 by Tracie
Learn how to paint a spring gnome on a swing! This spring gnome is a continuation of my gnome series and probably one of my favorites! The tutorial is demonstrated on an 11 x 14 canvas, however, the design can work for any canvas size! There is also a template …
Categories Gnomes, Medium Level Painting, Spring
Ice Skating Gnome – Acrylic Painting Tutorial
May 5, 2023 October 26, 2022 by Tracie
Learn how to paint this adorable ice skating gnome with acrylics on canvas! This tutorial will show you start to finish how to paint this design including how to draw the gnome. There is also an optional traceable download for this design. Enjoy and happy painting! Hey gnome fans! Here …
Categories Christmas, Gnomes, Lakes & Ponds, Medium Level Painting, Winter
