Inspiration

To add to our nordic-inspired Christmas, we decided to add woodland and whimsical elements. We found simple, triangular trees made of wooden planks that we painted in a color block pattern. To add a whimsical feel to our decor, we chose to paint large, wooden gnome ornaments.

So what is the history behind gnomes? Gnomes, or Nisse, are guardian spirits originating from Scandinavia in the 18th and 19th centuries. According to Fjorn,

“Many farms claimed to have their own Nisse. The Nisse took an active interest in the farm by performing chores such as grooming horses, carrying bales of hay, and other farm-related tasks… However, Nisser could be temperamental, to say the least. If the household was not careful to keep its Nisse satisfied -- usually in the form of a single bowl of porridge with butter in it left out on Christmas Eve -- the spirit could turn against its masters. In the 1840s, the farm's Nisse became the bearer of Christmas presents in Scandinavia, and was then called ‘Julenisse’ and has been associated with Christmas ever since… he or she does not come down the chimney on Christmas night, but arrives through the front door, delivering the presents directly to his household friends.”

Let’s get started!

Supplies

Ironstone

Marzipan (Coming back in early 2023)

Schloss

Typewriter

MilkMix-EZ™ Anti-Foaming Agent (optional)

Paintbrush

Wooden Trees

Wooden Gnomes 

Sandpaper (if you want to add distressing)

MilkWax™ Clear

Mix MilkPaint™

We are continuing to use our Nordic-inspired color palette from our DIY Star-Themed Holiday Decor post. For the trees and gnomes, we used all the colors in the palette: Ironstone, Marzipan, Schloss, and Typewriter.

For the tree stripes and some of the gnome details, we mixed all the colors in 1 part MilkPaint™ powder to 1 part water. 

We added a few drops of MilkMix-EZ™ Anti-Foaming Agent when mixing Ironstone because it tends to foam when mixing. Note: MilkMix-EZ™ is not necessary; it serves to reduce mixing time and foaming.  

For the gnome hat and body and tree bases, we created a Typewriter stain. The mixing ratio for creating a stain is 1 part MilkPaint™ powder to 4 parts water.  To learn how to mix MilkPaint™ as a stain, click here.

Striped Trees

To customize our wooden trees, we painted them in a color block style. Each section will be painted in one color from the Nordic-Inspired color palette (From top to bottom: Ironstone, Marzipan, Schloss, Typewriter. We painted two coats of MilkPaint™ onto each section - don’t forget to paint the sides!

We chose to stain the bases with Typewriter for a natural look. We added two coats of our stain to each tree base. 

To finish our trees, we used a wax brush to apply MilkWax™ Clear. Apply the wax, let sit for about 10 minutes, and then buff with a lint-free cloth.  Make sure to work from the top to the bottom to prevent color transfer.

Gnome Ornaments

To customize our gnomes, we started by staining the hat and body with our Typewriter stain. We only added one coat of our stain to create an aged look. Each gnome took the stain differently, making them all unique. For a more uniform look, add 2-3 coats of stain. 

Next, we used Ironstone to paint the gnome beard, Schloss for the hat fur, Marzipan for the nose, and Typewriter for the boots and mittens. We painted each gnome slightly different alternating the candy cane colors and parts of the beard. We applied one coat of paint in each color.

Using stain instead of full strength Typewriter for the body of the gnome gave it a softer, more time-worn feel. The boots and gloves were painted full strength and then sanded back. This added dimension and helped with the time-worn look while still differentiating them from the body.

To protect our creations, we used a wax brush to apply MilkWax™ Clear. The wax will help to protect the finish and prevent marring from bumps and storage. Gently apply wax, moving through the light colors to the dark. Wait 10 minutes and buff with a lint-free cloth. Again moving from light to dark to prevent color transfer. We feel the overall look of our gnome ornaments is truly Nordic-inspired.

Want to see a final look of all our decor pieces together? Stay tuned to see our Nordic-inspired Christmas after we have shared all of our projects for DIY decorations through the week.