Glued To My Crafts

Join thousands of others who have gotten GLUED to our craft tutorials!

Back To School Gnome Craft Idea For The First Day

When engaging in craft activities, it is important for young children to have adult supervision at ALL times. It is also recommended to use supplies that are suitable for your child's age. Feel free to modify materials or steps to meet your specific requirements. Please refer to our safety guidelines for more information.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.

UPDATE FOR 2026 - To reduce storage costs and download fees, we recently made some changes to our website. The password for all our files this year is GLUEDTOMYCRAFTS2026. No sign-up is required to download our free printables! You can enjoy our printables without creating an account or paying for Box.com. Simply follow the download instructions on our FAQ PAGE.

Get creative with your kiddos this back-to-school season! Try making a magical gnome craft for some extra fun and learning - trust us, the smiles will be worth it!
SKIP THE FLUFF AND PRINT THE DIRECTIONS
Two handmade back to school gnome crafts made from popsicle sticks, colored paper, and patterned cardstock are arranged on a teal background with white starburst designs. A label reads Back to School Gnomes.

Get creative this back to school season and make your own charming gnomes using nothing but popsicle sticks and some creativity!

Two handmade back to school gnome crafts made from popsicle sticks, colored paper, and patterned cardstock are arranged on a teal background with white starburst designs. A label reads Back to School Gnomes.

Pencil Hat Gnome Craft Idea

Today on Glued To My Crafts, I’m welcoming the back-to-school season with open arms, with our latest and greatest GNOME craft idea! Yes – you read that right! My gnome obsession is crossing into the August months as well!

I’ve taken our basic triangle gnome shaped design {that if you are a long time reader of ours, you have seen before – many times!} and made it absolutely PERFECT for the back to school season!

My favorite part is probably the cardstock YELLOW PENCIL hat that our new friends are wearing but of course, you can customize your gnome however YOU want it to look like on the first day back!

Now friends…. are you ready to tackle this unique craft idea?! Just keep on scrolling to see our awesomely good Popsicle Stick Back To School Gnome kid craft idea come to life within minutes!

Happy crafting my friends!! Don’t forget to share pictures of your back to school inspired gnomes made from wood craft sticks with us on our Facebook page! I seriously can’t wait to see how you give them your own creative spin, as you head back into the classroom! #gluedtomycrafts

RELATED —> Popsicle Stick Apple Frame

Two handmade back to school gnome crafts made from popsicle sticks, colored paper, and patterned cardstock are arranged on a teal background with white starburst designs.

Get ready for the new school year with this cute and creative Popsicle Stick Back To School Gnome craft! It’s an easy and fun way to get your little ones excited about the start of school.

Craft Supplies:

  • Jumbo Wood Sticks – 3 per craft
  • School Glue
  • Craft Paint
  • Small Paper Plate
  • Foam Paint Brush
  • Craft Scissors
  • Scrapbook Paper
  • Yellow Cardstock Paper
  • Tan Cardstock Paper
  • Pink Cardstock Paper
  • White Cardstock Paper
  • Black Marker

Directions:

  • The fun starts here! First things first – grab three popsicle sticks {three per pencil hat school gnome} as well as the craft paint supplies.
  • Squirt your choice of color craft paint on the paper plate.
  • Grab your paint brush and go ahead & paint the THREE popsicle sticks completely.
  • Next up – glue the three painted sticks together to look like a triangle with the school glue.
  • Set aside the triangle piece to let it dry completely.
  • Repeat for each pencil inspired gnome you want to make today.
  • While that is drying, grab all your paper sheets and scissors.
  • Cut a triangular shape, from the patterned scrapbook paper paper, that will be placed within the popsicle stick design and be the body of the gnome.
  • Out of the remaining cardstock paper, you want to cut out a long beard, a triangle pencil hat, pencil eraser nose and anything else you can think of!
  • Use the black Sharpie marker to draw on the “tip” of the pencil on the hat paper piece.
  • To finish off the Popsicle Stick Back To School Inspired Gnome – go ahead and glue all your paper pieces in place, with some school glue on the painted popsicle stick shape. The larger triangle will go on the back of the popsicle stick shape, while all the other pieces go on the front.
  • Then, if desired, add any other embellishments {like apple themed stickers} you see fit to complete the look.
  • Once done, set aside to let it dry completely before displaying proudly!
  • Don’t forget to share pictures with us on your social media sites! #gluedtomycrafts

RELATED —> Stained Glass Pencil

A handmade back to school gnome craft made from colored paper and popsicle sticks, featuring a yellow hat, white beard, pink nose, and red polka-dot shirt on a teal background with white stars. Text reads “Back to School Gnome Craft.”.

We got ALL the fun, crafty stuff you love! If you are looking for even MORE easy back to school themed kid craft ideas, from Glued To My Crafts, be sure to check out these fun posts listed below.

And “if” you decide to make our Wood Craft Stick Pencil Hat Gnome kid craft, please share a picture on our Facebook page or tag us on Instagram with #gluedtomycrafts for us to see. We love seeing our inspiration come to life in your home!

Popsicle Stick Pencils & School Bus

Thumbprint Worm Apple Core Craft

Paper Plate School Bus

Handprint Apple Keepsake Canvas

High Five To An Awesome School Year

stacey-signature-2023

Two handmade back to school gnome crafts made from popsicle sticks, colored paper, and patterned cardstock are arranged on a teal background with white starburst designs. A label reads Back to School Gnomes.
PRINT

Back To School Gnome Craft Idea For The First Day

Get creative with your kiddos this back-to-school season! Try making a magical gnome craft for some extra fun and learning - trust us, the smiles will be worth it!

Here’s your checklist of supplies to bring this craft to life:

Prepare your creative haven by laying down a protective cover before the crafting magic begins!

Directions:

  • First things first - grab three popsicle sticks {three per gnome} as well as the craft paint supplies.
    3 Jumbo Popsicle Sticks
  • Squirt your choice of color craft paint on the paper plate.
    Craft Paint
  • Grab your paint brush and go ahead & paint the THREE popsicle sticks completely.
  • Next up - glue the three painted sticks together to look like a triangle with the school glue.
  • Set aside the triangle piece to let it dry completely.
  • Repeat for each pencil inspired gnome you want to make today.
  • While that is drying, grab all your paper sheets and scissors.
  • Cut a triangular shape, from the patterned scrapbook paper paper, that will be placed within the popsicle stick design and be the body of the gnome.
    Scrapbook Paper
  • Out of the remaining cardstock paper, you want to cut out a long beard, a triangle pencil hat, pencil eraser nose and anything else you can think of!
    Cardstock Paper
  • Use the black Sharpie marker to draw on the "tip" of the pencil on the hat paper piece.
  • To finish off the craft, go ahead and glue all your paper pieces in place, with some school glue on the painted popsicle stick shape. The larger triangle will go on the back of the popsicle stick shape, while all the other pieces go on the front.
  • Then, if desired, add any other embellishments {like apple themed stickers} you see fit to complete the look.
    Embellishments
  • Once done, set aside to let it dry completely before displaying proudly!
    Two handmade back to school gnome crafts made from popsicle sticks, colored paper, and patterned cardstock are arranged on a teal background with white starburst designs.
MINI-HEARTS-page-separator-logo-gluedtomycrafts

CLICK HERE TO PRINT THE DIRECTIONS FOR THIS CRAFT

If you've enjoyed our content or have any thoughts to share, we'd love to hear from you! Mention @gluedtomycrafts or tag #gluedtomycrafts on Instagram!

Craft Activity Safety Guidelines:

Always Ensure Adult Supervision - Young children should be supervised at all times when engaging in craft activities. This is essential to keep them safe and ensure materials are used correctly. Use Age-Appropriate Supplies - Choose craft supplies that are suitable for your child’s age. Check labels for recommendations and avoid items with small parts or sharp edges for younger children. Modify as Needed - Feel free to adapt materials or steps to meet your child's abilities and safety needs. For example, substitute scissors with safety scissors if necessary. Keep an Eye on Allergies - Be mindful of potential allergens in craft materials like glue, paint, or certain fabrics. Opt for non-toxic and hypoallergenic options whenever possible. Organize and Secure Supplies - Keep all craft tools and materials organized. Store sharp objects, small parts, and potentially hazardous items out of reach when not in use. Following these guidelines will ensure that crafts remain fun, creative, and, most importantly, safe for everyone involved!