Valentine Toilet Paper Gnome

Enjoy this fun activity based on the children's book, Jacob in Japan! Jacob is a gnome who lives in New York. He owns a beautiful garden on the rooftop of a skyscraper. He is a picky eater and he only eats ordinary bland food. One windy night, Jacob falls into a magic flower pot. He wakes up in Japan. What will he do next? Will Jacob starve himself or will he find a way to enjoy and experience Japan? With an open mind, he may discover new and delicious foods that he never knew existed.

Craft Materials (makes one):

1 Toilet paper roll

1 Nickel sized wooden bead

White yarn

Colored pompoms 

1 Sheet of colored construction paper

Paint brush

Paint

Hot glue gun

Directions:

Step 1. Paint the outside of your toilet paper roll using a paint brush and your choice of paint.

Step 2. While the toilet paper roll is drying, cut a few strands of white yarn making sure they are 2-3 inches.

Step 3. Next, take a colored sheet of construction paper and roll from the corner inwards to create a cone shape. Tape the cone shut and cut off the remaining paper.

Step 4. Touch your toilet paper roll and make sure it is dry. If it is, take your paper cone and place it on one end of the toilet paper roll covering the opening. The cone will be your gnome’s hat.

Step 5. At the brim of the hat, take your wooden bead and hot glue it right where the hat ends on the toilet paper roll.

Step 6. Under your wooden bead, take your strands of yarn and hot glue them directly under the nose. You can spread them out or clump them together depending on how you like the beard.

Step 7. Decorate your hat however you like. You can add pompoms, stickers, or even just your own drawings.

Step 8. Lastly, glue the hat on your gnome.

To purchase a book, visit your local Barnes and Noble and follow Jacob's story on Instagram @jacob_the_gnome.