Clothing

• Use clothing your child already owns as the basis of a garden gnome costume. Start with a baggy blue shirt and loose-fitting green or black pants. While blue and red are the most common colors, any earth tone, such as green, brown or yellow, will do. The shirt can be a pullover, a casual button-down or printed with a plaid pattern. Pants can be denim, corduroy or khaki. An alternate idea is for kids to wear blue jean overalls and a red shirt. It's also possible to substitute pants with a skirt and striped stockings for girls.
  
  

Pointed Hat

• No gnome is complete without a pointy hat. Disney FamilyFun suggests making your own hat from a piece of red felt. Cut a 15-inch square from the felt and draw an arc going from the upper left-hand corner to the lower right-hand corner. Cut along the arc, and fold the fabric into a cone shape. Hand sew or hot glue along the edge to secure the shape. Modify the size of the square based on the circumference of your child's head, or you can roll up the brim to make the hat smaller. When the hat is worn, the point should slump down a bit.
  
  

Beard

• Male garden gnomes are known for their long white beards. Create a beard from a piece of white fur, felt or fleece. Cut a long, thin triangle, and cut a curve into the short side to accommodate your child's chin. Poke a hole on either side and tie a length of elastic to each. Tie the elastic around your child's ears, or simply tie both pieces together behind your child's head. Cut two small half-moon shapes from the fur to make eyebrows. Glue the eyebrows to the rim of the pointed hat, or attach them to your child's eyebrows using double-sided tape.
  
  

Accessories

• Put the finishing touches on your child's costume by wrapping a wide belt around his waist. Don't tuck the shirt in. Instead, let the shirt extend loosely below the belt. Another idea is having your child wear a pair of suspenders instead of a belt. Add a pair of tall boots, and tuck your child's pants into them. Give your child a rosy complexion by brushing cosmetic blush onto his cheeks and nose or draw circles on his cheeks with pink lipstick for a bolder look. Have your child carry a pail of snails, flowers or gardening tools for added effect.