Looking for a delightful and engaging holiday craft for your little ones? Look no further! In this blog post, we will guide you through a step-by-step tutorial on creating a fun and easy gingerbread man craft. Not only will this activity keep your kids entertained, but it will also promote their creativity and fine motor skills. Plus, we’ve included a free printable to make the process even more convenient. Let’s get started!
Crafting is not only a source of entertainment but also a way for children to develop important skills such as creativity, concentration, and fine motor skills. This gingerbread man craft allows kids to explore their imagination while creating a festive decoration for the holiday season. Many of these ideas can be done with preschoolers.
Introduction
The holiday season is the perfect time to engage in creative activities with your children. Crafting allows them to explore their imagination, improve their dexterity, and have a great time while doing it. We will show you how to create a gingerbread man craft that is not only adorable but also simple enough for kids of all ages to enjoy.
Materials Needed
Before we dive into the step-by-step instructions, let’s gather all the materials required for this gingerbread man craft:
- Free printable gingerbread man template
- Coloured construction paper, cardstock, or cardboard (if you can’t print the template in colour)
- Scissors
- Glue stick or craft glue
- Markers, crayons, or coloured pencils
- Buttons, sequins, or other embellishments (optional)
- Googly eyes (optional)
Download the Free Printable Template
To make this craft even easier for you, we have created a free printable gingerbread man template. Simply click this link to download and print the template. Once you have the template ready, cut it out and set it aside for later use.
Creating the Gingerbread Man Craft
Grab your crafting supplies, dust off that creative spirit, and join us on a merry adventure through the land of gingerbread men crafts. Let’s sprinkle some joy, add a pinch of glitter, and create memories that will last far beyond the holiday season. Ready, set, craft!
Now that you have all the materials ready let’s start creating our adorable gingerbread man craft:
Step 1: If you can’t print in colour, you can use the gingerbread man template you printed earlier to trace the shape onto coloured construction paper or cardstock. You can choose traditional brown, or get creative with different colours like red, green, or even purple!
Step 2: Carefully cut out the traced gingerbread man shape using scissors. Make sure to follow the outline precisely to achieve a neat and clean result.
Step 3: Now it’s time to decorate your gingerbread man! Your child can cut with scissors the candy, swirls, sprinkles, etc that are on the template that you printed. You can let your child’s imagination run wild as they use markers, crayons, or coloured pencils to add facial features, buttons, and any other details they desire. They can also use googly eyes for an extra touch of cuteness.
Step 4: If you want to add some texture and dimension to your craft, consider using buttons, sequins, or other embellishments to decorate the gingerbread man’s body. Encourage your child to experiment with different materials and colours to make their creation truly unique. Let you gingerbread man craft dry.
Optional Steps for a 3D Gingerbread Man Craft
Step 5: Once all the decorations are complete and dried if necessary, it’s time to assemble the craft. Apply glue along the edges of one the gingerbread man shape, leaving a small opening at the top for stuffing.
Step 6: Gently press the gingerbread man cutout your child decorated on top of the glued one. Make sure to align the edges properly.
Step 7: Before sealing the craft completely, invite your child to stuff the gingerbread man with cotton balls or small pieces of tissue paper. This will give it a puffy and three-dimensional appearance.
Step 8: Finally, seal the small opening with glue and let it dry thoroughly.
Gingerbread Man Craft
Materials
- Free printable gingerbread man template
- Coloured construction paper, cardstock, or cardboard (if you can’t print the template in colour)
- Glue stick or craft glue
- Markers, crayons, or coloured pencils
- Buttons, sequins, or other embellishments (optional)
- Googly eyes (optional)
Tools
- Scissors
Instructions
DOWNLOAD THE FREE PRINTABLE TEMPLATE
To make this craft even easier for you, we have created a free printable gingerbread man template. Simply click this link to download and print the template. Once you have the template ready, cut it out and set it aside for later use.
CREATING THE GINGERBREAD MAN CRAFT
Step 1: If you can’t print in colour, you can use the gingerbread man template you printed earlier to trace the shape onto coloured construction paper or cardstock. You can choose traditional brown, or get creative with different colours like red, green, or even purple!
Step 2: Carefully cut out the traced gingerbread man shape using scissors. Make sure to follow the outline precisely to achieve a neat and clean result.
Step 3: Now it’s time to decorate your gingerbread man! Your child can cut with scissors the candy, swirls, sprinkles, etc that are on the template that you printed. You can let your child’s imagination run wild as they use markers, crayons, or coloured pencils to add facial features, buttons, and any other details they desire. They can also use googly eyes for an extra touch of cuteness.
Step 4: If you want to add some texture and dimension to your craft, consider using buttons, sequins, or other embellishments to decorate the gingerbread man’s body. Encourage your child to experiment with different materials and colors to make their creation truly unique.
OPTIONAL STEPS FOR A 3D GINGERBREAD MAN CRAFT
Step 5: Once all the decorations are complete and dried if necessary, it’s time to assemble the craft. Apply glue along the edges of one the gingerbread man shape, leaving a small opening at the top for stuffing.
Step 6: Gently press the gingerbread man cutout your child decorated on top of the glued one. Make sure to align the edges properly.
Step 7: Before sealing the craft completely, invite your child to stuff the gingerbread man with cotton balls or small pieces of tissue paper. This will give it a puffy and three-dimensional appearance.
Step 8: Finally, seal the small opening with glue and let it dry thoroughly.
How to Make a Gingerbread Man out of Cardboard
To make a cardboard gingerbread man, you’ll need some cardboard, brown paint or markers, and decorations like buttons, ribbon, or glitter if you want to add some extra flair.
- Print the Gingerbread man template and trace the gingerbread man shape onto the cardboard.
- Cut out the gingerbread man shape. Be careful with those scissors!
- Paint or colour the gingerbread man brown. If you’re using paint, let it dry completely before moving on to the next step.
- Decorate your gingerbread man. Get creative! You can use buttons for eyes, draw on a smile and other details, or even glue on some ribbon for a festive touch.
- Let everything dry completely, and voilà! You’ve got yourself a cute cardboard gingerbread man ready to spread holiday cheer.
Gingerbread Man Paper Decoration Ideas
Get ready to unleash your imagination as we explore a variety of gingerbread man craft ideas that are perfect for decking the halls, adorning your tree, or simply adding a touch of holiday magic to your space. From felt ornaments to paper plate creations, we’ve got a medley of crafts that cater to all skill levels and age groups. Many of these ideas can be done with preschoolers.
Paper decorations are a fantastic and budget-friendly way to add a festive touch to your space. Here are some gingerbread man paper decoration ideas to spark your creativity:
- Paper Cut-Out Garland: Cut gingerbread man shapes from the template or out of brown construction paper. String them together to create a charming garland. Add accents like buttons, bows, or glitter for extra flair.
- Gingerbread Man Wreath: Cut multiple gingerbread men shapes from the template. Arrange and glue them in a circular pattern to create a wreath. Add a festive bow or ribbon for a finishing touch.
- Accordion Folded Gingerbread Men: Cut gingerbread man shapes and accordion-fold them. Attach multiple folded shapes together to create a paper chain or hanging decoration.
- Gingerbread Man Window Silhouettes: Cut out gingerbread man shapes from black paper. Attach them to your windows for a cute silhouette effect. You can also backlight them for a warm glow.
- Gingerbread Man Table Centrepiece: Make a 3D gingerbread man centrepiece using cardboard or thick paper. Place it on your holiday table for a festive focal point.
Remember, you can mix and match these ideas, add your personal touch, and tailor them to fit your holiday decor theme. Are you ready to create your own Gingerbread Man?
Displaying and Enjoying Your Gingerbread Man Craft
Now that your gingerbread man craft is complete, it’s time to find the perfect spot to display it proudly. You can hang it on your Christmas tree as a unique ornament or use it as a cute decoration for your home. Additionally, you can encourage your child to create a whole family of gingerbread men crafts using different sizes and colours.
This craft also offers an opportunity for storytelling and imaginative play. Your child can create stories involving their gingerbread man and have hours of fun using their creation as a puppet or a character in their own little world.
Conclusion
We hope you found this tutorial enjoyable and easy to follow. Remember to download our free printable template to make the process even more convenient. With just a few materials and simple steps, you can create lasting memories with your little ones and have a jolly good time during this holiday season.
Happy crafting!
