Gingerbread men are a classic holiday favorite—so why not turn those cheerful images into festive décor for your home? This tutorial shows you how to make DIY paper gingerbread man Christmas decorations that are simple to create and fun to display all season long.
I love adding cute, handmade accents to my Christmas décor. Homemade ornaments, garlands, and wreath embellishments are often easier to make than you might think, and they add that final touch of charm that really pulls everything together.
Today, my good friend Jen Goode from 100 Directions is here to show us how to make these adorable paper gingerbread men accents. They're perfect for crafting on your own or as part of a group activity, and they look right at home on a Christmas tree, garland, mantle, and even your holiday wreaths.
If you love gingerbread-themed holiday décor, you’ll definitely want to make plenty of these little gingerbread men—they’re just too cute not to sprinkle throughout all your Christmas decorations!
NOTE: If you love gingerbread decor and treats, be sure to also check out our Easy Gingerbread Recipe (and decoration), “Gingerbread” Houses, and DIY Terra Cotta Gingerbread Man.
How To Make Paper Gingerbread Man
I originally created this Gingerbread man craft idea as part of a cute holiday coloring page. Did you know that you can use Christmas coloring pages to create all kinds of holiday decor? It's a simple (and inexpensive) thing to do.
My paper gingerbread man was so popular that I've decided to create a new version that you can use for all your crafty decorating. You can use this gingerbread man decoration as a printable, or upload it to Cricut Design Space and let your Cricut machine handle all the cutting.
TIP: Check out how to use the print then cut feature in Design Space with your Cricut.
Supplies Needed To Make Paper Gingerbread Man
- Printable Gingerbread Man design by Jen Goode
- Brown craft paper or cardstock
- Glitter, glitter glue, or craft paint
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
- Hole Punch
- Twine
- Optional: Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
Step 1: Download & Print Gingerbread Man
Download and print the gingerbread man art onto brown paper or cardstock.
Step 2: Cut Out Gingerbread Man
Cut out the art with your Cricut.
Step 3: Color & Decorate Gingerbread Man
Color and decorate each gingerbread man as desired.
Step 4: Add Twine
Add twine or hooks to create ornaments or attach to twine to make a garland.
NOTE: If you want to turn these gingerbread Christmas decorations into ornaments, I recommend using a hole punch to make a hole in his hat so you can string twine through (or slip a hook through) and hang your gingerbread man craft.
Another option is to use hot glue to attach twine to the back, then use it to tie your decorations to your tree.
I hope you love this gingerbread Christmas decor idea!
If you need just a little something extra to finish your holiday decor, this craft is perfect! It's also ideal for anyone who enjoys changing their decor theme each year but doesn't want to spend a lot of money doing it.
FAQs About Paper Gingerbread Man
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions I receive about making this adorable paper gingerbread man. If your question isn’t listed, feel free to drop it in the comments, and I’ll be happy to help!
Where Do I Get The Free Paper Gingerbread Man?
You can download the free paper gingerbread man by clicking here!
What Printer Would You Recommend For Printables In General?
I love using this printer!
Can I Change The Size Of My Gingerbread Man?
Yes! If you upload the art to Cricut Design Space, you can resize it to fit all of your project needs. Make it smaller or larger as needed.
How Can I Personalize These Ornaments?
You can achieve a completely different look by printing the design on a different color of paper. I like brown craft paper for a country-chic look. It's also a little more traditional. since gingerbread men are naturally brown.
But you could go crazy and print your gingerbread man on hot pink paper and decorate him with all kinds of neon embellishments. Or what about printing it on white paper and then coloring it with gold?
I decorated my gingerbread men with glitter glue, glitter paint, and even a little glitter nail polish. It's not Christmas without an overload of glitter!
The possibilities are endless! Feel free to let your (or your kids') imagination go wild and have fun with this gingerbread man craft idea!
How Can I Use This Gingerbread Man Christmas Decor Idea?
There are SO many ways to use this cute gingerbread man! I made several of them and added red bows and white paper ornaments to finish off my mini Christmas tree.
Some additional ideas include:
- Tree ornaments
- Display them on the mantle
- Use them in your DIY holiday banners
- Add one (or multiple) to your holiday wreath
- Tape a few to the walls around your home
You can also make cute gift tags with this gingerbread man Christmas decoration. Just cut and color, and then add a little bow or twine to attach to your gifts. You can write “to” and “from” on the back or make a little sign for your guy to hold (so cute!).
5 More Christmas Decor Crafts
If you loved learning how to make this paper gingerbread man and want even more Christmas decor crafts, then check out the projects below!
