Gingerbread Man Paper Squishy Template

Brown gingerbread man with white icing trim, red buttons and a friendly smile

The gingerbread man smells like the holidays, even if this one is only paper. It's a lovely craft for the weeks before Christmas and looks as good on the tree as it feels in your hand.

✂️ What’s in the Template

The PDF shows the gingerbread man in brown with white icing, colorful buttons and a smile, in color front and back. You also get a coloring version and mini gingerbread men on page 3. He's about 5 inches tall.

At a Glance

Group
Holidays & Seasons
Size
about 4–5.5 in
Pages
3 × A4
Craft time
20–30 minutes
🧺 What You Need
  • Printer and regular printer paper (US Letter or A4)
  • Scissors
  • Wide clear packing tape (or laminating sheets)
  • Stuffing: cotton balls, yarn or paper scraps
  • Crayons or markers for the coloring version

📝 Step-by-Step Instructions

1
Print at 100% (turn off “fit to page”). Color the B/W version first.
2
Cut out the front and back along the outer line – the white border is the tape edge.
3
Cover both pieces with wide clear tape, overlapping the strips slightly, and smooth them out.
4
Place the front and back together exactly (colored sides out).
5
Tape all around the edge, leaving about 1 inch open where it says “leave open here”.
6
Stuff with cotton, yarn or paper scraps – not too full – and tape the opening shut. Done!

💡 Tips

  • Arms and legs are slim, so cut them in steady strokes and leave a border.
  • Stuff the body more than the limbs so they stay thin and crease less.
  • Reinforce the neck and wrists with an extra piece of tape.
  • Add the icing last with a white gel pen.

🎨 Color Ideas

Gingerbread brown
Cinnamon brown with a touch of orange looks freshly baked.
Icing patterns
Draw waves, dots and stripes in white or pastels on arms and legs.
Candy buttons
Red, green and yellow buttons look like sugar sprinkles.

🔄 Variations

Tree ornament
With a hole in the head and a thread, he becomes a Christmas decoration.
Advent figures
Make 24 minis and hide them in little bags as an advent calendar.
Gift tag
Tie him to a package with a ribbon and write the name on the back.

Safety: Stuffing and tape are not for children under 3. Never use real food or scented oils as stuffing.

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Why families love PureSketchy:

  • Completely free: Every squishy template with no sign-up, no newsletter, no subscription.
  • Color and B/W: Each template comes ready in color and as a coloring version – plus minis.
  • Kid-tested: Printed, cut out, taped shut and stuffed with yarn – it works.
  • Regular printer paper: No cardstock, no special paper, no laminator needed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does the gingerbread man smell like gingerbread?
No, he's made of paper. But you can place a scented sachet next to him, for older kids only.

Can I use real spices as filling?
No, use yarn or cotton. Never use real food as filling.

Is he only for Christmas?
He's a winter squishy and works for advent, St. Nicholas Day and winter parties too.

Is the download free?
Yes, all templates on PureSketchy are 100% free for personal, preschool and classroom use – no sign-up needed.

Is there a German version?
Yes! You can find the German version here: Lebkuchenmann-Squishy.