- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.7 × 4.1 in (9.4 × 10.4 cm)
Bake up some holiday fun without turning on the oven with this cute gingerbread man! This sweet Christmas paper squishy features rosy pink cheeks, a white icing bow tie, red and green candy buttons, and wavy frosting cuffs. Download the free printable template in US Letter or A4 with 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline. Pair him with a hot cocoa paper squishy for the coziest winter craft session.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your gingerbread man template at 100% scale on plain printer paper, making sure to turn off the “fit to page” setting. Check the scale line in the top corner—it should measure exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page, color the golden-brown cookie dough, red and green buttons, and pink cheeks now, then let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape over both the front and back gingerbread man shapes, covering just the two pieces rather than the whole sheet. Smooth each strip from the middle of his tummy outward toward the arms and legs without pulling or stretching the tape, since stretched tape wrinkles later. This glossy coat makes your cookie shiny, strong, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and back cookie pieces along the solid outer line. Take your time steering the scissors smoothly around the rounded head, stubby arms, and legs, and be sure to keep the small white border intact all the way around.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the back piece printed side down onto strips of regular clear tape so the sticky side faces up. Cut the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, paying close attention to the inward curves under the arms and between the legs so the little flaps hold your squishy together neatly.
5Join front and back
Set the front gingerbread man on top of the back piece with the white paper sides together. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down firmly around his head, arms, and feet. Leave a 4 cm (1½ inch) gap open along the side (the pink line in the picture shows where) as your gap for the stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them gently through the open gap. Poke the first bits all the way into the far corners of the head, both stubby arms, and both legs before filling the belly under the candy buttons. Stop once he feels soft and puffy, because too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps over the stuffing gap and tape the opening shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly along all edges—around the head, arms, and legs—to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Give your gingerbread man a squeeze and watch his round belly puff right back up. Want a slow-rising cookie squishy? Prick one tiny pinhole in the back to let the air escape slowly.
Free Gingerbread Man Squishy Template
- Color
- Coloring page
- Blank, design your own
- Step-by-step guide
One free PDF: the template in three versions (pages 1–3) and the step-by-step guide (pages 4–5). Print the template at 100% on plain printer paper.
Tips for the perfect squish
- Arms or legs feel stiff. If the stubby limbs feel hard instead of squishy, it has too much stuffing. Open the gap, take some out from the center and limbs, and tape it shut again.
- Tape wrinkles on the tummy. Wrinkles happen when wide packing tape is pulled tight across the rounded cookie shape. Use shorter strips and lay them on gently without pulling, smoothing from the candy buttons outward.
- A seam splits under the arm. The inward curves under the arms and between the legs take the most tension when you squeeze. Put a new short strip of clear tape right across the split edge, overlapping the old ones.
- Button colors smeared under tape. Bright red and green markers need a moment to set before you tape the coloring page. Let markers dry fully before taping; printer ink is fine right away.
Questions
What are more cute Christmas paper squishy ideas to make a holiday set?
You can turn your gingerbread man into a whole festive collection by pairing him with a candy cane paper squishy! They use the exact same tape-and-stuff method and look adorable together in a holiday gift basket.
What paper works best for a Christmas paper squishy template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) is best because it bends easily around the rounded arms and legs. Cardstock makes the squishy stiff and it won’t squish as nicely.
Can I use glue instead of tape on the edges?
Not for the edges. Glue doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper, so the cookie seams would open, whereas the snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What can I stuff my gingerbread man squishy with?
Use plastic grocery bags for a crinkly, light feel, or cotton balls and fiberfill for a soft pillow texture. You can also use small pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make these with a classroom or holiday party group?
Yes! Print 1 sheet per person and cut tape strips in advance so kids can color the coloring page while you help with taping. Plan about 30 minutes for the activity.
More paper squishies to make
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