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Kraft Paper Creations: How To Make A Gingerbread Man Advent Calendar

Who said kraft paper can’t be festive? Dive into our DIY guide and create a gingerbread man advent calendar. A merry and bright project for the holiday season!

As tradition dictates, I roll up my sleeves each year and craft a homemade advent calendar for the family.

What is the beauty of a DIY calendar? Utter control. Fancy a bit of chocolate to sweeten the countdown? Sorted. Perhaps a festive sketch? Why not. Or even a Christmas joke that’s so cheesy you’d spread it on toast? Absolutely. The choice, as they say, is yours.

Now, a little anecdote about my dear husband. He’s quite the whizz in many areas, but when it comes to gauging the amount of wrapping paper required, let’s say he’s somewhat challenged.

During his eBay days, he decided to stock up on Kraft paper. The result? We’re now the proud, albeit slightly overwhelmed, owners of a small Kraft paper empire.

You might wonder, “How does this relate to an advent calendar?” Simply put, I resolved to tackle that mountain of Kraft, one festive calendar at a time this year.

And speaking of crafting quirks, let me share another: I adore stitching paper. If you’ve never sent paper for a whirl through your sewing machine, it’s quite the experience. It offers a thrill that even fabric struggles to match. But if machinery isn’t your cup of tea, a trusty glue pot will serve you just as well.

From heart maps for Valentine’s to eerie treat bags for Halloween, my sewing machine has been a trusty sidekick for many seasons. So, when Christmas sewing beckoned, it was high time for Kraft paper gingerbread men to debut.

Fancy giving it a go? Let’s get cracking!

Kraft Paper Gingerbread Man Homemade Advent Calendar

What you need

  • Kraft paper (brown paper) – I only managed to use about 3/4 of a roll of the stash of craft paper in the cupboard. About 3 meters of paper.
What you need to make gingerbread homemade advent calendar
twine and wooden pegs
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine (or glue)
  • Treats to go inside the Christmas advent calendar

How To Make Paper Gingerbread Men

Step 1: Place the gingerbread man cookie cutter onto the kraft paper and draw around it. Then cut out the gingerbread man shape. You will need 48 of these gingerbread man shapes in total.

I suggest stacking the kraft paper into at least four layers before cutting to speed up the process. This way, you can cut four gingerbread men in one go.

gingerbread cookie cutter and kraft paper

Step 2: Pin two of the gingerbread shapes together in the centre. Then starting under one of the arms, stitch around the edge of the two gingerbread men on a sewing machine, leaving a small gap in the side of his body.

sewing gingerbread man
stitched gingerbread men

Step 3: Using the stencil and the red sharpie, number the gingerbread men from 1 to 24. This can be done before or after the sewing. But must be done before filling the gingerbread men with their treats. Use the white marker to give the gingerbread men a face.

Stenciling advent number on gingerbread

Step 4: Through the gap in the side of the gingerbread man, stuff whatever treat you want inside his belly. Then sew up the belly hole.

filling the gingerbread men
finished gingerbread men for homemade advent calendar

Step 5: Finally, all left to do is display the homemade advent calendar. To do this, string up the bakers’ twine across a door, wall or mantle. Then use the craft pegs to hold up the gingerbread men.

kraft paper gingerbread homemade advent calendar

If you noticed, I have hung my gingerbread men in random order. Half the fun of an advent calendar is hunting for the right day. However, if you prefer a bit more order, feel free to hang your gingerbread men in sequence!
 
Don’t forget to check out my other Christmas paper craft ideas and advent calendars.
Handmade paper envelope advent calendar
Jeans pocket handmade advent calendar

kraft paper gingerbread homemade advent calendar

60+ Advent Ideas for Christmas - One Determined Life

Tuesday 12th of November 2019

[…] fun family tradition is to make your own paper Advent Calendar. Homemade advent calendars are fun to make and you can choose what to put into it: a treat, a […]

Paula

Friday 4th of January 2019

Come on, you are so clever! We need a pocket, or something like that, for our gingerbread men because they are just too cute to tear up to open. Let's make them usable for many years.

Claire Armstrong

Friday 4th of January 2019

Thank you! Tearing them open is part of the fun. I actually put them in a reusable denim pocket calendar I made a few years ago. https://www.pillarboxblue.com/jeans-pocket-handmade-advent-calendar/

kippi

Wednesday 7th of November 2018

Super cute idea. I will be sharing advent calendar my Grandmother made for me in the 1960's. Yours has that vintage vibe I love. Happy Fall, Kippi

Claire Armstrong

Thursday 8th of November 2018

Wow, I think that’s great that you still use a homemade advent calendar from the 60’s. Thank you ?

Cecilia

Monday 5th of November 2018

This is darling, Claire! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm--pinned!

Claire Armstrong

Monday 5th of November 2018

Thank you so much, Cecilia.

Nina Lewis

Sunday 4th of November 2018

This is such a cute idea! (Aren't you glad now that your husband over estimated how much kraft paper he needed??) Thanks so much for sharing at our Party in Your PJs link party!

Claire Armstrong

Sunday 4th of November 2018

Yes, I am. Thank you ?