How to make a gingerbread man paper chain
Gingerbread Man Paper Chain: try all 8 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
Accordion-fold a brown paper strip into four panels and cut one gingerbread man through all of them. His outstretched hands stay joined at both folded sides, and the strip opens into four gingerbread men holding hands.
- You need
- Thin paper, a pencil, a ruler and scissors.
- Start
- Begin with one 24 × 9 cm strip of brown paper. Mark four equal 6 cm panels along its length.
Your model is ready
Open every fold and smooth the strip flat. Draw eyes, a smile and a row of buttons on each man with a white pencil or marker, then hang the chain on the tree or the mantel. The finished gingerbread man chain, four men holding hands.
Step-by-step diagrams
- 1
Fold panel 1 over the next
Measure another 60 mm panel. Fold the entire left packet over the paper to its right, lining up the edges. Keep all panels the same width.
- 2
Fold panel 2 behind the next
Measure another 60 mm panel. Fold the entire left packet under the paper to its right, lining up the edges. Keep all panels the same width.
- 3
Fold panel 3 over the next
Measure another 60 mm panel. Fold the entire left packet over the paper to its right, lining up the edges. Keep all panels the same width.
- 4
Cut over the head and arms
Draw the man on the top panel first: a round head, and arms straight out to both folded sides, 10 mm tall. Start on the left folded side at the top of the arm, 28 mm below the top edge. Cut in along the arm to the neck, round the head, and out along the other arm to the right folded side at the same height. Cut through all four layers.
- 5
Cut under the arms and round the legs
Start on the left folded side at the underside of the arm, 12 mm below the first cut, so the hand stays joined across the fold. Cut in to the armpit, down the side of the body and out along the leg, round the foot and up to the crotch. Cut the other leg the same way and go back up the body and out under the other arm to the right folded side. Everything below the body falls away.
- 6
Open pleat 3
Open this crease gently, leaving the earlier folds closed. Keep the uncut joins together.
- 7
Open pleat 2
Open this crease gently, leaving the earlier folds closed. Keep the uncut joins together.
- 8
Open pleat 1
Open this crease gently, leaving the earlier folds closed. Keep the uncut joins together.
- ✓
Finish
Open every fold and smooth the strip flat. Draw eyes, a smile and a row of buttons on each man with a white pencil or marker, then hang the chain on the tree or the mantel. The finished gingerbread man chain, four men holding hands.
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