Grab a potato masher from your kitchen drawer – yes, really – and get ready to make the most adorable gingerbread faces your kids have ever stamped. This easy, festive craft turns a simple kitchen tool and a few craft supplies into cheerful holiday art that kids absolutely love.
No special tools needed – just a potato masher, some brown paint, and a few craft supplies you probably already have. The masher’s grid pattern stamps a textured, waffle-like print that looks just like a gingerbread cookie fresh from the oven. Dress each one up with googly eyes, a sparkly gem nose, and a white paint smile, and you’ve got a holiday craft kids will want to make over and over.
Craft Supplies:
- Brown kraft paper or construction paper
- Paper plate (to hold the paint)
- Brown acrylic paint
- Metal potato masher with a grid pattern
- Googly eyes (two per face)
- Colorful gem or jewel stickers for noses
- Tulip Slick dimensional fabric paint in white (for the smiles)
- Paper towels and a smock or old T-shirt
Before you pull out the paint, read The Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas together. In the story, the gingerbread man sets off to spread holiday cheer, and the playful rhymes build excitement for crafting. After reading, invite kids to make their own gingerbread friends to “join the adventure.” Pairing a book with a hands-on project helps young learners connect what they hear to what they create.
Directions:
Set up your craft space.
Cover your table with newspaper or a plastic tablecloth. Lay the kraft paper flat and place the paper plate within easy reach.
Pour the brown paint onto the plate.
Squeeze out a puddle about the size of your palm. Spread it into a thin, even layer with the back of a spoon or a paintbrush.
Load the potato masher.
Press the flat end of the masher into the paint, then lift it straight up. Dab it once or twice on a clean spot of the plate to remove extra paint.
Stamp your gingerbread faces.
Press the masher firmly onto the kraft paper, hold for two seconds, and lift straight up. Avoid wiggling or sliding the masher, which can smear the print. Repeat to make three or more faces, leaving space between each one.
Let the paint dry.
Give the stamps 15 to 30 minutes to dry fully. This is a great time to reread the book or chat about what each gingerbread friend might be named.
Add the googly eyes.
Place two googly eyes near the top of each stamped circle. If your eyes aren’t self-adhesive, use a small dot of craft glue.
Stick on a gem nose.
Let kids pick a jewel sticker color for each face. Red and green look especially festive. Press the gem firmly in the center, just below the eyes.
Draw the smiles.
Squeeze the Tulip Slick paint gently to draw a curved smile under each nose. Keep the bottle tip close to the paper for a smooth line. Let the dimensional paint dry for several hours, or overnight, before moving or hanging your artwork.
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Now you have everything you need to create a batch of cheerful gingerbread faces that kids will be proud to show off. Whether you’re crafting on a quiet afternoon at home, setting up a holiday station in the classroom, or adding a creative twist to your next festive gathering, this is one of those simple projects that leaves a big impression.
So on that note, go ahead – pull that potato masher out of the drawer, spread some brown paint on a plate, and watch the magic happen one stamp at a time. Happy crafting, my friends!
