Scented with holiday spices, our scroll-bearing sandpaper-gingerbread folks couldn't be a more inviting way to get out the word about your cookie-making party. And when they're finished with their party come-hithers, these charming messengers can moonlight as tree ornaments.

Materials

• Sandpaper (finer grits are easier to cut)
• Glue and brown construction paper
• Cinnamon stick and whole nutmeg
• Gingerbread person cookie cutter
• Pencil and scissors
• Cardboard

• Puffy paint
• Hole punch
• Ribbon, 1/8-inch wide
• 2 1/2- by 8-inch strips of paper (one per invitation)
• Envelope

Instructions

1. To cover the unglamorous back of the sandpaper, coat it with glue, press on the construction paper, and flatten it under a book to dry. Rub the sandpaper hard all over with the cinnamon stick and then with the nutmeg; this will scent it deliciously.

2. Now make a template by tracing around the cookie cutter onto cardboard and cutting out the shape. Trace around the template on the back of the sandpaper and cut out as many people as you need (we got about four gingerbread people per 9- by 11-inch sheet of sandpaper).

3. Use puffy paint to add details and decorations and let the paint dry. With a hole punch, make a hole in the top of the head and one in the hand, then thread a length of ribbon through the head and knot.

4. Now write your invitation on the strip of paper, roll it scroll-like, and fit it through the cookie person's hand. Flatten the scroll slightly and pop the cookie person in an envelope.

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Find more about:

• 1 Hour |
• Candy Crafts / Fun with Food |
• Cards |
• Christmas |
• Gingerbread Persons |
• Hanukkah |
• Kitchen Crafts |
• Kwanzaa |
• Paper Crafts |
• School Age |
• Teen |
• Tween

Related Categories:

• Crafty Cards |
• Food Crafts |
• Table Crafts |
• December/January 2002