Elf on the Shelf is a popular family favorite Christmas tradition!
We love joining in on the fun with fun and cute craft ideas. This year, we decided to take the gingerbread man and dress him up as the elf on the shelf.
This elf on the shelf gingerbread man disguise craft is perfect for kids to make and requires just a few simple supplies!
Be sure to download our free template and then check out all of our other disguise a gingerbread man project ideas!
Gingerbread Man Disguise Project Idea

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Make this adorable little craft with your kids at home or students in the classroom. Either way, we think they’ll love it!
Supplies
- Colored cardstock or construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Marker
- White out pen or gel markers
- Black pen (optional)
- Gingerbread man template (unlock the image at the end of the post to go to the download page)
Directions
Start by downloading the template and printing it out. Once the template is printed, gather the materials for this fun activity. Get those scissors ready, and let’s help the kids bring the Gingerbread man to life!

First, guide your child to color in the elf’s eye, then glue both of them to the face, just below the eyebrows.

Use a marker to draw on the elf’s nose and cheeks.

Optionally, use a black pen to draw on eyelashes to look like the elf on the shelf. Next, glue the hair to the top of the head.

Place the hat at the top of the head and glue it in place.

Now, help your child to glue the hat band to the bottom of the hat.

Glue the body to the bottom of the neck.

Position the collar at the top of the body and glue it in place.

Next, take the mittens and glue them to the end of each arm.

Finally, encourage your child to draw some wavy icing lines along the elf’s foot.

We think your kids are going to love hiding the gingerbread man activities in plain sight as the elf on the shelf!

Fun Santa Claus Tissue Paper Craft
Christmas Ideas For Kids
If you’re looking for some great Christmas activities for kids, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve compiled a list of fun and educational activities that will help your kids with skills like creativity, letter and number recognition, problem solving, and more! All while also keeping them engaged.
From making their Christmas crafts to fun activities and games, there’s something here for everyone. And best of all, these activities can be done right at home with a few simple supplies. So get ready to have some holiday fun!

Christmas Children’s Books
We can’t think of a more lovely way to start off the Christmas season than by reading aloud to kids from these fun Christmas children’s books. The stories are so heartwarming and the illustrations are beautiful. Plus, it’s just such a cozy way to spend an evening together!
Below are some of the top Christmas books to read to your kids!
Dasher: This wonderfully illustrated Christmas book for kids gives you the back story on one of Santa’s favorite reindeer, Dasher! Girls will especially love to read this since Dasher is a girl.
Construction Site On Christmas Night: Fans of the fun characters of the construction site books have to add this Christmas-themed story to their collection. See how the trucks get ready for Christmas!
How To Catch An Elf: Kids everywhere love the silliness of this Christmas story. The rhymes and the illustrations will draw the kids in as well. This is a Christmas book kids will want to read every year!

Kids’ Christmas Crafts
While the Christmas season is often a busy time for families, it’s important to take some time to enjoy the simple things in life.
Related: Reindeer Coloring Pages
One great way to do this is by encouraging your children to make crafts. Not only is crafting a fun activity, but it’s also a great way for kids to develop their fine motor skills and creative thinking.
And what could be more rewarding than seeing your child’s face light up when they display their finished project? Try adding in some of these cute Christmas crafts:
Gingerbread House Paper Bag Craft – This gingerbread house craft is so much fun for kids to make! It’s colorful and festive, and the best part is that it’s easy for even young children to do.
Just print out the free template, have your child color it in, and then follow the simple instructions to assemble the gingerbread house.
Elf On The Shelf Photo Craft – This year, Santa’s little helpers can get in on the fun with this elf on the shelf craft. It’s easy to turn kids into their favorite mischievous elf, and they’ll love showing it off!

Reindeer Tissue Paper Craft – What a cute little reindeer craft this is! And it’s not just adorable – it’s also a great way to help your child develop their fine motor skills.
Gluing all those little pieces of tissue paper requires a lot of dexterity and control, and putting them all together is a great way to improve hand-eye coordination.

Free Printable Reindeer Mask – For an easy and fun holiday activity, print out this adorable reindeer mask for your child to wear. They’ll love pretending to be one of Santa’s reindeer while they help with the Christmas preparations!
Christmas Kids’ Activities
The Grinch is one of the most iconic Christmas characters, and kids love to learn more about him! These free printable Grinch worksheets are perfect for helping kids practice handwriting, letter recognition, and scissor skills. And, they’re also lots of fun!
Try this Handprint Reindeer Craft
Do you have a little one at home who could use some help practicing their fine motor skills? If so, then you’ll want to check out these Christmas do a dot printables. They’re perfect for kids of all ages and they’ll also help them with counting, patterns, and much more.

This roll a Santa game for kids is such a fun way to help them learn to take turns and practice hand-eye coordination. It’s so easy to play, too – all you need is a die and some pom poms or other small candy.

This Christmas counting for preschool printable pack is a fun way to work on number recognition and counting skills with your little ones. These worksheets feature festive images like stockings, wreaths, and more to help kids get into the holiday spirit while learning. Plus, they’re free to download!
Elf On The Shelf Handprint Craft
Share With Us
Did you make this activity with your kids or students? We’d love to feature them on our social media!
For a chance to have your child’s project featured, simply snap a picture of the completed project and post it to our Facebook page, email it to us directly by clicking here, or use #simpleeverydaymom on your social media!

Elf On The Shelf Gingerbread Man Disguise Craft
This elf on the shelf gingerbread man disguise craft is perfect for kids to make and requires just a few simple supplies! Make this adorable little craft with your kids at home or students in the classroom
Materials
- Colored cardstock or construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Markers
- White out pen or gel markers
- Black pen (optional)
- Gingerbread man template
Instructions
- Download the gingerbread man template, print, and cut out the pieces you need.
- Begin by coloring in the elf's eye, then glue both of them to the face, just below the eyebrows.
- Use a marker to draw on the elf's nose and cheeks.
- Optionally, use a black pen to draw on eyelashes to look like the elf on the shelf. Next, glue the hair to the top of the head.
- Place the hat at the top of the head and glue it in place.
- Now, glue the hat band to the bottom of the hat.
- Glue the body to the bottom of the neck.
- Position the collar at the top of the body and glue it in place.
- Next, take the mittens and glue them to the end of each arm.
- Finish up by drawing some wavy icing lines along the elf's foot.
Get Your Elf On The Shelf Gingerbread Man Template By Signing Up Or Logging In!
Sign up for SEM+ to get this exclusive content. Signing up is 100% FREE. Find out more about SEM+ here.

Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump and more. Read more.
Nicole
Tuesday 31st of December 2024
Elf on shelf gingerbread template please
Kamille - Community Support Assistant
Wednesday 1st of January 2025
Hi! To get the template, click the “Click To Unlock!” button on the image at the end of the post, sign up or log in to your free SEM+ account, and then click the unlocked image to go to the download page.
Rylee Kline
Monday 9th of December 2024
Elf on the shelf gingerbread Man Disguise Craft free template
Sam
Monday 9th of December 2024
Hi! To get the template, click the “Click To Unlock!” button on the image at the end of the post, sign up or log in to your free SEM+ account, and then click the unlocked image to go to the download page.
Linda
Wednesday 4th of December 2024
Elf on the shelf gingerbread Man Disguise Craft free template
Sam
Thursday 5th of December 2024
Hi! To access the template, click the “Click To Unlock!” button on the image at the end of the post, sign up or log in to your free SEM+ account, and then click the unlocked image to go to the download page.
Jae
Wednesday 4th of December 2024
great project the art class thank you.
Sam
Thursday 5th of December 2024
Thank you! So happy to hear it’s a good fit for the art group.
Andrea
Tuesday 3rd of December 2024
Awesome!
Sam
Tuesday 3rd of December 2024
So happy you like it! Thank you!