Think of a row of gingerbread cookies fresh from the oven, now transformed into larger-than-life yard art.

These wooden cutouts look as if they’ve jumped right off the cookie tray and started stacking themselves up for Christmas fun.

The candy canes and Santa hat add the perfect festive touch, making this project feel straight out of a holiday bakery scene.

Materials Needed

• 1 sheet of plywood (4 ft × 8 ft, ¾” thick) for cutting gingerbread men
• 4 gingerbread man templates (each about 24” tall × 18” wide)
• 4 wooden candy canes (about 10” each)
• 1 Santa hat prop (12” tall)
• Outdoor brown paint (1 quart)
• White paint (½ quart)
• Black paint (½ pint)
• Red paint (½ pint)
• 4–5 foam pieces or expanding spray foam for 3D frosting (around 2 cans)
• Outdoor sealer (1 quart, clear) to protect from weather
• Wood screws (20 pieces, 1.5” long)
• 1 wood post (6 ft tall × 4” wide)
• Heavy base (metal stand or cement bucket)
• Paintbrushes (1 large, 1 fine detail)
• Jigsaw or scroll saw for cutting plywood
• Drill with bits for attaching cutouts

Step-by-step Guide

Step 1: Print or draw a gingerbread man template (about 24” tall). Then trace 4 identical shapes onto the plywood sheet.

Step 2: Cut out the shapes with a jigsaw. Sand edges lightly so they’re smooth and splinter-free.

Step 3: Paint all the cutouts with brown as the base color. Once dry, add details like eyes, smiles, and buttons using black and white paint.

Step 4: Attach candy cane cutouts to each gingerbread man’s arms. Then use screws or strong outdoor glue for durability.

Step 5: For the “frosting” effect, apply expanding spray foam along arms, legs, and head edges. Let it puff up and dry completely, then paint over with white for a fluffy look.

Step 6: Place one gingerbread man at the bottom and secure it to the post with screws. Stack each one above, aligning carefully, until all four are attached in a vertical line.

Step 7: Add the Santa hat to the top gingerbread man for a festive finish.

Step 8: Anchor the post securely into a weighted base (metal stand or cement bucket) so it stays upright outdoors.

Step 9: Once everything is dry, seal with clear outdoor sealer to protect your gingerbread friends from rain and snow.

Tip:

For extra nighttime charm, wrap string lights around the post so the gingerbread men glow after dark!