This Gingerbread Bean Bag is quite a delightful fellow. This is a full size picture for you to follow, you can print out his picture and modify the size as you please.

Materials:
Brown felt
White embroidery floss
Embroidery needles
Rick Rack
Sequins
Google eyes
Rice
Funnel
Elmer's Glue-All



Time: 45 min to 1 hour, depending on how comfortable your kids are with sewing.

Method: 1) Cut out your patterns. The size is up to you, but I like the "hand size" of my gingerbread man.
2) Begin by whip stitching the edges until only a small opening is left on the top of the head. This is where you will add the rice. The whipstitch is easy, just push the needle from the underside of the felt through to the top of the felt. Pull until the floss is snug, bring the needle under again and repeat.
3) Add rice by pouring it through the funnel into the head. Pour enough rice, about a cup, to make him nice and plump. If desired, you could add some whole cloves or pieces of whole cinnamon for fragrance.
4) Stitch the head closed.
5) Decorate your gingerbread man with glued on rick-rack icing, sequin buttons, google eyes, and a drawn smile.
6) Enjoy him.

TIPS FOR WORKING WITH KIDS
Do not do the project for them. They are capable of pushing a needle through 2 layers of felt. They may prick their fingers but they will learn an important skill. Keep bandages handy for those pricked fingers. Allow them to decorate as they will. Some will get very fancy.