Easy Christmas drawings: snowman, gingerbread and a tree

In this guide

A pattern of small Christmas tree, snowman, gingerbread, stocking, bauble and present outlines.

A scarfed snowman, a smiling gingerbread figure and a decorated tree each practice a different kind of line. Choose one subject and follow it through to a complete drawing. The snowman and gingerbread lessons are here; the tree has its own complete step-by-step lesson.

These guides offer small actions rather than asking you to copy a finished picture in one jump. Each subject has a Detailed guide, a shorter Quick guide, a blank coloring outline and an optional colored reference using the same contours.

Choose your Christmas drawing

Drawing	What you practice	Where to begin
Snowman	Rounded head and body, a tilted hat, scarf overlaps and two twig arms	33-action snowman guide or its 10-stage Quick guide
Gingerbread figure	One connected body outline, two separate feet and broad icing bands	27-action gingerbread guide or its 8-stage Quick guide
Christmas tree	Four widening tiers, scalloped edges, garlands and round baubles	Complete tree lesson with 33 actions and a 10-stage Quick guide

The gingerbread figure has fewer separate parts, while the snowman adds overlaps where the scarf sits in front of the body. The tree has more repeated curves and smaller decorations. Choose the shape you want to practice rather than racing through all three.

Before you start

Use plain paper, a pencil and an eraser. Look at the finished outline before drawing, then leave enough space for the widest parts: the snowman’s twig arms, the gingerbread figure’s raised hands, or the tree’s lowest branches.

Keep the early lines light. Dark plum in a diagram means the lines introduced in that step; gray means earlier work. Your own pencil drawing can stay one color. The larger view isolates the current area, while the whole view shows where it belongs.

It is fine to stop at a checkpoint and return later. Use the Detailed guide when the Quick guide combines too much into one action. A short step count is not a requirement for a successful drawing.

Draw a snowman

A small round head sits above a larger snowball. The hat covers the top of the head; the scarf overlaps the body and the two twig arms emerge at its sides.

Detailed guide

Add only the dark plum lines in each step. Gray lines show earlier work. The whole view keeps the new part in position; the closer view shows its shape. Draw lightly in pencil first. No temporary lines are part of the finished outline.

A snowman in a hat and scarf — Detailed A4 PDF A snowman in a hat and scarf — Detailed US Letter PDF

PDFs open in a new tab. Choose A4 or US Letter to match your paper. The Detailed pack includes 33 actions, a blank outline and the matching color reference.

Step 1 of 33

Draw the tilted brim’s upper edge

Make the long shallow curve that runs across the top of the folded hat brim.

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Step 1, closer: Make the long shallow curve that runs across the top of the folded hat brim.

Step 2 of 33

Round the brim on the right

Curve around the right end of the brim and turn back underneath.

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Step 2, closer: Curve around the right end of the brim and turn back underneath.

Step 3 of 33

Follow the brim underneath

Draw the lower brim edge from right to left. Keep a broad band between the two edges.

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Step 3, closer: Draw the lower brim edge from right to left. Keep a broad band between the two edges.

Step 4 of 33

Close the brim on the left

Round the left end upward to join the top edge.

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Step 4, closer: Round the left end upward to join the top edge.

Step 5 of 33

Add the soft hat crown

Curve over the top of the hat and bring the left side down to the brim.

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Step 5, closer: Curve over the top of the hat and bring the left side down to the brim.

Step 6 of 33

Add a fluffy pompom

Close a rounded, gently bumpy pompom above the left side of the hat.

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Step 7 of 33

Add the first rib

Draw one curved rib line near the left end of the brim.

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Step 7, closer: Draw one curved rib line near the left end of the brim.

Step 8 of 33

Add the second rib

Place the next curved line farther right, following the brim’s tilt.

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Step 8, closer: Place the next curved line farther right, following the brim’s tilt.

Step 9 of 33

Add the middle rib

Continue the spaced rib pattern through the middle of the brim.

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Step 9, closer: Continue the spaced rib pattern through the middle of the brim.

Step 10 of 33

Add the next rib

Draw another curved rib, keeping the gaps comfortably wide.

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Step 10, closer: Draw another curved rib, keeping the gaps comfortably wide.

Step 11 of 33

Finish the brim ribs

Add the last two curved lines on the right.

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Step 11, closer: Add the last two curved lines on the right.

Step 12 of 33

Curve down the right cheek

Start beneath the brim and curve down around the right side of the head.

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Step 12, closer: Start beneath the brim and curve down around the right side of the head.

Step 13 of 33

Round the chin

Continue a broad rounded chin across the bottom of the head.

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Step 13, closer: Continue a broad rounded chin across the bottom of the head.

Step 14 of 33

Join the left cheek

Curve up the left side to meet the hat brim.

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Step 14, closer: Curve up the left side to meet the hat brim.

Step 15 of 33

Place the left eye

Draw a small round dot below the brim. Leave a gap between it and the head edge.

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Step 15, closer: Draw a small round dot below the brim. Leave a gap between it and the head edge.

Step 16 of 33

Place the right eye

Add the second small dot on the other side. It sits slightly higher with the tilted hat.

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Step 16, closer: Add the second small dot on the other side. It sits slightly higher with the tilted hat.

Step 17 of 33

Give the snowman a carrot

Draw a rounded carrot outline pointing to the right, and close it at the root.

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Step 18 of 33

Add a curved smile

Place a broad smile below the carrot, away from the chin.

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Step 18, closer: Place a broad smile below the carrot, away from the chin.

Step 19 of 33

Round the scarf’s sides

Draw the short outer curve on each side immediately below the head.

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Step 19, closer: Draw the short outer curve on each side immediately below the head.

Step 20 of 33

Join the scarf underneath

Add its lower edge. The short visible pieces join behind the two hanging ends.

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Step 20, closer: Add its lower edge. The short visible pieces join behind the two hanging ends.

Step 21 of 33

Start the left scarf end

Draw down the left side of the hanging end and around the left half of its bottom.

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Step 21, closer: Draw down the left side of the hanging end and around the left half of its bottom.

Step 22 of 33

Close the left scarf end

Bring the inner edge up from the rounded bottom to the scarf band.

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Step 22, closer: Bring the inner edge up from the rounded bottom to the scarf band.

Step 23 of 33

Start the right scarf end

Draw the inner edge down from the scarf and curve around its lower left corner.

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Step 23, closer: Draw the inner edge down from the scarf and curve around its lower left corner.

Step 24 of 33

Close the right scarf end

Round the bottom and bring the outer edge back up to the scarf.

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Step 24, closer: Round the bottom and bring the outer edge back up to the scarf.

Step 25 of 33

Curve down the body’s right side

Begin below the scarf and sweep around the right side of the large snowball.

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Step 25, closer: Begin below the scarf and sweep around the right side of the large snowball.

Step 26 of 33

Round the bottom snowball

Continue the broad bottom curve. The body is wider than the head.

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Step 26, closer: Continue the broad bottom curve. The body is wider than the head.

Step 27 of 33

Join the body on the left

Bring the left side upward to the scarf. Keep the round shape behind the hanging ends.

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Step 27, closer: Bring the left side upward to the scarf. Keep the round shape behind the hanging ends.

Step 28 of 33

Add the left twig hand

Draw the forked outer end of the left twig, leaving its stem opening toward the body.

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Step 28, closer: Draw the forked outer end of the left twig, leaving its stem opening toward the body.

Step 29 of 33

Join the left twig to the body

Complete the two short stem edges back to the snowball.

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Step 29, closer: Complete the two short stem edges back to the snowball.

Step 30 of 33

Draw the right twig’s upper fork

Start at the body-side stem and round the upright twig tip.

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Step 30, closer: Start at the body-side stem and round the upright twig tip.

Step 31 of 33

Finish the right twig hand

Add the outward fork and join its lower stem edge back to the body.

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Step 31, closer: Add the outward fork and join its lower stem edge back to the body.

Step 32 of 33

Draw the upper button

Close a broad empty circle below the scarf ends.

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Step 33 of 33

Draw the lower button

Add another circle underneath it. Keep both inside the body.

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Step 33, closer: Add another circle underneath it. Keep both inside the body.

Quick guide

Use these larger checkpoints once the parts make sense. Return to the Detailed guide whenever a join or decoration needs more explanation.

Show the 10-stage Quick guide and its PDFs

A snowman in a hat and scarf — Quick A4 PDF A snowman in a hat and scarf — Quick US Letter PDF

PDFs open in a new tab. Choose A4 or US Letter to match your paper. The Quick pack ends with the same blank outline and color reference.

Stage 1: Folded hat brim

Close the broad tilted hat brim.

Stage 2: Crown and pompom

Add the curved crown and the rounded pompom.

Stage 3: Hat ribs

Space six curved rib lines along the brim.

Stage 4: Round head

Curve the round head beneath the hat and close its chin.

Stage 5: Face

Place two dark eyes, a closed carrot outline and a curved smile.

Stage 6: Scarf band

Round the scarf below the head, joining its lower visible edge.

Stage 7: Hanging scarf ends

Draw two broad hanging scarf ends, closing each with a rounded bottom.

Stage 8: Large snowball

Curve a larger snowball behind the scarf ends and join its broad base.

Stage 9: Twig arms

Add a forked twig arm on each side, joining both stem edges to the body.

Stage 10: Buttons

Place two empty button circles below the scarf ends.

Finished outline and one color idea

Same-contour colored reference: A snowman in a hat and scarf

Leave the snow white. The hat and scarf offer broad areas for two contrasting colors.

SVG outline PNG outline Colored PNG reference

Check the tricky parts

If the scarf ends look detached, check that their upper edges meet the scarf band. Keep the body outline behind them. Make the body visibly larger than the head and leave the two buttons clear of the hanging ends.

Keep the snow white and try different hat and scarf colors. Add a faint pale-blue edge inside the snowballs only after the outlines are complete.

Draw a gingerbread figure

The round head flows into two lifted arms. The torso widens into two rounded feet, with a clear arch separating the legs.

Detailed guide

A smiling gingerbread figure — Detailed A4 PDF A smiling gingerbread figure — Detailed US Letter PDF

PDFs open in a new tab. Choose A4 or US Letter to match your paper. The Detailed pack includes 27 actions, a blank outline and the matching color reference.

Step 1 of 27

Curve over the left side of the head

Start at the top center and curve around the upper left quarter of the head.

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Step 1, closer: Start at the top center and curve around the upper left quarter of the head.

Step 2 of 27

Curve over the right side of the head

Join the top center and follow the upper right quarter downward.

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Step 2, closer: Join the top center and follow the upper right quarter downward.

Step 3 of 27

Bring down the left cheek

Continue down the left cheek and inward to the short shoulder turn.

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Step 3, closer: Continue down the left cheek and inward to the short shoulder turn.

Step 4 of 27

Bring down the right cheek

Follow the matching curve down the right side and inward at the shoulder.

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Step 4, closer: Follow the matching curve down the right side and inward at the shoulder.

Step 5 of 27

Round the raised left hand

Curve outward from the shoulder, over the raised hand and around its rounded end.

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Step 5, closer: Curve outward from the shoulder, over the raised hand and around its rounded end.

Step 6 of 27

Turn beneath the left arm

Join the lower hand edge, then bring the underside of the arm inward toward the body.

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Step 6, closer: Join the lower hand edge, then bring the underside of the arm inward toward the body.

Step 7 of 27

Curve down the left side

Continue the torso’s left edge toward the upper ankle position.

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Step 7, closer: Continue the torso’s left edge toward the upper ankle position.

Step 8 of 27

Round the raised right hand

Curve up and around the right hand, keeping the arm attached at its shoulder.

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Step 8, closer: Curve up and around the right hand, keeping the arm attached at its shoulder.

Step 9 of 27

Turn beneath the right arm

Bring the underside inward to meet the body side.

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Step 9, closer: Bring the underside inward to meet the body side.

Step 10 of 27

Curve down the right side

Continue down the right torso edge toward the ankle.

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Step 10, closer: Continue down the right torso edge toward the ankle.

Step 11 of 27

Start the space between the legs

Curve upward from the inner left leg toward the top of the arch.

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Step 11, closer: Curve upward from the inner left leg toward the top of the arch.

Step 12 of 27

Finish the inner arch

Round over the top and come down the right inner leg. Keep this space open to the background.

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Step 12, closer: Round over the top and come down the right inner leg. Keep this space open to the background.

Step 13 of 27

Round the left foot

Join the outer left ankle to the inner leg with a broad rounded foot.

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Step 13, closer: Join the outer left ankle to the inner leg with a broad rounded foot.

Step 14 of 27

Round the right foot

Make the second rounded foot and join it to the inner arch.

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Step 14, closer: Make the second rounded foot and join it to the inner arch.

Step 15 of 27

Start the left wrist icing

Draw one soft wavy line across the raised left wrist.

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Step 15, closer: Draw one soft wavy line across the raised left wrist.

Step 16 of 27

Give that icing its width

Add a second wavy line beside it. Keep a clear white band between them.

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Step 16, closer: Add a second wavy line beside it. Keep a clear white band between them.

Step 17 of 27

Start the right wrist icing

Repeat the first wavy edge on the opposite wrist.

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Step 17, closer: Repeat the first wavy edge on the opposite wrist.

Step 18 of 27

Finish the right wrist band

Draw the second wavy edge across that wrist.

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Step 18, closer: Draw the second wavy edge across that wrist.

Step 19 of 27

Start the left ankle icing

Draw the upper wavy edge across the left ankle.

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Step 19, closer: Draw the upper wavy edge across the left ankle.

Step 20 of 27

Finish the left ankle band

Place the lower wavy edge beneath it, leaving the rounded foot clear.

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Step 20, closer: Place the lower wavy edge beneath it, leaving the rounded foot clear.

Step 21 of 27

Start the right ankle icing

Add the upper wavy edge across the right ankle.

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Step 21, closer: Add the upper wavy edge across the right ankle.

Step 22 of 27

Finish the right ankle band

Add its lower edge. Keep the two foot bands similarly broad.

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Step 22, closer: Add its lower edge. Keep the two foot bands similarly broad.

Step 23 of 27

Place the left eye

Make a small round dark eye inside the head.

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Step 23, closer: Make a small round dark eye inside the head.

Step 24 of 27

Place the right eye

Add the second eye with a comfortable gap between them.

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Step 24, closer: Add the second eye with a comfortable gap between them.

Step 25 of 27

Add the smile

Draw a small curved smile below the eyes, away from the neck.

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Step 25, closer: Draw a small curved smile below the eyes, away from the neck.

Step 26 of 27

Draw the upper button

Close a large empty circle in the upper torso.

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Step 27 of 27

Draw the lower button

Add a second circle below it, leaving a gap above the leg arch.

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Step 27, closer: Add a second circle below it, leaving a gap above the leg arch.

Quick guide

Use these larger checkpoints once the parts make sense. Return to the Detailed guide whenever a join or decoration needs more explanation.

Show the 8-stage Quick guide and its PDFs

A smiling gingerbread figure — Quick A4 PDF A smiling gingerbread figure — Quick US Letter PDF

PDFs open in a new tab. Choose A4 or US Letter to match your paper. The Quick pack ends with the same blank outline and color reference.

Stage 1: Round head

Draw the round head, turning inward briefly at both shoulders.

Stage 2: Left arm and side

Round the raised left hand, turn under its arm and curve down the left torso.

Stage 3: Right arm and side

Repeat the raised hand, underarm and torso curve on the right.

Stage 4: Legs and feet

Make an open arch between the legs, then round each foot to join its outer ankle.

Stage 5: Wrist icing

Add two parallel wavy edges at each wrist to make icing bands.

Stage 6: Ankle icing

Repeat the two-edge icing bands across both ankles.

Stage 7: Eyes and smile

Place two dark eyes and a small curved smile inside the head.

Stage 8: Two buttons

Close two broad button circles in the torso, with a gap above the leg arch.

Finished outline and one color idea

Same-contour colored reference: A smiling gingerbread figure

Try a biscuit-colored body with white icing. Color the two buttons before filling the larger body area.

SVG outline PNG outline Colored PNG reference

Check the tricky parts

If the feet merge, deepen the open arch between them before finishing the foot curves. Keep each icing band between two lines and inside its own limb. The eyes and smile sit in the head; the buttons belong on the torso.

Try a warm biscuit color with white icing and red or green buttons. You can also leave the cookie white and use colored pencils only for the icing bands.

Follow the Christmas-tree lesson

The tree starts at the star and grows down through four branching tiers. Each lower tier reaches farther sideways. The garlands come next, followed by five baubles and their small caps.

The full tree lesson keeps its Detailed and Quick guides together on one page.

Open how to draw a Christmas tree for all 33 actions, ten Quick stages and matching A4/US Letter guide PDFs. The preview here shows the result; the complete teaching sequence stays on that lesson page.

Turn a drawing into a small greeting

Once you can place the subject comfortably, try a smaller version on a blank card or gift note. Reserve space for the words first. Put the drawing beside the greeting rather than squeezing the writing between the snowman’s arms or the tree’s branches.

Repeat one accent color across the picture and the greeting. A scarf color can become the lettering color; a gingerbread button color can become a simple border dot. Keep any decoration away from the subject’s eyes, open leg arch or small bauble caps so the drawing remains easy to read.

If you would rather begin with a ready-made outline, use the six Christmas coloring pages. The evergreen drawing collection offers more subjects when you want a change from Christmas.