You will need:
Cinnamon
Applesauce (I use the natural kind with no sugar added)
small gingerbread man cookie cutter (can use other shapes)
wax paper
small ribbon or gold thread for hanging
assorted slick pens or fabric paint (optional)
Mix an equal amount of applesauce and cinnamon in a small bowl. The amount you mix of course will determine how many ornaments you will end up with. You should have wonderful smelling dough. Knead the dough together lightly. If it is a little too sticky, add more cinnamon until you get a dough that you can handle and work with easily. Sprinkle a piece of wax paper with cinnamon. Roll your dough out to about a 1/4" thickness. Cut your gingerbread men out and carefully transfer them to a cookie sheet. Be sure to re-roll your left over dough and keep cutting. Use a toothpick and make a hole in the top of your shape large enough to thread a small piece of ribbon or thread through. Set the ornaments in a warm dry place and let them dry at least 24 hours turning them often so they remain flat. I have placed mine in my oven for a couple of hours at about 100° to let them dry. You just need to turn them often and don't forget to take them out. Once they are dry, thread a piece of ribbon or gold thread through the top to use as a hanger. You can leave the ornaments as they are or you can use the slick pens or fabric paint to decorate them. If you decorate them, return them to the cookie sheet and let them dry another 24 hours. If there are any jagged edges, you can use an emery board to sand them smooth. One year I attached one of these ornaments to the outside of all of my gifts. They were really cute and made everything smell so wonderful. Wrap the ornaments in tissue paper, place in a small box and they will keep year after year.
Here's another version that was sent to me!
1 cup cinnamon
4 Tablespoons white glue
3/4 cup cold water
Mix ingredients together and roll out between 2 pieces of waxed paper. Cut out various shapes using cookie cutters. Using a toothpick, make a hole in the top big enough to thread a piece of ribbon through. Lay the ornaments out to dry. When dry attach ribbon and hang on tree or packages!
This same visitor to the site also sends this suggestion for cinnamon bears. Trace and cut out your bear on a piece of sandpaper (trace the bear on the smooth side). Take a cinnamon stick and "color" the rough side of the sandpaper. Punch a hole in the top, attach ribbon, and hang!
Here's one more variation to the gingerbread ornaments from Terri!
1 cup applesauce
1/3 cup glue
1 1/2 cups of cinnamon
Mix and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes. Roll out and cut the ornaments using different shapes of Christmas cookies cutters. Us the end of a small paint brush to poke a hole at the top. Let dry for several days and then decorate!