Easy DIY Gingerbread House Christmas Decor
With a few dollar store finds and a little creativity, you can create DIY Gingerbread House Christmas Crafts that look boutique, but are completely budget friendly.
There’s something so nostalgic about gingerbread at Christmastime. It feels warm, cozy, and just a little bit whimsical, like a holiday storybook come to life. This year, gingerbread is everywhere, and I am absolutely here for it. The best part? You don’t need to spend a fortune to bring that look into your home.
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In this post, I’m sharing six gingerbread-themed DIYs made with simple dollar store items. These projects are relaxing to make, easy to personalize, and so much fun to display. Think charming villages, sweet little houses, candles that smell like fresh cookies, and the cutest tassel you ever did see.
They’re perfect for your own décor or for gifting to friends, neighbors, and hostesses all season long.
Grab a cozy drink, put on a Hallmark Christmas movie in the background, and let’s dive into these gingerbread crafts you’ll love coming home to.
More Holiday Decor
This week I'm honored to be collaborating with six of my blogging friends to share even more holiday decor with you! What a treat hosted by Laura Ingalls Gunn at Decor To Adore! Visit each of them to get inspired! If you're following along, Shelley of Calypso in the Country is next!
- Laura of Decor to Adore – Holiday Decor and More
- Amber of Follow the Yellow Brick Home – Cranberry Christmas Kitchen Tour
- Melanie of Southern Crush At Home – DIY Gingerbread House Christmas Décor
- Shelley of Calypso in the Country – Ralph Lauren Christmas Dining Room
- Tammy of White Lilac Farmhouse – Plaid Skates and Sprigs: My Cozy Christmas Porch Reveal
- Missy of Sonata Home Design – Creative Gift Wrapping Ideas to Make Your Presents Stand Out
- Libbie of A Life Unfolding – Holiday Decorating in Less Than 15 Minutes
This blog post contains affiliate links. The opinions are wholly my own from my own experience. I may earn a small commission from clicks through to the websites that end in a purchase.
Watch the Gingerbread Crafts Tutorial
If you’d like to follow along step by step, you can watch the full video tutorial where I walk you through all six gingerbread DIYs using affordable supplies.
Gingerbread House Village Glass Cloche
Tracing the Template
The first project might be the easiest of them all, and it looks like something you’d find at a high-end home store. Using a printable gingerbread house template, I taped it to the inside of a thrifted glass dome, like a cake stand or cheese dome. This instantly turns into a tiny stage for a gingerbread village.
With a white chalk pen, I traced over all the black areas of the template. It feels a bit like going back to grade school—no drawing skills required. You simply follow the lines, and the chalk pen does the rest. The process is surprisingly soothing and makes for a perfect afternoon craft while a Christmas movie plays in the background.
Styling and Reusing the Design
Once the stencil is removed, the gingerbread houses inside the glass look charming and very Pottery Barn–inspired. You can tuck fairy lights or a small candle inside to give it a magical glow. It makes a beautiful piece for your kitchen counter, entry table, or holiday buffet.
The same template can also be used on other glass surfaces, like a clear lamp base or cloche. And if you make a mistake, the chalk pen wipes right off with a paper towel. For more stubborn spots, a bit of isopropyl alcohol takes it right off so you can start again.
Gingerbread Cookie Mix Gift in a Jar
Layering the Mix
The second idea is a gingerbread “gift in a jar” that’s both adorable and practical. Using dollar store gingerbread cookie mixes, I poured two packages into a clear Dollar Tree jar, then topped them with a little extra brown sugar. It adds a pretty layered look and a touch of extra sweetness.
To finish filling the jar, I added walnuts from the dollar store, tamping them down gently as I went. The result is a layered, bakery-style mix that looks custom and thoughtful, even though it’s made from simple ingredients.
Gifting and Finishing Touches
A ribbon tied around the top and a thrifted plastic gingerbread man cookie cutter make the jar feel extra special. You can handwrite or print the baking directions on a tag, or simply attach the instructions from the original package to the back of the jar.
These travel well and make perfect hostess gifts, teacher gifts, or “just because” surprises. Keep a few in your car during the holidays so you can say, “Wait, I’ve got something for you,” when you run into someone you haven’t seen in a while.
Mini Gingerbread House Village
Painting the Houses
DIY number three begins with those tiny plastic village houses from Dollar Tree. They’re cute on their own, but with a little paint, they transform into the sweetest gingerbread houses. I mixed two shades of paint to get just the right gingerbread color, giving each house two coats for full coverage.
If you have a caramel-colored spray paint, that works beautifully too, but mixing what you already have is an easy, budget-friendly option. Once the base is dry, the fun really begins.
Adding Icing Details
Using the same white chalk pen, I traced along the raised details of the houses—rooflines, windows, doors, and trim. Those little white lines instantly give the look of piped icing, just like a real gingerbread house.
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These mini houses are battery-operated, making them perfect for a hutch, mantel, or shelf display. I tucked mine into my Ralph Lauren–inspired Christmas décor on top of my hutch, and they blended right in while still adding a playful touch.
Gingerbread Wax Melt Candle Glow-Up
Decorating the Candle
The fourth project starts with a store-bought gingerbread-scented candle from Aldi. It already smells amazing, but we’re going to dress it up using gingerbread-shaped wax melts from Dollar Tree.
By gently warming sections of the candle surface with a heat tool and pressing the wax melt gingerbread men into the softened wax, you create that trendy “decorated candle” look that’s so popular in décor shops right now. The key is to place the wax shapes in a whimsical pattern around the top so it looks playful but intentional.
A Simple and Scented Gift
Once the wax sets, you have a candle that not only smells like fresh gingerbread cookies, but also looks like a special boutique find. It makes an excellent last-minute hostess gift or backup present for someone who pops onto your list at the last second.
Styled next to my Ralph Lauren dough bowl, this candle adds warmth, fragrance, and a touch of gingerbread charm to the room.
Gingerbread House Salt Shaker Tassel
Creating the Tassel
For the fifth DIY, I revisited a favorite project: the gingerbread-inspired salt shaker tassel. Using a gingerbread house salt shaker from the Cracker Barrel and hemp twine, I threaded one strand of twine through each of two holes at the top and tied a tight knot. Hemp twine works beautifully for this—it’s sturdy and easy to thread.
You can see my entire tour of my local Cracker Barrel Christmas shopping here below.
From there, I added wood beads to the tassel strands, which gives it that layered, collected look. You can trim the ends evenly or leave them at slightly different lengths for a more relaxed, boho feel.
Styling Your Tassel
I finished the look with a stack of ribbons, including a piece salvaged from the gingerbread candle we dressed up earlier. I love reusing bits from other projects—it helps everything feel coordinated and intentional.
Hung from a lamp, cabinet knob, or on a decorative hook, this tassel is such a sweet little accent. I styled mine on a Mackenzie-Childs lamp next to some gingerbread décor from Cracker Barrel, and the pop of red ribbon pulls it all together.
ALDI-Inspired Gingerbread Cutting Board
Transferring the Design
The final project was inspired by a gingerbread cheeseboard I spotted at ALDI. To recreate the look, I started with a cutting board and stained it with gel stain using a baby wipe for easy, even coverage. The warm color gives the perfect gingerbread base.
After the stain dried, I used carbon paper and a gingerbread house template to transfer the design onto the board. By tracing the white “icing” areas with an embossing tool, the pattern transfers beautifully onto the surface.
Chalk Pen Details and Display
Once the design was transferred, I went back over the lines with white chalk pens, using a fine tip for delicate dots and curves, and a thicker tip for larger sections. It creates the look of a detailed gingerbread house without needing to freehand anything.
While you’ll want to reserve this board for décor only (not food), it makes a stunning display piece. I styled mine with gingerbread mugs that mimic the design and love how it feels perfect for Christmas and cozy cocoa season well into winter.
These six gingerbread-themed crafts prove that you don’t need a big budget to create charming, high-end-looking holiday décor. With a few dollar store finds, some simple templates, and a couple of chalk pens, you can fill your home with pieces that feel warm, personal, and festive.
Use them to decorate your own spaces, or turn them into thoughtful gifts that feel handmade and heartfelt. I’d love to know which project you see fitting into your décor this year and which one inspires you to pull out your craft supplies.
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