Easy and Inexpensive DIY Paper Mache Gingerbread Houses

If you like to doodle, then you will love this project! Gingerbread everything is a big holiday theme this year, and yes, the gingerbread bug did bite me too! See how easy it is to decorate this very inexpensive cardboard houses into your own personal gingerbread village.

Supplies

You will need:

Paper mache or similar paper/cardboard house
White Paint pens with different nibs
Glitter
Glue or Modge Dodge

I find these 6″ paper mache houses at Michaels. I paid $5.99 each and now they are discounted to $3.99 each (darn). Our local store is out of stock, but you can find these in a set of 3 at Hobby Lobby, or from Factory Direct Crafts. Amazon has numerous styles available too here.

Any white paint pen will do but the key is to find a set with different nib sizes. From Michaels, I find Craftsmart oil-based premium paint pens in 3 nib sizes, but for the life of me I cannot seem to find it online. Plus one of the pens did leak and made a bit of a mess.

I find this set on Amazon and I think it will do the trick.

For years I have had the same big jar of glitter from craft days with the children and I LOVE it~so sparkly and festive. I find something similar on Amazon and I believe it is a close substitute.

Modge Podge is perfect to use as a glue and base for your glitter. It comes in both matte and glossy finish. Either will work but I use matte for this project.

Drawing details on the House

Use your imagination and draw curlicues, hearts or whatever design you want on your plain brown house.

Notice that these two houses are similar yet different, but both have the decorative, ornate look of a gingerbread house.

Add details at the roofline too.

I use the wide nib on the marker to color the roof and trim white, to appear snow-like. Around the chimney I replicate snow dripping. Then it is time to add the glitter.

Adding the Glitter

Paint the ceiling, fascia white, then apply Modge Podge and glitter

Though I do not have a photo, paint the roof and base Modge Podge and sprinkle the glitter over the wet surface. Put down paper or a pan first or you will have glitter everywhere. Since this is very fine glitter, you will more than likely be a bit sparkly yourself after!

In an attempt to create “icicles” I use my glue gun and drip glue from the rafters. While warm, I cover them in glitter. Not sure it’s worth the effort but here is how it looks. Since it didn’t make a huge difference and the glue actually looks a tad yellow, I only made “icicles” on one of the houses. Effort vs. reward.

The Overall Gingerbread Village

In the center of my rather large kitchen island, I have a two tiered glass patisserie, which I decorate by season. Found at Ballard Design, the patisserie comes in either pewter or brass and is on sale (from $299 to $225). Not only does it break up the surface of my island, but it is perfect for entertaining and displaying desserts, appetizers, etc.

Gingerbread village on my patisserie stand

The ceramic gingerbread houses are a find at Michaels (I believe are now out of stock). I blend in my two inexpensive gingerbread houses and I like how it all goes together.

Adding 2 different shades of bottle brush trees provides a nice contrast to the neutral tone gingerbread houses.

Gingerbread houses and small tree with salt dough ornaments

I think the DIY paper mache houses blend in rather nicely with the ceramic ones. Wouldn’t this be a fun project with children?

I am not sure whether I can squeeze a battery powered tea light in that front door but I’d like to find a way to light the house from within.

Holiday decorating continues!

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