gingerbread house

I’m not only in a bell phase this Christmas season, I’m having a gingerbread moment, too. First it was our DIY gingerbread paper bag advent calendar, and now it’s a cute mini DIY gingerbread village made from tiny wood bird houses. I’ve never made homemade gingerbread, and I actually don’t like the taste of it. But, I love how festive the houses are, and can’t resist a homemade gingerbread house. This gingerbread house village is so easy, and so cute. You don’t need to worry about candy getting stale, because nothing is edible on these tiny houses. You can give these as gifts, or set them up year after year with your holiday decor. Plus, you can do it this weekend with the kids. It would be really fun to see all the colors and designs the kids come up with.

Stick around for the bottom of the post if REAL gingerbread houses are more your jam. Some really talented pastry chefs, and members of the Vail community displayed some amazing Gingerbread Houses at the Vail Library in November as part of Revely Vail.

DIY Gingerbread House Village Made With Mini Wood Birdhouses

Materials:

mini wood bird houses, Walmart or Amazon
acrylic paint
paint brush
Elmer’s white paint pens, fine tip
glass cookie jars, Walmart
mini bottle brush Christmas trees

Instructions:

Step 1: Paint the houses. I had to do two coats of paint per house. I used a two different colors of brown paint to get a “gingerbread” color.

Step 2: Once the paint is dry, begin to draw/doodle decorations on the house with the paint pen. I drew it free-hand, and it worked out great. Draw swirls, icicles, windows, doors, hearts, candy canes, etc. on the front, back and top of the house. Make each house different.

Step 3: Set the houses on a cake stand with bottle brush trees, twinkle lights and fake snow. Or, make a pretty glass jar display with all the fun winter accessories, and twinkle lights, too.