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Easy paper gingerbread houses bring all the candy-colored charm of a classic Christmas tradition to your craft table, without baking cookies or convincing a frosting-covered roof to stay put.
With brown paper, a few colorful scraps, and simple drawing supplies, kids can create adorable gingerbread cottages filled with personality.
This paper gingerbread house craft is perfect for a cozy afternoon at home, a classroom Christmas activity, or a holiday gathering where you need something simple to keep little hands busy.
Children can add candy cane doors, snowy rooftops, rainbow gumdrops, and as much pretend icing as their hearts desire.
The version we’re making is a flat paper gingerbread house, so there are no complicated folds or tricky walls to assemble.
You don’t even need a printable template! Once finished, your houses can become Christmas ornaments, greeting cards, or a cheerful gingerbread garland.
Pull out the craft supplies, clear a little space at the table, and let’s make a Christmas village that won’t get eaten before December.
Why You’ll Love This Paper Gingerbread House Craft
Some holiday crafts require a shopping trip before you can even begin. This one starts with supplies you may already have tucked into a drawer.
Brown construction paper creates the gingerbread look, white crayon becomes frosting, and leftover paper scraps turn into colorful candy decorations. You can keep things simple or set out extra embellishments for kids who love adding details.
It’s also easy to adjust for different ages. Younger children can decorate precut houses with crayons and large paper shapes, while older kids can design roof patterns, window shutters, and tiny wreaths.
Because each house is decorated separately, this Christmas paper craft works well for siblings or small groups. Everyone gets their own creative space, and nobody has to negotiate over who gets to decorate the front door.
Supplies You May Need:
Gather these basic supplies before getting started:
- – Brown cardstock or construction paper
- – White paper
- – Colored paper scraps
- – Pencil and ruler
- – Child-friendly scissors
- – Glue stick
- – Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
- – White crayon, white colored pencil, or white paint pen
Optional extras include stickers, ribbon, glitter glue, and pom-poms. Use small embellishments only when appropriate for the children participating, and keep them away from little ones who might put them in their mouths.
Brown cardstock is the best choice if you want to hang or display your houses, since it holds its shape better. Construction paper works well for houses you plan to glue onto a card or larger background.
Test your white drawing tool on a scrap of brown paper first. Some white colored pencils show up softly, while a white paint pen creates brighter, more noticeable “icing.” Follow the pen’s age guidance and allow the ink to dry before handling.
How to Make Easy Paper Gingerbread Houses
1. Draw a Simple Gingerbread House Shape
2. Place your brown paper vertically on the table.
For a medium-sized house, draw a rectangle approximately 5 inches wide and 4 inches tall. Mark a point centered about 2 inches above the rectangle’s top edge.
3. Connect that point to the rectangle’s two upper corners to create a triangular roof. The outside outline should now look like a simple house: a straight bottom, two vertical sides, and two sloping roof edges.
4. Cut around the outside outline, leaving the rectangle and triangle connected as one piece. Don’t cut across the line where the roof meets the walls.
These measurements are just a starting point. Make smaller houses for ornaments or wider houses for cards. If several children are participating, cut one house first and use it as a tracing guide for the others.
Cut Out the Doors and Windows
Choose colorful paper for a front door and windows. A small rectangle makes an easy door, while squares or circles work beautifully for windows.
For the sample house size, try a door about 1 inch wide and 1½ inches tall, plus two windows roughly 1 inch square. There’s no need to measure every detail; slightly uneven shapes add to the handmade charm.
Arrange the pieces on the house before gluing them down. Leave some room around the edges for icing borders and candy decorations.
Younger children may find it easier to draw doors and windows directly onto the brown paper. That works just as well and keeps the cutting to a minimum.
Make Colorful Paper Candy Decorations
This is where ordinary paper scraps earn their Christmas moment.
Cut small circles for gumdrops, narrow rectangles for sprinkles, and bright squares for candy tiles. To make peppermint candies, cut white circles and draw red lines radiating from the center.
For a candy cane effect, cut two narrow white strips to frame the door, then add diagonal red marker stripes. You can also use these striped pieces along the roof.
Set the decorations in shallow bowls or small piles so children can see their choices. A few shapes in several colors offer plenty of possibilities without covering the entire table in supplies.
Add White Frosting Details
Before attaching raised decorations, draw icing designs with your white crayon, colored pencil, or paint pen.
Trace the roof edges with a wavy line, add dots around the windows, or draw little loops above the door. A row of curved lines across the roof can look like frosting-covered shingles.
If drawing on brown paper feels tricky, cut thin strips of white paper and glue them along the roof instead. White paper circles and scalloped strips also make sweet icing details.
Encourage children to create their own patterns. The goal is a house they enjoyed decorating, not a tiny architectural inspection.
Glue Everything in Place
Once the layout looks right, glue down the doors, windows, and paper candy pieces.
Use a light, even layer of glue stick on paper decorations. Too much wet glue can wrinkle thinner paper and make the house curl as it dries.
If you’re adding pom-poms or other raised embellishments, use a suitable craft glue according to its instructions. Keep those pieces lightweight, especially if the house will become an ornament.
Lay the finished house flat until everything dries. Then add any final drawn details, such as a doorknob, windowpanes, or the child’s name on a tiny paper sign.
Cute Paper Gingerbread House Decorating Ideas
One of the best parts of making DIY paper gingerbread houses is seeing how different they look, even when everyone starts with the same shape.
Classic Christmas Candy House
Use red, green, and white decorations for a traditional gingerbread look.
Add striped candy cane trim, green shutters, and red paper gumdrops along the roof. A small green paper circle with a red bow drawn on top makes a simple wreath for the door.
This color combination looks especially cute when several finished houses are displayed together.
Pastel Gingerbread Cottage
Try pink, lavender, mint, and pale blue paper for a softer Christmas palette.
A pink front door, white icing swirls, and pastel candy circles create a sweet little cottage. Add a tiny paper heart above the door for an extra playful touch.
This is a lovely way to use leftover pastel paper from other craft projects.
Snowy Winter Cottage
Keep the decorations mostly brown and white for a simple, cozy winter house.
Use a white paper strip along the roof to represent snow, then add tiny white dots around the windows. Cut a small snowbank from white paper and glue it along the bottom edge.
A red door or green wreath gives the design a little color without needing lots of extra decorations.
Personalized Family Gingerbread Houses
Give everyone in the family a house to decorate in their favorite colors.
Add names above the doors, draw pets in the windows, or create tiny signs with silly house names. One child might make a rainbow candy shop while another builds a gingerbread dinosaur headquarters.
Display them together as your family’s Christmas neighborhood. Matching houses are entirely optional.
Tips for Making This Christmas Craft With Kids
A little preparation helps this easy Christmas craft stay enjoyable.
For preschoolers, cut out the houses and larger decorations ahead of time. Offer a few colors of crayons and a small selection of paper shapes so they can focus on decorating.
Older children may enjoy drawing their own house outlines or designing extra pieces, such as chimneys, shutters, and a candy-lined walkway.
If you’re crafting with a group, give each child a sheet of scrap paper to use as a work mat. It helps catch glue and gives them a place to arrange loose decorations.
Keep a completed example nearby if it helps explain the activity, but make it clear that every house can look different. Sometimes the most memorable creations have purple doors and windows on the roof.
For a quicker version, skip the separate paper candy pieces and use only crayons, markers, and stickers.
Fun Ways to Display Your Paper Gingerbread Houses
The crafting fun doesn’t have to end when the glue dries. These little houses can become part of your Christmas decorating.
Make a Gingerbread House Garland
Arrange several flat houses along a length of ribbon or twine. Attach them with mini clothespins or secure the ribbon to the backs with tape.
Hang the garland on a wall, shelf, or mantel, away from heat and flames. Alternating houses with paper snowflakes makes the display feel extra festive.
Turn Them Into Christmas Ornaments
Make smaller houses from cardstock and keep the decorations lightweight.
Tape a ribbon loop securely to the back. Alternatively, punch a hole near the roof peak, leaving enough paper around the hole to help prevent tearing, and thread the ribbon through.
Write the child’s name and year on the back for a sweet keepsake.
Create Handmade Christmas Cards
Glue a finished house onto the front of a folded piece of cardstock.
Add a message such as “Home Sweet Christmas” or “Sending You a Little Holiday Cheer.” Let children write or dictate a greeting inside.
These homemade cards make thoughtful little surprises for grandparents, neighbors, and teachers.
Build a Flat Gingerbread Village
Glue several houses onto a large sheet of blue paper or poster board.
Add snowy hills, paper trees, winding paths, and a moon overhead. Children can keep building the scene over several craft sessions, turning individual houses into a shared Christmas art project.
Paper Gingerbread House Craft FAQs
What Paper Is Best for Paper Gingerbread Houses?
Cardstock works best for houses that will hang as ornaments or garland because it’s sturdier. Construction paper is a good choice for flat houses attached to cards or background paper.
Can You Make a Paper Gingerbread House Without a Template?
Yes! Draw a rectangle with a triangle on top, then cut around the outside edge as one connected shape. This simple outline gives children plenty of room to decorate without needing a printable gingerbread house template.
Is This Gingerbread House Craft Suitable for Preschoolers?
Yes, with age-appropriate supplies and adult supervision. Prepare the house shapes ahead of time, offer large decorations, and let children use crayons or glue sticks with help as needed.
Can These Paper Houses Stand Up?
This tutorial creates flat houses. For a simple standing display, fold a small strip of cardstock into an L shape. Attach the upright section to the lower back of the house, leaving the other section resting on the table as a support. Keep decorations light and adjust the support as needed.
Make a Little Christmas Magic With Paper
Easy paper gingerbread houses are a sweet reminder that Christmas activities don’t have to be complicated to be memorable. A few sheets of paper and a handful of crayons can turn an ordinary afternoon into a table full of colorful cottages.
Keep your houses simple, cover them in pretend candy, or build a whole village together. The creative choices are part of the fun.
Would your kids make a classic candy house, a pastel cottage, or something completely unexpected? Share their ideas in the comments!
And don’t forget to save this easy paper gingerbread house craft to your Christmas crafts board on Pinterest so you can find it when you’re ready for a cozy afternoon of holiday crafting.
