If you’re like me and prefer that your gingerbread house NOT be made of food, you’ll love this gingerbread house craft made from paper (or cardboard!). You’ll get a free printable template to make it too! If you want another Christmas paper craft, check out my paper poinsettia template that I shared a few days ago. Disclosure: this post contains commissioned links.

Click for the template to make this easy gingerbread house craft for kids! These easy paper houses come with a free printable paper craft template and are a fun Christmas papercraft for winter. #christmas #papercraft #paperhouses

Gingerbread houses may be lots of fun to make, but there’s a slight issue involved. If you don’t plan to eat it, it seems a bit wasteful. And if you do plan to eat it, especially when kids are involved, there’s LOTS of handling… more than what (personally) whets my appetite.

In addition, it doesn’t really make for a great long-lasting display!

While the real deal is still good for a “make and eat” activity for kids, if you want something you can display for the whole holiday season, a paper gingerbread house craft is the way to go!! It’s one of my favorite paper Christmas crafts for kids that can be made differently every year.

Download the free printable template so that you get the proportions right from the start and then get crafting! You can use this template for other house crafts too.

It’s really straightforward, open-ended and fun for little kids. This version uses small foam balls cut in half that look just like candy (make sure little kids know it’s not candy – and supervise!) You can also glue on buttons, twisted clay candy canes, or whatever you want, really!

You can use the gingerbread house craft template to make paper houses of any sort (or try this template for paper houses.)

Download your free gingerbread house craft template below:

Tip: scroll to the end of this post for a printer-ready version of the craft instructions!

What you need to make a gingerbread house paper craft:

Brown cardstock
Small Styrofoam balls – both colored and white (or paint white ones in advance)
White paint or a white paint marker
Paint brush
Pencil or pen – for tracing the template
Scissors
Craft glue

How to make a cardboard gingerbread house craft:

1. Cut out the house and roof for your gingerbread house craft from brown cardstock, using the template to guide you. If your printer can handle the thicker paper, you can print the template directly on the card stock to make assembling it easier.

2. Have fun decorating your house! Paint on white trim, doors and windows, and anything else you want, on the house portion. Allow it to dry completely.

3. Using the template as your guide, fold the house on the thin fold lines.

4. Apply glue along the tab of the house and attach it to the other end, forming a square.

5. Paint borders and shingles on the roof. Decorate it as you wish and allow it dry.

6. Fold the roof in half along the center line of the template.

7. Apply glue and attach your roof to the top of the house.

8. Cut an assortment of white and colored Styrofoam balls in half.

9. Decorate your gingerbread house craft with the half balls that look just like candy!

Decorate the borders of the roof and the sides of the house too.

Get creative and add more until you’re happy with how it looks.

10. Allow the glue to dry completely. Your gingerbread house craft is ready to display!

Looking for a fun gingerbread house paper craft templaet? This Christmas gingerbread house craft for kids is so much fun and so easy!

Have you ever tried making a gingerbread house craft from paper? Comment below!

Print your craft instructions below:

Gingerbread House Craft from Paper

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Difficulty: Intermediate

Estimated Cost: $1

Instead of messy candy, try making a gingerbread house craft from cardstock paper! You can download the free printable template first, and use this to make any paper house craft that you want.

Materials

Brown cardstock
Small Styrofoam balls – both colored and white (or paint white ones in advance)
White paint or a white paint marker
Paint brush
Pencil or pen – for tracing the template
Scissors
Craft glue or glue stick

Instructions

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