My latest creation is a truly charming craft stick gingerbread house ornament for your tree. This cute little gingerbread house is so easy to put together, and this one doesn't go bad after a few days!

You can keep this and hang on your tree year after year, and customize it easily to fit your holiday theme.

Add some of these fun holiday garland ideas to your decorations to feature your homemade craft stick gingerbread house this year!

Craft Stick Gingerbread House Ornament

I've always made a real gingerbread house to decorate with the kids, but it is frustrating to see all of that work go away in just a few days when I have to throw it away.

That's why this simple craft stick ornament is now going to be a favorite addition to our tree. I know I can customize it, then save it for the next year to display. No more wasted time spent decorating only to toss it in the garbage!

This list of holiday decorations that add charm to your home is another place I have found some amazing additions to add to my routine. So many fun ideas!

These fit in great alongside things like making this snowman craft stick photo ornament, or even these lollipop craft stick ornaments.

What Should I Decorate My Gingerbread House With?

I had so much fun with this! Of course, I have a ton of different things in my craft supplies already to decorate with, but I also picked up a few extra pieces.

The thing about a gingerbread house, real or craft stick, is you can make it look however you want. Traditionally, you would use different candies, but for this, I used stickers, cut-outs, paint, and ribbon. Below are some more things you could use.

Glitter glue to outline the edges of the house.
Scrap fabric pieces for doors or windows.
Stickers in all shapes and sizes.
Stencils to paint different designs onto the ornament.
Fake candy pieces.
Small beads or fake seashells.

This popsicle stick snowman craft is another fun one I customized. You can use different colors of paint or ribbons to embellish your gingerbread house as much as you can any ornament.

Have fun and make it your own! While you make this, serve up some of this yummy gingerbread cookie pizza to the kids. So delicious.

Can I Turn This Into a Magnet Instead?

Yes! I love making magnets out of crafts, and this is a great craft stick ornament that could become a magnet. You could make this smaller and use a basic kitchen magnet, or leave as is and add 2-3 heavier magnets to the back to keep it staying strong on your refrigerator. If magnets are something you like, then you'll love this list of DIY magnets for your refrigerator.

These penguin cork ornaments and the simple yarn ball ornaments are some other easy and favorite ornaments to go on the tree. Simple to make and so cute!

Supplies Needed

Craft sticks
Brown paint
White paint
Ribbon
Cotton balls
Decorative stickers and cut-outs
Scissors
Hot glue gun and glue
Paintbrush

How to Make a Craft Stick Gingerbread House Ornament

To begin this craft, you will glue together 5 craft sticks. I laid them next to each other on a table and then used 2 additional craft sticks to glue across them at an angle forming a triangle.

Once the glue is dry, you will use a craft knife or scissors to cut off any excess craft stick on the outside of the triangle. This will form your roof of the gingerbread house.

Now, you will paint that outside 2 craft sticks white, and the inside craft sticks brown. Set this aside to dry.

Move on to the base of your house by placing 7 craft sticks together on the table, and then attaching 2 more craft sticks to them going in the opposite direction to secure.

Paint the base of the house brown and set aside to dry.

How to Assemble Your Gingerbread House Ornament

Next, you will attach the roof of the gingerbread house ornament to the base using hot glue.

Paint on a small door or use felt to create one on the base of the house.

Add cotton balls on the bottom of the base with glue to look like snow.

Add beads around the outside of the door.

Seal the roofline with glue, then attach a strip of ribbon or glittery yarn as decoration.

Add larger stickers like the penguin or candy cane near the door.

Continue decorating with snowflakes, dots, beads, or other Christmas decorations until you are happy with the result.

Add a loop of ribbon to the back to hang from the tree.

Printable Step by Step Photo Tutorial:

Yield: 1

Charming Craft Stick Gingerbread House Ornament

This adorable craft stick gingerbread house ornament is a perfect addition to your tree this year!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Active Time 15 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Estimated Cost $2

Materials

Craft sticks
Brown paint
White paint
Cotton balls
Ribbon
Stickers and cutouts in holiday themes

Tools

Hot glue gun and glue
Scissors
Paintbrushes

Instructions

Begin with 5 craft sticks. Lay them flat together on a table, and then attach 2 additional craft sticks across the top of them at an angle creating a triangle;
Once the glue dries, trim the excess craft sticks off the outside and make it a triangle roof;
Paint the outside triangle craft sticks white and the interior sticks brown and set aside to dry;
Next, you will glue together 7 more craft sticks using 2 additional sticks across them at an opposite angle to secure;
Trim off any excess sticks poking out the sides and then begin painting all of this brown and then set it aside to dry;
Once all is dry, glue the roof to the base of the gingerbread house;
Paint a door on the base, then outline it with beads or ribbon;
Add cotton along the bottom, ribbon at the roofline, and your favorite embellishments to make it look like a gingerbread house;
Add a ribbon on the back of the gingerbread house to hang from the tree;
Display on your tree or with other holiday decorations.

Notes

Have a gingerbread house contest but this time with craft stick ornaments instead of the edible bread! What a fun way to create an ornament that is unique to you!