Gingerbread House Photo Frame

Turn an ordinary piece of cardboard into an adorable gingerbread house — without any of the sticky icing mess.

You’ll Need:

  • Cardboard
  • Scissors or craft knife (grown-up use only)
  • Brown paint or marker (optional, depending on cardboard color)
  • White paint or paint pen (for “icing”)
  • Red and green markers or paint
  • Pencil for sketching
  • Glue
  • Ribbon or string (optional for hanging)

Let’s Make it:

  1. Sketch the outline of a gingerbread house with two window openings on your cardboard. Carefully cut out the house shape and the inside windows.
  2. Add icing details using white paint or a white paint pen—outline the roof, windows, chimney and bricks.
  3. Draw or paint candy canes, holly leaves, snowflakes and other festive decorations to bring your gingerbread house to life.
    Let everything dry, then hang it up or use it as a festive photo frame!

Why We Love It:

  • A wonderful bonding activity on chilly winter afternoons.
  • Encourages little ones to slow down and focus on tiny details, like icing lines and candy decorations.
  • Inspires creativity with open-ended decorating—there’s no right or wrong way to design it.
  • Encourages kids to notice holiday details around them—candy canes, holly, snow, and Christmas colors.

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