These Tiny Cardboard Gingerbread Houses light up and are a fun and easy DIY project this holiday season!
As I was making these adorable little cardboard gingerbread houses, I was thinking that I don’t know if I’ve ever really talked about what I used to do for a job before this.
I worked for an architecture firm doing 3D computer rendering and animation. So if you were investing in the construction of a building, we would show you really cool realistic computer generated images and walk-through animations showing you what the building would look like inside and out.
I created complete 3D computer worlds with the buildings and materials and roads and trees and people and everything. It was definitely challenging and interesting and occasionally creative and I did like it.
But what I liked best was that I had to mostly teach myself how to do it so I was constantly learning things and solving puzzles.
And the funny thing is, even though architecture has become almost completely computerized in the real world, when you’re in school, you do most of your work by hand.
When I got my Masters, I spent 3 years doing hand drawings and building models with nothing but glue and and an exacto knife.
I’m sure there is some rationale behind this kind of hands on design but really, don’t get me started on the lack of real world technological preparation I got in school.
I sometimes like to joke that I don’t have a Masters of Architecture, I have a Masters of Cutting and Gluing. Little did I know that would actually turn out to be valuable later on!
Anyway, back to the point, I made these tiny, cute, little cardboard Gingerbread Houses our of recycled cardboard boxes.
I’ll show you how I did it and it only took me a couple hours, but if you do not have a Masters of Cutting and Gluing, you might expect them to take a little longer. It’s worth it, in my opinion, because they are just so darn adorable!
Even my husband saw them and said, “Awwww!” And they light up too! Here’s how I did it:
Tiny Cardboard Gingerbread Houses Supply List
Cardboard – use an old box!
Tracing Paper or wax paper
Tiny Cardboard Gingerbread Houses Instructions
1. Gather some cardboard and ruler and start drawing out your houses. I drew all the pieces before I cut anything.
For reference, my houses were 4 inches by 3 inches. The tall one is 3 inches by 3 inches. I drew everything but the roof pieces. I won’t give you more exact measurements because the fun is really in designing your own!
2. Using a metal ruler and a brand new blade in your knife cut out all the pieces. Here are my best tips for cutting through corrugated cardboard:
- go slow, it will take a few passes to cut all the way through.
- If your edges start to look ragged or it get harder to cut, change to a new blade. I changed my blade twice during this project.
- sometimes it helps to turn the piece of cardboard over to see where you haven’t cut through yet. This can be helpful at corners.
3. When all of the sides are cut out of your houses, use your white paint pen to decorate them like gingerbread houses.
4. Turn the cardboard pieces over and glue small pieces of tracing paper over the back of the windows and doors. This will make the houses glow and stop you from seeing the battery operated candle inside.
5. Start constructing your houses. Use glue to attach the sides to the front. Then add the back. These houses do not have a bottom.
6. Now all you need is a roof! I waited to measure and cut the roof pieces because sometimes, the final product can be not exactly the size you planned due to inconsistencies in cutting or something not having perfectly right angles.
o measure for the roof pieces once the body of the house is built. You can have the eaves hang over as much or as little as you want! After this, you’re done!
Enjoy your Tiny Cardboard Gingerbread Houses as is…
OR lift them up and put a battery operated tea light inside to make the glow! (Obviously don’t use a real candle, please!)
Make these adorable Tiny Gingerbread Houses out of recycled cardboard, they're so easy to make and you can use them year after year! Tips for cutting cardboard: As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.Tiny Cardboard Gingerbread Houses
Materials
Instructions
Notes
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Cyn says
LOVE these! Thank you!
hi says
Can you show me the back of the gingerbread houses please thanks!
smith david says
Thanks for writing this piece. I learned a few things that will hopefully help me going forward.
Neva P says
I can totally relate to your experience studying architecture! I initially majored in architecture as an undergrad. Then I learned about how long it takes to get licensed (and got tired of spending 40+ hours a week in studio) and switched to IT as a junior.
However, now that I am not forced to, I love busting out the old cutting mat and xacto and making some scale models! Can’t wait to make a couple of villages out of the moving boxes skulking in my living room.
Alex Murphy says
Very Impressive. This is an amazing article to read & I personally like DIY work so I enjoyed this article very much.Thank you very much for sharing this article with us
turner says
Amazing cute house I will show this article to my daughter hope she will make the same
150 Modele says
It’s not my first time to go to see this site, i am visiting this site
dailly and get pleasant information from here all the time.
safedoom says
Wow! My young girl tried to replicate this. You should see the result, keep sharing and inspiring
Jeremy says
My child and I did it together. Thanks for the guide.
Cassie May says
Oh how fun! Glad you liked it!
ryanreibman says
Awesome design and what a creativity. I like this idea. I can do some fun with my kids by making this tiny gingerbread house. Thanks for share with us such an interesting idea. Please keep sharing.
Aurélia says
So very cute! I’m gonna give this a try, seeing as I’ve already been crafting paper-related stuff for the past month or two 😛 maybe I’ll make little tree ornaments…
Just one thing, I think the photos are a little mismatched with the numbers and descriptions…?
Micha says
This is awesome! I grew up with an engineer dad who loved to build paper models of each design he loved so he could get a better feel for the layout. There were all along our mantle year round. This is soooo my type of project!!! Thank you for sharing this idea. I absolutely love it.
Mathew says
Just awesome. I love this little house. What a creative creation!
James says
Amazing idea! Your article helps me to make a tiny gingerbread house for my kids.
Thanks for your amazing tips.
Sam Maxi says
I looking for a tiny cardboard gingerbread house for my child than find your article. Your article helps me to choose a gingerboard house for my child. Thanks for share.
Richard Rhinehart says
What an extraordinary undertaking for pre-schoolers. I am sending the thought for the reused gingerbread men to my little girl in law. I extremely like the little house.
Malisha Mishel says
How sweet! I have fallen in love with it!!! I’m an avid DIYer and always try to be busy with some new projects. Was searching for a unique idea to start. The Cardboard Gingerbread House made me stop and crazy to make it asap! In a hurry to start. Wish me good luck, Cassie! 🙂
Ruth says
So adorable! I’m so excited to make cardboard house for my lovely girl. I know what I needed to get started. Thanks for idea and inspiration
Tamara Gerber says
Super, super adorably cute! I want 24 of those houses for our advent calendar!
As I don’t have a degree in Cutting and Gluing, fortunately I managed to order some very basic blank cardboard houses online which I will decorate. Yay!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Cheers from Switzerland!
Mimi Wan says
These little houses were such a great inspiration. I only had time to make two on Christmas Day before a large dinner party but they were so adorable and I love them!
Cassie May says
Oh, good! I’m so glad you liked them!
Cassie May says
Thank you for the feedback, I’ll definitelt talk with my ad provider!
freeflyingmom says
I appreciate that you have ads and why, but there are just way too many here. I love your style and posts but I’m on the iPad most of the time and the ads just take over the whole post.
Emily says
I just made one using your guidelines. It turned out super cute! Thanks so much for posting these!
Cassie May says
Awesome! Happy holidays!
Rubí says
Gracias querida amiga por publicar este trabajo tan bello, mi hijo tiene que presentar una ciudad de cartón para su trabajo de ciencias, y esto le cae de maravilla, gracias,
Jennifer Dawn says
These are darling! Pinning them right now!!!
Emily @ Two Purple Couches says
I’m still obsessed 🙂 And I just had to feature these at this week’s Creative Spark party! Hope you’ll like up again this week: http://twopurplecouches.com/2014/12/creative-spark-link-party-34/
Ashley @ PioneerMomma.com says
These are super cute! I’m going to have to fight the urge to make these for every area in my house lol. Thanks so much for sharing, it will be featured in tonight’s linkup! Have a wonderful night, and Merry Christmas! Pinned 🙂
Kim Gaynor says
Oh my gosh, they’re absolutely adorable! I will definitely try to make some. They’d be great as gifts!
Jennie @ Little Girl Designs says
These are absolutely precious!! Thanks for sharing your tutorial. 🙂
Christina @ I Gotta Create! says
These are flipping adorable!!!! Pinning!
<3 Christina
@ I Gotta Create!
Julie says
I am officially in love with these gorgeous little houses. They could not be more cute if they tried!
Cassie May says
awww, thanks Julie!
Emily @ Two Purple Couches says
I am obsessed with tiny villages right now and these are the coolest!! I would’ve NEVER guessed that you could make these adorable houses from cardboard! So clever!
Cassie May says
Thanks Emily!
Lysa @ Welcome To My Circus says
They are so adorable. Such a fun holiday craft to do with the older kiddos. I know my girls will love to make these with me. Thank you for linking-up to the Oh My Heartsie Girls Wordless Wednesday.
Wishing you an amazing Christmas week.
xx
Lysa ~ Co-Host OMHGWW
Jamie | anderson + grant says
Love these! They look so cute and realistic, without the trouble of making something that you’ll have to throw away. I’m including this in some features on my blog tomorrow at Your Turn to Shine. Thanks so much for sharing with us!
Bre @ Average But Inspired says
Cassie, these are SO ridiculously cute I cannot even stand it. I’m sending this link to my friend who is also a former architect (and who also lives in OP)! She constructs these amazing real gingerbread houses every Christmas, but this year, I think she should do cardboard!
Cassie May says
ha! Thanks Bre! I bet her real gingerbread houses are amazing! That requires patience and baking abilities far beyond mine, lol!
Susie@homemaker-mom says
Ok this is fantastic! I gotta try this! Thank you for inspiring me! Glad I found you today at Sew Can Do link up! Pinning!
the cape on the corner says
ridiculously adorable, especially with the lights from inside. that paint pen really works well for this.
b
Cassie May says
thank you!
Melissa @deloom says
These are too cute! I’ll have to try this with the kiddos and ditch the edible version. Do one each year when they’re young, then by the time their adults they’ll have a whole village! Thanks for the wonderful idea!
Ginnie says
This is such a cute idea! I made some little white houses last year, but I love the idea of using cardboard for a gingerbread house:)
Anna @Annabode says
Ahhhh these are too stinking adorable. I love them. You’re awesome.
Maria says
What an awesome idea, this is so creative!!! Love it!!! I just made my gingerbread house this week, but I might just make a couple little cardboard ones! They would make such cute Christmas ornaments too! Thanks for the inspiration!!! 🙂
Heather Grow says
These are sooooo cute. I guess that architecture background comes in handy sometimes. 🙂
Ntina says
ohh they look so cute!!! I want to make them too, my daughter would love them! amazing, well done!