Make Fake Gingerbread House DIY (Super Thick Paint)


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Make Fake Gingerbread House DIY (Super Thick Paint) Learn how to make a fake gingerbread house for Christmas decor using FolkArt Super Thick Paint! This holiday season, skip the sticky mess of real icing and crumbling cookies and make a faux gingerbread house that lasts for years!

Make Fake Gingerbread House DIY (Super Thick Paint)


Learn how to make a fake gingerbread house for Christmas decor using FolkArt Super Thick Paint!


This holiday season, skip the sticky mess of real icing and crumbling cookies and make a faux gingerbread house that lasts for years! 


Let's get started!


Make Fake Gingerbread House DIY (Super Thick Paint) Learn how to make a fake gingerbread house for Christmas decor using FolkArt Super Thick Paint! This holiday season, skip the sticky mess of real icing and crumbling cookies and make a faux gingerbread house that lasts for years!

This easy Christmas craft combines acrylic paint, polymer clay, and a few clever DIY techniques to create a cozy, candy-coated cottage that looks good enough to eat — but won’t attract ants.


This easy Christmas craft combines acrylic paint, polymer clay, and a few clever DIY techniques to create a cozy, candy-coated cottage that looks good enough to eat — but won’t attract ants.


GINGERBREAD HOUSE CRAFT TUTORIAL:


I made my fake gingerbread house using a laser-cut wood design from 3mm basswood, glued together with Bearly Art Precision Glue. 


The result is sturdy, sweet, and perfect for Christmas décor displays on mantels, shelves, or even little houses in a winter village scene.


It’s durable, whimsical, and full of holiday cheer — truly the best part of decorating for the season!


GINGERBREAD HOUSE CRAFT TUTORIAL: I made my fake gingerbread house using a laser-cut wood design from 3mm basswood, glued together with Bearly Art Precision Glue. The result is sturdy, sweet, and perfect for Christmas décor displays on mantels, shelves, or even little houses in a winter village scene. It’s durable, whimsical, and full of holiday cheer — truly the best part of decorating for the season!

Supplies Needed for Faux Gingerbread House DIY:


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Optional supplies:
  • Dollar Tree craft embellishments like mini candy canes, peppermint ornaments, or glitter for extra sparkle
  • Insulation boards or foam for creating a large-scale display village
  • Brown spray paint for base-coating larger projects

Learn how to make your own faux gingerbread house with laser cut house base and polymer clay candies!

Step 1: Build Your Gingerbread House Base


I started by laser-cutting the structure of my faux gingerbread house from 3mm basswood. 


Step 1: Build Your Gingerbread House Base I started by laser-cutting the structure of my faux gingerbread house from 3mm basswood.

If you don’t have access to a laser cutter, you can easily modify a plastic toy dollhouse, a wooden birdhouse or even make walls and a roof from insulation boards from Home Depot — they’re lightweight, easy to cut, and great for painting.


If you don’t have access to a laser cutter, you can easily modify a plastic toy dollhouse, a wooden birdhouse or even make walls and a roof from insulation boards from Home Depot — they’re lightweight, easy to cut, and great for painting.

The Gingerbread House Laser Cut File I found on Creative Fabrica for this house is laser tested and ready to cut, and has a place for a tealight in the center.


I made sure all the pieces were sized the same even though I had to cut them out on 2 separate boards.


The Gingerbread House Laser Cut File I found on Creative Fabrica for this house is laser tested and ready to cut, and has a place for a tealight in the center. I made sure all the pieces were sized the same even though I had to cut them out on 2 separate boards.

The wood does not take long to cut out.


Don't size the image down, or the grooves and tabs won't fit inside each other, this file is made for 3mm basswood.


If you use the right size wood and keep the image true to size, the house will cut out perfectly.


The wood does not take long to cut out. Don't size the image down, or the grooves and tabs won't fit inside each other, this file is made for 3mm basswood. If you use the right size wood and keep the image true to size, the house will cut out perfectly.

Step 2: Glue House Together


Once your pieces are ready, assemble the house with Bearly Art Precision Glue, making sure the walls and roof align evenly. 


Step 2: Glue House Together Once your pieces are ready, assemble the house with Bearly Art Precision Glue, making sure the walls and roof align evenly.

Begin by figuring out where all the house pieces go and lay them out like a cross on the table top.


Begin by figuring out where all the house pieces go and lay them out like a cross on the table top.

Add glue to the grooves and fit the pieces together.


I adhered the walls to the base piece and let them dry completely before adding the stress of the roof on top.


Add glue to the grooves and fit the pieces together. I adhered the walls to the base piece and let them dry completely before adding the stress of the roof on top.

After the walls and base are sturdy and the glue is dry, it's time to put the roof pieces on the top of the gingerbread house.


After the walls and base are sturdy and the glue is dry, it's time to put the roof pieces on the top of the gingerbread house.

Again, add the Bearly Art glue and stick the 2 roof tiles right on top of the house and let them dry completely.


Again, add the Bearly Art glue and stick the 2 roof tiles right on top of the house and let them dry completely.

CUT AND ASSEMBLE GINGERBREAD HOUSES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY


Building the gingerbread house was easy and fun to build. 


I love the size of this little house, perfect to cut out a few of them for the whole family to decorate together, just like the edible ones...but these ones will last year after year!


CUT AND ASSEMBLE GINGERBREAD HOUSES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Building the gingerbread house was easy and fun to build. I love the size of this little house, perfect to cut out a few of them for the whole family to decorate together, just like the edible ones...but these ones will last year after year!

Let the glue set completely before painting.


If you are planning on doing a gingerbread house decorating party with family or friends, have the gingerbread houses cut, glued and painted the base coat of brown so that everyone can get straight to decorating and not waiting for glue to dry.


Or assemble them as a kit and let your guests take one home to decorate on their own!


Let the glue set completely before painting. If you are planning on doing a gingerbread house decorating party with family or friends, have the gingerbread houses cut, glued and painted the base coat of brown so that everyone can get straight to decorating and not waiting for glue to dry. Or assemble them as a kit and let your guests take one home to decorate on their own!

Step 3: Paint Gingerbread House Base


When dry, cover the entire surface with a coat of “gingerbread brown” acrylic paint. 


You can mix brown, a touch of orange, and a hint of white for that perfect cookie color — or simply use brown spray paint if you’re covering a large house. 


Allow it to dry completely before moving on.


Step 3: Paint Gingerbread House Base When dry, cover the entire surface with a coat of “gingerbread brown” acrylic paint. You can mix brown, a touch of orange, and a hint of white for that perfect cookie color — or simply use brown spray paint if you’re covering a large house. Allow it to dry completely before moving on.

Step 4: Create Faux Candy Pieces


This step is where the much fun begins! 


I used Arteza Polymer Clay to make my fake candies. 


Step 4: Create Faux Candy Pieces This step is where the much fun begins! I used Arteza Polymer Clay to make my fake candies.

CLAY NECCO WAFER CANDIES:


Choose new colors in soft pastel shades — mint green, pale yellow, baby pink, lilac, and sky blue — to give your candies that vintage candy cottage vibe.


I'm making my own little wafer candies...but you could buy the actual candy and just hot glue it to the roof as well.

Necco Wafers Candy BULK


CLAY NECCO WAFER CANDIES: Choose new colors in soft pastel shades — mint green, pale yellow, baby pink, lilac, and sky blue — to give your candies that vintage candy cottage vibe. I'm making my own little wafer candies...but you could buy the actual candy and just hot glue it to the roof as well.

Flatten the clay using a pasta press or rolling pin until it’s about ⅛ inch thick.


Flatten the clay using a pasta press or rolling pin until it’s about ⅛ inch thick.

Use a small cookie cutter to make perfectly round disks, just like little Necco wafers. 


You’ll need around 100 of these colorful “candies” for the roof alone!


Use a small cookie cutter to make perfectly round disks, just like little Necco wafers. You’ll need around 100 of these colorful “candies” for the roof alone!

OPTIONAL CANDY WAFER DUSTING WITH SOFT PASTELS


Use a hobby knife to scrap some of the white soft pastel into dust.


OPTIONAL CANDY WAFER DUSTING WITH SOFT PASTELS Use a hobby knife to scrap some of the white soft pastel into dust.

Then use a paintbrush to dust the soft pastel dust onto the clay necco wafers, giving them their customary dusty sugared look.


Then use a paintbrush to dust the soft pastel dust onto the clay necco wafers, giving them their customary dusty sugared look.

Repeat this process for all the colored wafers and bake them for 15 minutes at 275*F.


Repeat this process for all the colored wafers and bake them for 15 minutes at 275*F.

CLAY CANDY CANES:


Use the red and white oven bake clay to make little decorations that look like candy canes for your faux gingerbread house.


CLAY CANDY CANES: Use the red and white oven bake clay to make little decorations that look like candy canes for your faux gingerbread house.

Roll out white and red clay into thin ropes, twist them together, and shape them into candy canes.


Roll out white and red clay into thin ropes, twist them together, and shape them into candy canes.

You can also create tiny holly leaves and berries, or a circle wreath for around a window.


You can also create tiny holly leaves and berries, or a circle wreath for around a window.

Bake all your polymer clay candies on a parchment-lined tray at 275°F for 15 minutes. 


Remove and let them cool completely before handling.


Bake all your polymer clay candies on a parchment-lined tray at 275°F for 15 minutes. Remove and let them cool completely before handling.

Step 5: Assemble and Decorate the Roof


Now that you’ve got your house painted and your faux candies baked, it’s time to put it all together!


Step 5: Assemble and Decorate the Roof Now that you’ve got your house painted and your faux candies baked, it’s time to put it all together!

Using your hot glue gun, attach the round pastel “Necco candies” in a scalloped pattern across the roof.


Start at the bottom and overlap them slightly, just like shingles, working your way up to the ridge. 


Using your hot glue gun, attach the round pastel “Necco candies” in a scalloped pattern across the roof. Start at the bottom and overlap them slightly, just like shingles, working your way up to the ridge.

This part takes patience, but it’s also the most satisfying as your faux gingerbread house comes to life with color and charm.


This part takes patience, but it’s also the most satisfying as your faux gingerbread house comes to life with color and charm.

I love the look of the necco candy roof, but you can simply draw scallops with the Super Thick Paint in the frosting bag as an alternative.


I love the look of the necco candy roof, but you can simply draw scallops with the Super Thick Paint in the frosting bag as an alternative.

Step 6: Add Frosting Details


No fake gingerbread house is complete without frosting! 


Step 6: Add Frosting Details No fake gingerbread house is complete without frosting!

Instead of using real icing, I used white puff paint — or white puffy paint — for all the sweet decorative details.


I especially love the new FolkArt Super Thick Paint line because it squeezes out just like frosting, making it perfect for piping designs.


Instead of using real icing, I used white puff paint — or white puffy paint — for all the sweet decorative details. I especially love the new FolkArt Super Thick Paint line because it squeezes out just like frosting, making it perfect for piping designs.

Fill a piping bag with the paint and run decorative “icing” lines along the roof ridges, windows, and doorways. 


Add tiny dollops across the roof ridge, and swirls or icicles along the eaves.


Fill a piping bag with the paint and run decorative “icing” lines along the roof ridges, windows, and doorways. Add tiny dollops across the roof ridge, and swirls or icicles along the eaves.

The best part? 


You can take your time — no melting icing, no sugar mess, and no cleanup--well other than the piping tip if you opt for a special pattern.


The best part? You can take your time — no melting icing, no sugar mess, and no cleanup--well other than the piping tip if you opt for a special pattern.

I used a star tip for most of my piping so I could do a swirl dollop. 


I love how they look.


Then I switched to just a piping dot, to add icicles and other fine details.


I used a star tip for most of my piping so I could do a swirl dollop. I love how they look. Then I switched to just a piping dot, to add icicles and other fine details.

Just add some frosting around the window of the gingerbread house and then gently press the little candy cane wreath into the "frosting". 


It will hold it tight, just like real frosting and candy bits!


Just add some frosting around the window of the gingerbread house and then gently press the little candy cane wreath into the "frosting". It will hold it tight, just like real frosting and candy bits!

Then, use the Super Thick Paint to "glue" on your candy canes, wreath, and other details where they look best. 


Each small addition adds more personality and whimsy.


Then, use the Super Thick Paint to "glue" on your candy canes, wreath, and other details where they look best. Each small addition adds more personality and whimsy.

I love the polymer clay accents, but you could decorate your house with just the Super Thick Paint frosting and do intricate patterns in a folk art style.


I love the polymer clay accents, but you could decorate your house with just the Super Thick Paint frosting and do intricate patterns in a folk art style.

Finish off the "not so finished" looking edges with icing.


Icicles along the roof line and decorations around the doors and floors.


Finish off the "not so finished" looking edges with icing. Icicles along the roof line and decorations around the doors and floors.

Step 7: Let It Dry & Display


Once you’re happy with your frosting designs, set the house aside to dry completely — at least 24 to 48 hours. 


The white Super Thick Paint will hold its shape beautifully and give your house that real life bakery look.


Display your finished faux gingerbread house on a mantel, table centerpiece, or shelf surrounded by greenery and twinkling lights. 


Add Dollar Tree bottle brush trees, little houses, maybe a few ceramic deer and a battery operated tea light in the center to complete your Christmas village.


Step 7: Let It Dry & Display Once you’re happy with your frosting designs, set the house aside to dry completely — at least 24 to 48 hours. The white Super Thick Paint will hold its shape beautifully and give your house that real life bakery look. Display your finished faux gingerbread house on a mantel, table centerpiece, or shelf surrounded by greenery and twinkling lights. Add Dollar Tree bottle brush trees, little houses, maybe a few ceramic deer and a battery operated tea light in the center to complete your Christmas village.

This project is so much fun that you’ll want to make a few in different new colors — think pink, teal, and classic gingerbread brown for a Pottery Barn-inspired Christmas décor display.


This project is so much fun that you’ll want to make a few in different new colors — think pink, teal, and classic gingerbread brown for a Pottery Barn-inspired Christmas décor display.

Optional: Expand Your Gingerbread Village


If you love making one, you’ll love making a whole gingerbread neighborhood! 


Use leftover insulation boards to create larger structures, or thrift store plastic toy dollhouses for quick makeovers. 


Coat them with brown spray paint, decorate with white puff paint, and embellish with polymer clay candies for a whole sweet street scene.


Optional: Expand Your Gingerbread Village If you love making one, you’ll love making a whole gingerbread neighborhood! Use leftover insulation boards to create larger structures, or thrift store plastic toy dollhouses for quick makeovers. Coat them with brown spray paint, decorate with white puff paint, and embellish with polymer clay candies for a whole sweet street scene.

You can even turn this craft into a family activity — kids can help make the candy canes and roof tiles, while adults handle the hot glue gun and painting. 


It’s an easy Christmas craft that everyone can enjoy together.


You can even turn this craft into a family activity — kids can help make the candy canes and roof tiles, while adults handle the hot glue gun and painting. It’s an easy Christmas craft that everyone can enjoy together.

That's it!


This faux gingerbread house looks festive, delicious, and cozy — but the best part is that it never goes stale! 


With a few Dollar Tree supplies, some acrylic paint, and a little imagination, you can make a fake gingerbread house that looks like it came straight out of a Pottery Barn holiday catalog.


It’s an easy Christmas craft that’s budget-friendly, endlessly customizable, and guaranteed to bring smiles all season long. 


So grab your hot glue gun, some candy canes, and a piping bag of white puff paint, and get ready to craft your way to happy holidays — one sweet little gingerbread dream house at a time.


Like, Pin and Save!


This faux gingerbread house looks festive, delicious, and cozy — but the best part is that it never goes stale! With a few Dollar Tree supplies, some acrylic paint, and a little imagination, you can make a fake gingerbread house that looks like it came straight out of a Pottery Barn holiday catalog. It’s an easy Christmas craft that’s budget-friendly, endlessly customizable, and guaranteed to bring smiles all season long. So grab your hot glue gun, some candy canes, and a piping bag of white puff paint, and get ready to craft your way to happy holidays — one sweet little gingerbread dream house at a time.


CHECK OUT THESE FUN TUTORIALS TOO!


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These cardinals are a symbol of loved ones, a good omen and bring lots of joy to all that see them and they make the perfect Christmas craft.


Air dry clay dries to a ceramic-like finish and is a great family craft, great for handmade gifts and for DIY holiday decor this Christmas season.


How to Make Clay Cardinal Christmas Ornaments DIY Learn how to make clay cardinal Christmas tree ornaments with air dry clay and some easy tools. These cardinals are a symbol of loved ones, a good omen and bring lots of joy to all that see them and they make the perfect Christmas craft. Air dry clay dries to a ceramic-like finish and is a great family craft, great for handmade gifts and for DIY holiday decor this Christmas season.



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