How to Make Faux Gingerbread Cookie Ornaments DIY

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How to Make Faux Gingerbread Cookie Ornaments DIY

Make a sweet addition to your Christmas tree this year!

These faux gingerbread ornaments look just like the real thing—but last forever!

Using a small birdhouse from Dollar Tree and little basswood gingerbread men cut on my xTool S1 laser cutter, I created adorable cookie-style ornaments that look fresh from the oven.

Let's get started!

This is one of those Christmas crafts that brings so much charm—and truly much fun—to your holiday decorating.

Supplies needed for Faux Gingerbread house and cookie men ornaments:

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Small wood birdhouses (Dollar Tree)
Basswood gingerbread men cut with laser cutter
Rose gold acrylic paint
Light pink FolkArt Super Thick paint (or any puffy paint / puff paint)
Pastry bag or frosting bag with a piping tip
Twine for hanging
White paint pen (optional)
X-Acto knife (optional)

Optional: cardboard or cardstock cookie shapes, metal cookie cutters or a plastic gingerbread man cookie cutter for alternative ornament making methods.

Supplies needed for Faux Gingerbread house and cookie men ornaments: affiliate links Small wood birdhouses (Dollar Tree) Basswood gingerbread men cut with laser cutter Rose gold acrylic paint Light pink FolkArt Super Thick paint (or any puffy paint / puff paint) Pastry bag or frosting bag with a piping tip Twine for hanging White paint pen (optional) X-Acto knife (optional)

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Prep Your Faux Cookies

Start by painting your Dollar Tree birdhouse and basswood gingerbread men with rose gold paint.

This warm metallic shade gives them that perfectly baked gingerbread look—almost like real gingerbread cookies without the kitchen mess.

Step-by-Step Tutorial Step 1: Prep Your Faux Cookies Start by painting your Dollar Tree birdhouse and basswood gingerbread men with rose gold paint. This warm metallic shade gives them that perfectly baked gingerbread look—almost like real gingerbread cookies without the kitchen mess.

If you don’t have a laser cutter, you can trace a shape using a gingerbread man cookie cutter and cut it out of thin wood or cardboard with an X-Acto knife.

Craft foam or thick chipboard works too, making this an easy option when craft stores are your main supply source.

Step 2: Create the Frosting Details

Once the base paint is dry, it's time to add the decorative details with faux frosting!

Fill a pastry bag (or piping bag) with light pink FolkArt Super Thick paint—this brand behaves like royal icing and holds its shape beautifully once dry.

Pipe on squiggles, outlines, smiles, and lines to transform each gingerbread man into a beautiful ornament.

For the little house, add scallops on the roof, windows, and door details.

This paint dries raised and glossy, just like icing on freshly baked gingerbread cookies.

Pipe on squiggles, outlines, smiles, and lines to transform each gingerbread man into a beautiful ornament. For the little house, add scallops on the roof, windows, and door details. This paint dries raised and glossy, just like icing on freshly baked gingerbread cookies.

Decorate the cookies and house as much or as little as desired.

If the piping bag is too much, you can use acrylic pens and just draw and doodle on them.

I used some polymer clay candy canes that I made to add accents to the little gingerbread house and the gingerbread man, giving him a tiny candy cane.

No worries if your piping isn't professional level, it just adds to the character and the homemade goodness of these sweet ornaments!

Step 3: Add Finishing Touches

Let dry completely—overnight is best until the paint is completely dried all the way through.

Tie on a piece of ribbon for hanging, and your DIY gingerbread house ornament and cookie characters are ready to join your other Christmas decorations!

Display & Gift Ideas

Hang these faux gingerbread ornaments on your Christmas tree, attach them to presents as extra-cute gift tags, or string several together as a holiday banner.

They make darling handmade gifts and add the sweetest charm to your happy holiday season.

Display & Gift Ideas Hang these faux gingerbread ornaments on your Christmas tree, attach them to presents as extra-cute gift tags, or string several together as a holiday banner. They make darling handmade gifts and add the sweetest charm to your happy holiday season.

These ornaments are a whimsical twist on traditional cookie crafts—no baking, no mess, and they last year after year--fill a cookie sheet of little gingerbread man ornament pieces!

Perfect for anyone who loves cozy, creative Christmas magic.

That's it!

Spend a little time with the kids and family decorating long lasting gingerbread pieces of art, whether you make faux cookies or little faux houses, this is something everyone will cherish from year to year.

Host a crafternoon or girls craft night and decorate faux cookies, or have them ready for favors at the office ugly sweater party--everyone will love these faux gingerbread ornaments!