What’s a holiday without some heartwarming DIY crafts to get you into the festive spirit, right? Today, we’re talking about a craft that’s as sweet as it is fun to make: the Paper Plate Gingerbread House Craft. It’s the perfect blend of simplicity and creativity, making it a fantastic project for both school and home.
With Christmas crafts, it’s not just about making something pretty; it’s about the laughter, the bonding, and the memories that come with it. Plus, this craft is an easy way to get the little ones engaged, with each step adding to their excitement.
The best part? You don’t need to be a pro to whip up this adorable gingerbread house.
With some common materials like paper plates, popsicle sticks, and a splash of paint, you can bring this sweet abode to life, along with our free printable gingerbread house craft template that you can download at the end of this post.
It’s an art project that teaches kids about different shapes and colors, and how to put them together in different ways to create something beautiful.
And let’s not forget the skills they’ll hone – from scissor cutting to precision gluing which all helps build up valuable fine motor skills
What you’ll need is as cozy as a cup of hot chocolate on a snowy day: some construction paper in festive hues, pompom balls softer than cookie dough, and a few other bits and bobs that you probably already have lying around.
It’s a great idea to make good use of what you already have, making this not just a craft, but a clever way to recycle and reuse.
And when the craft is done, it’s not just another decoration; it’s a moving gingerbread man that’ll bring giggles and grins.
Whether it’s for a holiday party at school or a playful afternoon at home, younger kids and older kids alike will find joy in making their gingerbread men dance around their paper plate houses.
To make this craft even easier you can go ahead and use the free printables as a template, making your crafting journey as easy as following the black lines.
And for those who love a bit more of a challenge, you can encourage the kids to draw their own gingerbread men and christmas trees, giving a personal touch to each craft.
How to Make Your Own Paper Plate Gingerbread House Craft
Follow along with the step by step instructions below to make your own adorable gingerbread house craft with the kids.
Paper Plate Gingerbread House with Moving Popsicle Stick Gingerbread Man
Get ready to deck your halls with the cutest Paper Gingerbread House Craft around! This perfect Christmas craft transforms simple paper plates into charming gingerbread houses with a popsicle stick gingerbread man who really moves.
Download your free gingerbread house template, and let's make this festive season a crafty blast!
Materials
- 2 x Paper plates
- Popsicle stick
- Cardboard
- Bond paper
- Pom poms
- Construction paper in light and dark green and blue
- Marker
- Scissors
- Glue
- Brown paint
- Paintbrush
Tools
- Printer for the template
Instructions
- Paint one paper plate with brown and let it dry.
- On another paper plate, cut it into half and cut into a curve shape.
Paint it with white and let it dry. 
- Print and cut then trace the templates.
Then assemble them one by one. 
- Draw details of the gingerbread using the white marker and black marker.
Then cut two small circles from red and yellow construction paper and attach it to the gingerbread. 
- Attach a popsicle stick to the gingerbread man - He'll need this later to move.
- Using the colored construction paper, cut out a window shape from the blue construction paper and two pine trees from the light green and dark green construction paper
- Attach the window to the paper plate then draw a cross using a marker.
- Attach the pine tree on the left corner of the window then put pompom balls.
- Attach the roof at the top of the paper plate, using the template to get the borders of the roof covered in snow and put a pom pom ball at the top of it like the cherry on the top.
- Attach a pine tree onto the front of the half paper plate
then attach it to the wholepaper plate. Make sure to leave a space for the gingerbread. 
- To do this, when gluing the front paper plate, leave a small part unglued, enough to fit the popsicle stick through comfortably in the gap.
- Lastly, insert the gingerbread and make it move.
Notes
Download free printable PDF template below
Variations
Why stop at a classic gingerbread house? Let your creativity run wild by adding a sprinkle of glitter to the roof for a snow-kissed look, or swap out plain craft sticks for colored ones to create a rainbow-hued gingerbread man.
Don’t shy away from adorning your paper abode with an array of decorations—think sparkly pompoms, shiny sequins, or even homemade paper candy canes.
And who says a gingerbread house can only be visited by gingerbread people? Craft different characters on popsicle sticks and let them join the holiday fun.
Every tweak and twist adds a unique touch to this festive craft, making your gingerbread house a one-of-a-kind winter wonderland!
Downaload Free Printable Gingerbread House Template PDF
Click below to download the free printable template ready to make your own gingerbread house this holiday season.
Terms of use: free for personal use, free for classroom use. Not for commercial use.
More Christmas Crafts for Kids
Don’t just stop there. We’ve got a whole sleigh-load of fun posts and ideas for gingerbread man activities, art projects, and more cute Christmas crafts and christmas activities that’ll make this the most unforgettable time of year. So, check out more related crafts to keep the festive spirit going!
Happy crafting, and here’s to making this big day, and every day leading up to it, as special as can be!
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Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.