Turn Craft Store Birdhouses Into Your Own Gingerbread Village

Who says birdhouses are just for birds? Let's upcycle them into a magical gingerbread village fit for the North Pole! Even better, for this birdhouse hack, no baking is required, and you can keep them to use year after year. While there are lots of ways to make a birdhouse charming, what better way than to use craft items that you have around the house to create your own Christmas decor? With a little creativity and a sprinkle of holiday spirit, your upcycled birdhouses will become delightful treasures that you can enjoy for many holiday seasons to come!

This DIY craft is easy to get started. Check your local craft store for an inexpensive decorative birdhouse, such as this 6 in DIY LED Wood Village A-Frame on sale at Michaels ($4.99 each) or this pack of Twelve Traditional Birdhouses from Make Market ($12.99). Just remember, the simper the birdhouse, the more work it will take to make it look like a gingerbread house and maximize the charm. Once you choose your birdhouse, you'll be ready to transform it into your own work of art to bring the Christmas spirit to your home. This crafty fix can also keep you from having to buy new Christmas decor each year, making your holiday season more budget-friendly and sustainable!

For a DIY-inspired Christmas, you can make creative Christmas decorations with household items. First, to make gingerbread houses, gather your supplies. You'll need paintbrushes, craft paint such as Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint, and glue. You'll also want another material to mimic the frosting, such as Tulip Puff Paint Slick White or BoFUN Whipped Cream Glue Clay. Start by painting the walls of your birdhouse your desired shade of gingerbread brown, and don't be afraid to mix your paints to get the perfect color! Then use your puff paint or cream glue to mimic the frosting. Don't worry about getting it perfect; any imperfections will just make it look more realistic! If you do want to fix it, though, simply scrape off your puffy paint and repaint your brown with your acrylic craft paint. You can keep your gingerbread house minimalist with a chic two-tone look, like Instagrammer Lone Fox Home, or get colorfully creative. 

If bright and decked out is more your style, check your local craft store or Christmas section for miniature ornaments and/or fake Christmas candy that you can glue on to add a touch of sweetness to your gingerbread house. You can even finish by shaking a coat of glitter all over your project! With just a few simple materials and a dash of holiday imagination, you'll have charming, one-of-a-kind gingerbread decorations that are sure to sweeten up your Christmas season!