DIY Gingerbread House & Birdhouse In One

I love this little DIY gingerbread house project for Christmas in July because it works now as a birdhouse AND it works later as a darling little flickering nightlight for Christmas.  I plan to do a whole little bird city with all the houses Consumer Crafts has available (See them all HERE).  Wouldn’t it be fun to have a birdhouse painting party with a bunch of friends or neighborhood children?

It is a wonderful way to get out of the sun for a few minutes in summer AND help the birds out in your neighborhood.  Did you know that there are some birds who nest in summer and others who nest several times during the season?  There are birds getting kicked out of their nesting spots all the time, so a little house for them is always welcome, and at worst, you will gain a resident chipmunk!

Supplies needed to make your own DIY gingerbread house:

• Unfinished Wooden Gingerbread House
• Americana Chalky Finish Paint in Spruce & Vintage Gray-Green
• Red Christmas Tree Washi Tape
• White Embossing Powder (or white glitter)
• Mod Podge
• Heat Tool (optional)
• Christmas Button Assortment
• Outdoor Mod Podge Sealer (optional)
• Flickering LED Tea Light (see caution notes in post)
• Miniature Evergreen Trees or Other Miniatures

Step 1: Gather your DIY gingerbread house and birdhouse supplies!

Step 2: Paint the grooves on the roof a separate color from your final roof color to give dimension. (See below.)

Step 3: Paint detail work.  You can be a bit more sloppy since your main color will go on after the detail work.  The main color slides under the icicles in this particular project, so doing them first makes sense!

Step 4: Paint and glitter the icicles on your DIY gingerbread house.  I tried embossing powder for this project and the effect is a little more realistic than plain glitter.  I used decoupage in an uneven coat (to mimic natural snowdrifts), sprinkled on embossing powder, then used a heat tool to “bubble” it.

Step 5: Once the details are complete, paint on your main color and seal if the DIY gingerbread house will stay outdoors or if you want a glossy look.  I left it as is.

Step 6: Add decorations like buttons, a washi tape border and fun little evergreen trees!

Step 7: To make the house a little flickering nightlight, toss an led candle inside!  WARNING: The light is adorable, but tough to get in and out!  It does make the houses more charming and mysterious….especially for the kiddos 🙂

 Happy Christmas in July!

Amy Renea

Hey y’all! I’m Amy Renea, a freelance photographer and writer based out of Hershey, PA. I spend my days chasing children and chickens around the back yard, sipping on dandelion tea and munching on sweet potato chips. Come visit the Nest for All Seasons to learn more about my food, photography, DIY designs and modern garden living! www.anestforallseasons.com