DIY Cardboard Gingerbread Ornaments

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Add a little homemade cheer to your tree with these DIY Cardboard Gingerbread Ornaments!

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There is just something extra special about homemade Christmas ornaments. Whether they are well-crafted or a little wonky, they’re the perfect way to personalize your holiday decor.

I have a bunch of homemade Christmas ornaments in my collection.

Some I made myself, and others were made my mom who was always super crafty. I definitely get all my craftiness and creativity from her!

Each holiday season, I like to add to my collection with least one or two homemade ornaments. This year, I made these adorable DIY Cardboard Gingerbread Ornaments.

DIY Cardboard Gingerbread Ornaments

The idea for these faux Gingerbread Ornaments has been bubbling around since last Christmas.

When I lived in NYC, I made a point to tour the over-the-top holiday window displays and lights along Fifth Avenue every year. One of my favorite displays last year was at De Beers, the upscale jewelry store.

Their windows were decorated London landmarks created from cardboard cutouts decorated with navy paper and puffy paint. Check out a pic of the windows in my NYC Holiday Tour post.

I really loved those windows and had visions to recreate something similar. Unfortunately, I forgot about them until I came across a gorgeous DIY Wreath from Little Red Window. So pretty!

If you’re a crafter like me, you probably tend to save things.

I had a piece of thin cardboard in my stash (I knew would be perfect for something … eventually!), and inspired by those windows and that pretty wreath, I decided to make these DIY Gingerbread Ornaments!

These cute homemade Christmas ornaments are so fun, easy, and cheap to make!

I created simple shapes – houses, candy canes, gingerbread men, etc. (download the free templates at the end of the post) – then traced the shapes on cardboard, cut them out, and decorated them with a chalkboard marker.

A little red and white twine added the perfect finishing touch to these adorable DIY Cardboard Gingerbread Ornaments.

These DIY Christmas ornaments are a project that anyone can do, so gather your girlfriends or kids! Have fun adding your own designs or use mine for inspiration.

How to Make Faux Gingerbread Ornaments

Want to make these do it yourself Christmas ornaments? Here’s what you’ll need:

free ornament template (scroll to end of post)
card stock
scissors
thin cardboard (chipboard would also work)
pen
utility knife (optional)
chalkboard marker
awl (or 1/8-inch hole punch)
twine
large hole needle (optional)

Print the ornament template on card stock, then cut out the ornaments.

Arrange the ornament templates on the cardboard, then use a pen to trace around them.

Cut out the gingerbread ornaments using a scissors or utility knife.

I used a scissors, because my cardboard was really thin, but a utility knife would work better on thicker cardboard.

Flip over the ornaments so any pen marks are on the back, then use a chalk marker to draw a line just inside of the ornament’s edge.

Use the chalk marker to add details and patterns inside the ornaments.

Tip: I used a regular chalk marker, but if you want to add lots of detail try using a fine point chalk marker instead. A paint pen would also work for this project.

Use an awl to make a hole in the top of each ornament. (If your cardboard is thin and your hands are strong, you could also use an 1/8-inch hole punch.)

Cut a longish piece of twine (8 to 10 inches), then fold it in half. Pass both of the cut ends through the eye of large hole needle. Using the needle, pull the cut ends of the twine through the hole (front to back) until the looped end of the folded twine is just before the hole. Pass the cut ends through the loop and pull tight.

Knot the loose ends of the twine together, then trim the ends.

Tip: You don’t need a needle to do this, but it makes it much easier to get the twine through the hole in one piece.