It’s shameful the number of cardboard boxes that arrive at our house in the build-up to Christmas! I try to ease my guilt over this mountain of cardboard by repurposing some of it into Christmas decorations like this gingerbread garland.
Last year I made some rather fun DIY Christmas decorations of penguins and snowmen from the cardboard packaging. I’ve even made 3D postage stamp ornaments with the packaging and giant cardboard ornaments.
This year I decided to up the ante this year with the repurposed Christmas gingerbread garland by adding lights.
One of my favourite parts of Christmas decorations is all the lights! They make the home seem so warm and cozy on those dark cold winter nights.
I love to use the copper string lights as they give a warm glow and are so versatile. I’ve used them in the past to make a giant led deer Christmas decoration and create some Christmas bottle lights.
Repurpose Your Christmas Packaging Into A Gingerbread Garland
This is a really simple green Christmas craft. The only real cost is for the lights. The gingerbread garland has a lovely rustic Scandinavian Christmas feel.
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What you need to make an upcycled gingerbread garland
- Scrap kraft cardboard – I used the packaging from some Amazon deliveries.
- Gingerbread house templates – draw your own or download mine here.
- Craft knife and cutting mat
- Black pen, white paint and brush
- Copper String lights
- Twine and small wooden pegs
How to make an upcycled gingerbread garland
1.. The first thing to do is to either draw freehand or print out the gingerbread house template. Then cut out each gingerbread house design. With a craft knife, cut out any windows that you would like the lights to shine through.
2. Next, place the gingerbread house template onto the cardboard packaging you are going to upcycle. Draw around the template with a black sharpie, remembering to mark the windows to be cut. Then cut out the gingerbread garland shapes.
I used a craft knife and cutting board for this. You can cut the cardboard with scissors but it gets tricky with the windows.
3. Next, paint the trimmings on the houses in white paint. Use the original template as a guide. If you want neater lines, then try painting with acrylic paint pens onto the cardboard.
Adding the lights to the gingerbread garland
4. Then, using a hot glue gun, glue the copper string lights to the back of each cardboard gingerbread house. Make sure that you glue the lights in a position so that they shine through the cut windows.
Leave a gap on the copper string lights of about 10cm between each gingerbread house.
5. Finally, hang your gingerbread garland by pegging each house to a line of Christmas twine.
I love the simplicity of this garland. I think it looks great in my dining room against the framed wallpaper.
Looking at it though does make me feel a little peckish. I do love a bit of gingerbread with my coffee this time of year, especially if it is the spiced Scandinavian Christmas gingerbread. I might actually make a gingerbread garland out of real gingerbread, just so I can eat it.
A gingerbread advent calendar would be fun, with a numbered gingerbread house to eat each day!
If you like this post you may want to check out these other upcycled Kraft Christmas posts.
Fun DIY Christmas Decorations Penguins
Homemade Advent Calendar From Kraft Paper
How To Make Repurposed Map Decorations
If you are looking for more thrifty craft ideas check out cheapthriftyliving.com
Emily
This is such a clever idea! We always have so many boxes around, especially during the holiday season. I love this idea to give them a fun new life as a decoration! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday—I’ll be including this in my Party Features next week.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much. I love to think of creative ways to use up packaging.
LINDA
Featured your lovely, diy house garland this week at the party. Pinned also. Best wishes for the Christmas season. Linda @Crafts a la mode Thursday Favorite Things Party.
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much I look forward to seeing it.
Nina Lewis
This is the cutest idea EVER!!!! I absolutely love these gingerbread houses. (They are also a lot less messy than baking and decorating real ones!) You are so creative — you always amaze me with your clever ideas!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Nina. The real ones would taste better though ?
Cecilia
Thanks for sharing your adorable upcycled garland at Vintage Charm! Pinned!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much Cecilia.
Linda at Mixed Kreations
Super cute Garland. What a great way to reuse the cardboard. When I first seen them I thought it was made from real gingerbread. Love the extra touch with the mini lights. I bet it looks so pretty at night lit up.
Claire Armstrong
Unfortunately, st not edible but just as well it wouldn’t last long in my house as everyone loves gingerbread. The lights do make it.
Lora Bloomquist
These are so adorable, Claire! And so much more fun than making gingerbread cookies, plus you can use them again!Pinned!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you! Gingerbread cookies are tastier though!
maria
What a fun garland, so creative.
Maria
Claire Armstrong
Thank you Maria.
Velvet
These are really cute and fun to make. I think my kids will love them in their rooms. Off to make some!!
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Velvet. I’m sure it would look lovely on their walls.
Kim~madeinaday
Oh, I love this so much! You are too clever! Sharing! Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday! We hope you will join us again next week!
Kim
Claire Armstrong
Thank you so much. I’ll be there next week.
Julie
I love your little houses. I love the Scandi house Christmas look. I tried drawing houses on our windows one year with a white chalk marker. They turned out great from the inside but didn’t show at all from the outside! I think this garland idea is WAY more sensible !
Claire Armstrong
Thank you, Julie. I tried the white chalk markers too but found paint worked better.
Susanne
Claire these are just the cutest! Your creativity amazes me and what a great use for all the boxes. I always hate breaking them down and throwing them away.
Claire Armstrong
Aww, thank you, Susanne, I just hate seeing waste and like to be resourceful in my Christmas decorating.