Dollar Tree Gingerbread House Candle Holder

Let’s make a DIY Dollar Tree gingerbread house candle holder that you can use year after year. It makes a lovely centerpiece for Christmas.

supplies for diy gingerbread house village

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After making my haunted dollhouse for Halloween, I had to make a Christmas version. Of course, that meant a gingerbread house! I did look at a couple of thrift stores for a dollhouse but wasn’t able to find one…yet.

So, I went with the next best thing by upcycling Dollar Tree dollhouses. I’m just thrilled with how they turned out!

Instead of stopping at a gingerbread house, I took it one step further and created a beautiful candle holder centerpiece with 2 of the houses.

I’ll share all the steps for the dollhouses turned gingerbread houses and you can stop there, or continue with the steps for a candle holder.

Dollar Tree Gingerbread House

Table of Contents

The thing I love about this Christmas craft is no special skills are needed. It’s simple enough for a beginner crafter.

So, let’s get to the supplies so you can get started with your own adorable gingerbread house makeover.

Supplies for Dollhouse Makeover

Plastic Dollhouse – mine are from Dollar Tree
Rustoleum Spray Paint – I used Nutmeg which is the perfect gingerbread house color.
White Puffy Paint – paint pens are shown in the supply photo, but I switched to puffy paint for more detail.
Battery-Operated Lights – (optional)
Faux Snow

supplies for gingerbread dollhouse makeover

Step 1. Paint the Dollhouses

Start by painting the dollhouses with 2-3 coats of nutmeg spray paint.

Be sure to paint outside or in a well-ventilated area. I use cardboard to protect the area.

It’s best to let the houses dry overnight, or at least 4 hours.

Step 2. Decorate the Gingerbread Houses

Now for the fun part…decorating the gingerbread houses. I absolutely love using puffy paint for this project. It adds so much dimension.

Plus, the tip allows for easy painting.

There is no right or wrong way to decorate your house. You can add just a bit of detail to the windows and door, or accent the roof and other areas too.

close up of gingerbread house with puffy paint

The puffy paint does take a bit of time to dry, so again I recommend letting it sit overnight, especially if you are going to add embellishments.

I chose to add a bit of faux snow while the puffy paint was still wet. This is optional, but I love the glittery snow look.

You have a beautiful gingerbread house…

You can stop at this point and have a gorgeous gingerbread house, or you can take it to the next level by adding adorable mini embellishments such as candy canes, mini wreaths and fairy lights.

These mini embellishments are from Michaels craft store. A bit of hot glue is all you need to secure them to the house.

Just look at this sweet little house now:

Make a snowy village with several Dollar Tree gingerbread houses. The houses can also be hooked together if you prefer that look.

Let’s continue with the candle holder.

dollar tree dollhouse turned gingerbread house

Supplies for Candle Holder

Step 1. Paint the Cutting Board

Start by painting the glass cutting board with chalk paint. Foam brushes work great for this.

You will need 2 solid coats. I painted the front and back.

Step 2. Add Glitter

While the paint is still wet, add glitter. I love the look of glamour dust.

It’s very light, but adds tons of sparkle. Let dry.

Step 3. Paint the Candle Holder

Repeat the same process onto the glass candle holder. Be sure to paint the top and bottom with 2-3 solid coats. Top with glitter while it is still wet.

Let dry.

Step 4. Attach Two Houses to the Base

Attach 2 houses together and place on the center of the bottom glass cutting board for placement.

Once you are happy with the placement, secure the house to the base with E-6000. Give it a bit of pressure. You can also add hot glue, along with E-6000 to give you that instant hold.

Secure the glass candle holder to the gingerbread house the same way. It’s best to let it dry overnight.

Then just add your candle of choice and display your beautiful gingerbread house candle holder.

I went with a battery-operated pillar candle that is on a timer. It comes on at 6 pm and shuts off at midnight. Perfect for a Christmas centerpiece idea!