How to make a Clay dough gingerbread house?

The holiday season brings joy, fun, and cherished traditions, and one of the most beloved activities is creating a gingerbread house. The best thing is the joy of decorating and the sight of a whimsical gingerbread house all contribute to the magic of Christmas decoration. However, the delicateness of the traditional gingerbread house often poses a challenge, especially when there are pets or curious little hands in the household. This is where the idea of a clay dough gingerbread house comes into play. By using polymer clay and a few simple techniques, you can create a stunning and durable gingerbread house that can withstand the test of time.

Prepare the Patterns

When you want to make a clay dough gingerbread house outdoor, it is essential to prepare the patterns for your gingerbread house. You can create or find suitable patterns online or use a gingerbread house cookie cutter as a template. The patterns will serve as a guide for shaping the clay into the desired structure, ensuring that your final product closely resembles the traditional gingerbread house.

Make the Dough

For this project, you'll be using Sculpey Clay, a polymer clay known for its versatility and durability. Here's what you'll need to make the dough.

Supplies You'll Need:

Sculpey Clay: 2 ounces per tiny house (in colors 053 Chocolate and 001 White)
Rolling Pin
Gingerbread House Cookie Cutter
Oven
Hot Glue Gun
Powdered Sugar
Cheese Dome or Cake Plates (ideal for outdoor display)
Bottle Brush Trees
Miniature animals (optional)

It's also a great idea to check out online sales to find cheese domes or cake plates, which make excellent outdoor displays for your gingerbread house Christmas decoration outdoor.

Start by blending a tiny bit of the White clay into the Chocolate clay to soften the color a bit. Knead the clay thoroughly until the two colors are well mixed and you achieve the desired pastle gingerbread decor shade. This step is essential to give your Claydough Gingerbread House an authentic look.

Cut Out Shapes

With your gingerbread-colored clay ready, roll it out into a smooth sheet that's about 1/8 inch thick. This will be the base for your gingerbread house. Place your gingerbread house cookie cutter on the clay sheet and press down to cut out the house components following the patterns you prepared earlier.

Make the Icing

The "icing" on a gingerbread house is typically made of royal icing, but in this case, you'll be using clay to mimic the icing's appearance. To achieve this, follow these steps:

Using a toothbrush, add stippling and texture to the walls and roof to give them a more realistic gingerbread texture.
You can also take a toothpick and carve out small shingles on the roof if you want to add extra detail.
To create the look of icing, take tiny bits of the white clay and roll them into tiny "snakes." These will be used to mimic the icing decorations around the house.
Carefully position these icing details on the walls and roof of your gingerbread house, mimicking the decorative icing you would find on a real gingerbread house.
Read the article to see the decorating your gingerbread house

Assemble the Base and Attach the Roof

Once all the pieces of your Claydough Gingerbread House are ready and have been baked and decorated, it's time to put them together. Begin by hot gluing the walls of the house together. The clay icing you added during the crafting process will create a charming and realistic appearance. To ensure the house is stable, consider reinforcing the joints with additional clay from the inside.

Next, attach the roof to the main structure. Make sure it fits securely and is properly aligned. Use hot glue to bond the roof to the walls. The use of hot glue ensures a strong and lasting connection, making your gingerbread house sturdy and ready for display.

Decorate

With the core structure in place, it's time to unleash your creativity and adorn your claydough gingerbread house with festive embellishments. Utilize powdered sugar to create a snowy effect on the roof and surroundings. Additionally, bring the scene to life by incorporating miniature bottle brush trees, and for an extra touch of whimsy, consider adding miniature animal figurines to evoke the charm of a winter wonderland.

By following these simple steps, you can create a stunning claydough gingerbread house that not only serves as a charming outdoor Christmas decoration but also withstands the test of time. Embrace the joy of the holiday season and revel in the beauty of your very own claydough lighted gingerbread house, a delightful addition to your festive décor collection.

Final thoughts

Once you have designed a clay dough gingerbread house, not only do you get to enjoy the tradition of creating these charming Christmas decorations, but you also have the satisfaction of knowing that your masterpiece will last for years to come. If you don’t have time to design your own gingerbread house for outdoor decoration, then shop with every girl loves sparkles.

FAQs

What is the secret to keeping a gingerbread house together?

When making traditional Decorating gingerbread houses, the secret to keeping them together is using royal icing as "glue." For Claydough Gingerbread Houses, the clay itself forms a durable bond.

How do you make a gingerbread house that won't fall apart?

While making a gingerbread house that won't fall apart, ensure that you use a strong adhesive like royal icing for traditional gingerbread houses or hot glue for Claydough Gingerbread Houses. Reinforce the seams from the inside for added stability.

How do you stick a gingerbread house together?

Traditional gingerbread houses are held together with royal icing, while Claydough Gingerbread Houses are best assembled using a hot glue gun.

How do you make the strongest gingerbread house?

If you want to make the strongest gingerbread house, use a durable material like polymer clay for Claydough Gingerbread Houses and royal icing for traditional gingerbread houses. Additionally, reinforce the structure with additional icing or clay as needed.