It’s gingerbread time! My Christmas kitchen decor has been gingerbread since we first got married 47 years ago. I wanted to share some of my “vintage” DIY pieces and some recent ideas.

Santa loves gingerbread too!

I grew up with a mom that made gingerbread cookies every Christmas. It was wonderful! When I got married she shared her recipe and to this day it is the only gingerbread cookie recipe I have ever used. Why try something different when you already have delicious perfection.

Of course I continued the gingerbread cookie tradition so, as my family was looking for our future home, the kitchen requirement was a counter that was big enough to roll out gingerbread and have room for the grands to decorate the cookies.

Everything I do in the kitchen is just bright and fun!

How can you not smile when you see these gingerbread boys peeking out?

Gingerbread kitchen decorating

It is pretty obvious I go bright in my kitchen. This is the first year I have had these beautiful bar stools that I found at Goodwill. To gingerbread up these chairs I bought pillow covers from SHEIN and tied some wreaths on the back to coordinate with the cabinets.

Gingerbread house pillow covers are perfect for my kitchen

On one of my thrift store shopping days I came across this storage basket and knew it would be perfect in my kitchen.

For $6.00 at Goodwill I could not resist and I had a vision.

When I found this beautiful piece I knew exactly what I was going to do with it.

Forgot to take a before. Popped off the windows and door. This is after paint and design.

Painted house.

After painting I glued the pieces in place. Added puffy paint snow on the roof and voila. A huge gingerbread house. I just love it!

Gingerbread House from a vintage toy basket.

The wreath was made from pieces I pulled off some Dollar Tree bells and my grandson chose the name.

I use a lot of puffy paint in my gingerbread creations. I got some pieces for my stand but they were flat so I puffed them up.

Puffy paint to add dimension.

Looks more like cookies now!

The tiny birdhouses also got a facelift! I have had these for years and never thought to decorate them. Love these! So darn cute! The rest of them went on the tree.

This cute piece was done 30 plus years ago. I traced cookie cutters onto thin cork then cut them out with scissors. I glued red rick rack around the edge of the cookie sheet but any color would work. Decorated the “cookies” with puffy paint. Glued them on the sheet and then embellished the top. I think this would be fun for a child  to do. Dollar Tree has felt gingerbread that have decorations in the package that just need to be glued on. That would make things easy.

Tiny tree with gingerbread cork ornaments.

Leftover cork was used for this small tree. Tom needed a tree for his office.

Gingerbread houses can also be made with a birdhouse. Another 30 plus year old decoration. This actually turned into a class.

Gingerbread birdhouse decorated with stencils, puffy paint, wood shapes and glitter.

A recent addition to my gingerbread collection is the wreath I made from Dollar Tree ornaments, trees and a Hobby Lobby wreath. The full instructions are posted here.

Gingerbread wreath made from Dollar Tree supplies.

Dollar Tree wood shapes are easy to decorate with paint, puffy paint and glitter. Use your imagination. Pretend you are decorating a cookie. It’s as easy as that.

Painted base coat ready for the icing.

Iced gingerbread cuteness!

Sometimes gingerbread can be a snowman!

These guys just make me smile!

Gingerbread tree and village.

This Tree has ornaments that have been collected over many, many years. I think the village came from Dollar Tree several years ago. I only remember them having it one year. I’m not sure why, it is such a cute collection. One of the houses doesn’t go with the set and was actually a gift from someone that’s no longer with us. I think of her fondly every time I set this up.

Sometimes a bit of wrapping paper adds to the gingerbread vibe. Super easy and adorable.

Santa with cookies.

Wrapped up canisters

Wrapping the canisters with wrapping paper is so easy. Cut to fit and tape. Now it matches the gingerbread vibe. I just love how they look and they match the placemats and runner I got last year.

Each room in my home has different themes and sometimes things change but the gingerbread kitchen never will. It is always so cheerful and makes me happy every time I walk into my kitchen. It also evokes fond memories of my mother, who I miss so much and her gingerbread cookies.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours. I wish you happy crafting and lots of Sunny Days. If you like these posts, please comment and subscribe. Also please share. I really would love seeing your gingerbread decorations.