Headless Canes and Shingles of Mint

How does one create a gingerbread house THIS cute!?

Well, let me tell you!

Stacie invited Sarah, Ruth Ann and I to join her at an event supporting the Parkinson Association for the Rockies.  Basically, we took over an Old Chicago's restaurant early Saturday morning, and joined a bunch of families to build gingerbread houses.  It was fantastic!  

We got the house marked with a cross.  Great start, wouldn't you say?

 These supplies were provided.  

Gum drops?  Wrapped candy?  Really now.

We came with MUCH better supplies from the Dollar Store.

And by better I mean glitter trees, yummy candy, presents...the good stuff.

 Sarah had seen a house online with a roof made out of sticks of gum.  Genius!  We cut the sticks into tiny pieces that looked like shingles.
Mint-smelling shingles.

 A million, mint-smelling shingles.  

EACH placed by hand.

Glad we brought extra frosting because we used ALL THREE packs of gum.

 Stacie LOVED the frosting pack.  NOT.

Seriously, how in the world does one operate that frosting bag without either squeezing frosting everywhere or keep the frosting from dripping out of the bag?!  Beats me.

 We cracked the candy cane heads off and used the straight part of the cane to outline the house.  I am shocked they stayed on - they were heavy!  

Oh, dear.   Who gave this woman the frosting squeezer?!

 No, really.

A ton of glee from Ruthi! 

 Looking great!  We added some random red berries to the roof for some color.  We even used FONDANT, a new word for Stac and NOT my favorite material.  The cupcake guys on TV make it look so easy, but that stuff is weird!

Note the lovely doorknob on our home.  I'm curious what's inside...

 We were able to use a pizza tray underneath for more yard space.

We covered it in sparkling, winter fabric, of course.

Because we're cool like that.

Sarah brought ice cubes for the 'fort' in the backyard. 

Obviously.

Held together by frosting.

 Oh, dear.  More frosting.  And lights.

Kris Kringle and the Kross....er, Cross.

 A licorice path, more sprinkles, snowmen and gingerbread men.

Held together by, you guessed it, frosting.

(And hidden toothpicks.  Ouch.)

WOOHOO!  Check out the lights we hung around the outer fence.  LED loveliness!  And then we sprinkled powdered sugar over everything when we finished - a fresh, dusting of snow!

 Our rather competitive neighbors.  

(HOW could they not have SPELLED something 

with those letter cookies?!?  I couldn't have let that go!)

Mmmmm.   Marshmallows.   

Great roof - and easier than our shingles!

Seriously - a skating rink!?   Ideas for next year! 

 See?  They have a doorknob, too!

 Note the carefully placed chocolate balls placed along the bottom of the home.  Ruth Ann was VERY precise in her patterning...until Stacie realized we might run out of time if we continued our 'precision work'!  HA!  The rest of the chocolates were placed with speed (and looked just as great!)

  Sprinkle in a couple of friends...

....and you've got one, wonderful house! 

 Happy day!