Jumbo, Life-Size GINGERBREAD House!
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This was such a fun project! Here were our step-by-steps of the quickest life-sized gingerbread house ever. :D
Remember my trusty, amazing carpenter friend, Larry?? He's helped make almost everything we've done. My projects always go from a sharpie drawing or iPad drawing, to Larry's shop, coming to life.
So...we started with an 8' tall house that Larry brought over. OK, we have 5 days to finish this thing, so no time for baking the gingerbread walls. This will have to be a quick one.
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We are dividing & conquering!
LINDA -- on frosting detail. TARA -- buying cases & cases of graham crackers. SHELLY --- candy canes & candy for decorating. ME -- even more candy canes, jumbo marshmallows, decor & candy.
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Next, we're starting to frost the walls with *frosting (recipe below) & lay the "brick" (graham crackers).
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Don't worry about crazy edges, it will be covered up with frosting & candy.
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Now pause for a second...because here's when it went from cute to amazing...the biggy-big time chefs are now in the house. Closing up day 3 of operation gingerbread house. At this point it's Friday night & church is tomorrow. The kids choir is singing all weekend & it's our Kids Ministry's Annual Birthday Party for Jesus! Gonna get this house looking perfect for such a great weekend! These two whipped up frosting for hours as Rudy & Angi (Babette's Feast & Catering) AND Crossroads band members, :), piped the heck out of the brick..Scroll below to see the darling house come to life. Oh geez....I love it...
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Cutest chimney I ever. did. see. xoxoxoxoxo
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Ta-DA!!!
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...just some band shenanigans.
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Kids decorating it!
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Check the most adorable fireplace ever, painted by Katie!!!
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We left the gingerbread house up for all of December & decorated it until the candy was gone. Next year, GINGERBREAD VILLAGE. I'm not even joking. We'll start planning it in August. Let me know if you want to be on TEAM-GINGERBREAD-VILLAGE!
Wall Frosting Recipe: 1 C Egg whites, beat with 1 tsp Cream of Tarter, until you have peaks. Slowly add 2 Lbs of Powdered sugar. *we used this to apply the graham crackers & to glue the candy on by dipping a paint brush or craft stick.
Roof & brick "grout" Frosting: 2 big scoops of Crisco, beat until soft, add 2 Lb Powdered Sugar & a slow pour of 1/2 & 1/2 until good, thick, creamy - - - blanket of snow, consistency.