Monday, December 15, 2008

Gingerbread House - Tutorial Part One

This week we're going to be making gingerbread houses. I invite you to join in the fun. My son and I have been entering a gingerbread house contest for the past two years. Last year we won third place with this entry:

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Although this was a complicated design, the principles of construction are the same for a smaller house.

I want to share a few of the techniques I've developed over the years. We're going to break the tutorial up into manageable bits. Today we'll get our pattern ready. Tomorrow we'll discuss the gingerbread recipe and go on to contruction and decorating. Are you ready?

You will need a house pattern. Gingerbread by Design has some wonerful free patterns. For the purpose of instruction I'm going to be using the Elf House Pattern. Download and print it out.

Trace the pattern pieces onto a sheet of poster board. Cut out the pattern pieces, mark each one (front, back, roof, chimney, etc.) and put them aside.

Once you've mastered the basic skills you'll be able to design and create almost anything in gingerbread, including a gingerbread skyscraper.

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See you tomorrow! Get out your aprons because we'll be mixing up some gingerbread plywood.

12 comments:

FarmHouse Style said...

Oh, this is wonderful Suzanne! My son has been asking me to make a gingerbread house with him for a couple of weeks, but I had no idea how to start. Thanks for offering the tutorial, I'll let you know how it turns out!

Rhonda

PS~ I loved the birtday post for you husband:)

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

This will be such a treat for me. I have always wanted to do this but was afraid I'd end up eating all the gingerbread mess. Looking forward to learning what you have to teach. Your previous houses are wonderful!! Susan

Bella Della said...

Wow! I am not sure if I will ever get around to doing this but it will be fun seeing just what goes into it. They are amazing.

Suzanne said...

Can't wait for the rest of the tutorial. I did gingerbread houses with my preschool classes... and it would be nice to see some more grownup houses! Love the post for your hubs b-day, too!

~Suzanne
www.sugarloafcottage.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

My 16-year-old son, home from school today because it's too cold here in Saskatchewan for the buses to run, sees the photo of your gingerbread skyscraper and exclaims, "Oh, snap! It's a frickin' castle! How do you make something like that?"

He's quite impressed and will be reading your tutorial.

Vee said...

Oh this is great...I'm going to link to you on my sidebar by tomorrow at noon at the latest. :D So much fun!

Paula B. said...

Yowsah - these are waaay more detailed than we create. Of course, my kiddos do a very passable imitation of Hansel and Gretel - they begin nibbling on it the next day. When you know it will be consumed, it is hard to invest too many hours into it!

Still, it is fun to see the amazing creations that people dream up for their gingerbread houses.

Anonymous said...

Wow -- amazing! I admire your many talents, and wish I could learn from you in person ...

teacupsandpoodles said...

So very pretty and they look so yummy! Someday I'll do that!
Mary Ann

Anonymous said...

Those are some kind of gingerbread houses! Very cool!

Tracy said...

I am very impressed with your creation! Thanks for the tutorials. They are very informative. I've done gingerbread for years, but my efforts have been kind of half-baked (so to speak).

Anonymous said...

I love your gingerbread houses and have to admit that, aside from the graham cracker variety, I've never made one. What fun that you and your son make this holiday project a joint effort. Congratulations on 3rd prize last year, and I hope you do better or equally well in this year's contest! ~Arleen