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Christmas Gingerbread House Decorating with Kids & Holiday Candy Ideas

By Spramani

A couple of years ago while selling my art supplies at a local farmers market I got inspired to make gingerbread houses with my kids.

One of my best customers told me about her family tradition making gingerbread houses annually.

Their tradition started when visiting a candy shop and wanting to display the beautiful candy they bought.

Their gingerbread house making is so grand now including trains, bridges and large landscapes!

The gingerbread houses are so big the family takes them to their local community events to share and be eaten-up.

I love that community idea, no waste art!

So this is our fourth year decorating lovely gingerbread houses and we have such a blast.

I thought as my kids got older they would lose interest, but they just keep getting more detailed and creative at it.

They look forward to this evening every December.

Gingerbread House Decorating with Kids & Holiday Candy Ideas

The first few years we just used plain graham crackers and cake icing.

We went to local candy stores to find yummy pretty candy.

Our graham cracker houses came out so darling!

Last year I was lucky to find a gingerbread house maker in San Jose who creates the most wonderful gingerbread house kits.

We still like to hunt for candy which is now our tradition during the early part of December.

how to decorate a gingerbread house — Laurun my daughter placing candy in the icing.

The idea of designing a house with peppermint, icing icicles, lollipops and yummy gum drops sounds like fun…right!

What you need:

A flat surface like cardboard, you could recycle a pizza box and trim to a small size. I recommend this because once they are done you can move them around on a firm cardboard surface. You can line with foil, parchment or wax paper.

Baked gingerbread walls to assemble or graham crackers.

I noticed this year lots of stores are carrying gingerbread house kits.

Like Wal-Mart, Trader Joe’s, Michael’s Craft store and some the big grocery outlets.

Icing – candy can stick to.

Candy – an assortment of candy.

Lots of wipes or napkins.

I always give my kids fun pictures of other gingerbread creations to look at for ideas, but allowed them the freedom make their house any way.

decorating gingerbread houses with candy — Elex my son getting creative by changing the landscape layout of his front yard.

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Spramani Elaun is an American natural art teacher and the author of several art education books for children.