This is the 3rd year in a row that I entered a gingerbread house in Sweet Creations at the Eastman Museum. I planned for this to be a miniature village and easy to transport but it got a little big. It consumed me during the month of October since I work full-time and was due just after Halloween. I enjoyed learning several new techniques – Fondant Swans, Lighting, Stained Glass Isomalt windows.
Gingerbread Recipe: I used this recipe.
Royal Icing Recipe: I love using this recipe which uses Meringue Powder. It hardens fast and in works very well.
Tudor 1:
- Roof – Frosted Shredded Wheat
- Door – Fondant
- Doorknob – Silver Dragee
- Siding – Flooded Icing
- Windows – Gold quality gelatin sheets (attached with hot homemade sugar only caramel)
- Trim – Licorice Tires (pull apart)
- Blue Birds – Wilton Sprinkles
- Chimney – Stone Candy
- Walkway – Choco Stones
Colonial
- Roof – Black Jack gum
- Door – Fondant
- Doorknob – Silver Dragee
- Siding – Clove gum
- Windows – Gold quality gelatin sheets (attached with hot homemade sugar only caramel)
- Trim – Fondant
- Walkway – Choco Stones
Tudor 2
- Roof – Pecans
- Door – Fondant
- Doorknob – Silver Dragee
- Siding – Flooded Icing
- Windows – Gold quality gelatin sheets (attached with hot homemade sugar only caramel)
- Trim – Sour Streamers
- Chimney – Stone Candy
- Decorations – Holly Sprinkles
- Walkway – Choco Stones
Church
- Roof – Pepitas
- Door – Fondant
- Doorknob – Silver Dragee
- Siding – Choco Rocks
- Windows – Isomalt with Stained Glass. I followed this tutorial.
- Tower – Grey Sanding Sugar, Ice Cream Cone covered with Pepitas
Village Christmas Tree
- Tree – Ice Cream Cone covered with Royal Icing
- Garland – Red Shoestring Licorice
- Decorations – Snowflake Sprinkles
Street Lights
- Pole – Pasta Straws covered with Royal Icing and Gold Sanding Sugar
- Base – Gumball, center drilled with Dremel Tool
- Light Cover – Fondant
Landscaping
- Mini bushes – Royal Icing
- Wreaths – Royal Icing with Sprinkles
- Plain Tree – Ice Cream Cone Tree Covered with Royal Icing
- Fence – Dots
- Awning – Candy Cane top
- Road – Crushed Candy Canes
Snowman
- Body, Hat, Eyes, Buttons – Fondant
- Nose – Wilton Snowman Decorating Sprinkle Kit
- Arms – Red Shoestring Licorice
Graveyard
- Angel Statue – Gingerbread cut with a cookie cutter
- Angel Statue Base – Caramel squares attached with Royal Icing, covered with Royal Icing and silver sprinkles
- Wreaths – Fondant with Heart Sprinkles
Bridge: Gingerbread, inner curve piece baked on foil, sanding sugar (fine – inner piece and large – outer pieces)
Pond: Large and Fine Blue Sanding Sugar
Swans: Fondant, Black Paste Food Coloring, Swan Wings Mold (smaller wings)
Food Store
- Roof – Green Sanding Sugar
- Door – Fondant
- Doorknob – Silver Dragee
- Sign – Fondant, Royal Icing Lettering
- Siding – Brick imprint with icing mortar
- Awning – Sour Streamers
- Windows – Gold Quality Gelatin Sheets (attached with hot homemade sugar only caramel)
- Decorations – Holly Sprinkles, round balls
- Bananas – Runts in Caramel
- Pumpkin Candy
Flower Shop
- Roof – Green Sanding Sugar
- Door – Fondant
- Doorknob – Silver Dragee
- Sign – Fondant, Royal Icing Lettering
- Siding – Brick imprint with icing mortar
- Awning – Sour Streamers
- Windows – Gold Quality Gelatin Sheets (attached with hot homemade sugar only caramel)
- Decorations – Holly Sprinkles, round balls
- Calla Lilies – Fondant, Sprinkles, Spaghetti – on top of caramel
Lighting
My friend Angie’s man did the lighting for me. I bought a 12 V Power Adapter and Pre-Wired LED Lights in Warm White. He heat shrunk and soldered in parallel and hot glued into place. He drilled a hole in the board for the power cord. I glued small wooden cubes on the bottom of the board to raise the board a little. I covered with foil before adding my gingerbread.
I am glad that I once again made gingerbread for the Eastman Museum. It pushed me to learn new skills and it was enjoyable to visit the show many times with my family and friends.
