"The Mitten" by Jan Brett

I started looking in my 2-year-old son's picture books for architectural inspiration. I love the illustrated worlds Jan Brett creates in her books. This one is from a Ukranian folk tale called "The Mitten." Don't you just want to slip on some Uggs and sip some hot chai by the fireplace in this cozy crib?

Let's Ginger It!

I admit I sort of rushed through these templates, because I was so anxious to experiment the Mini-Wheat thatched roof. I think I'm going to need to try this house again for more accurate architecture and landscaping. I smartened up and discovered I could roll out and cut the templates directly on parchment, so I could just cut the excess away and not disrupt the pieces by having to transfer them.

Like an old-fashioned barn raising:

I don't know which was more fun, the Mini-Wheat thatched roof or this Pretzel Stix fence:

My Fav-O-Rite Archi-Deets:

*Snow-strewn Butter Crisp windows and Pretzel Rod log pile

*Melted Jolly Ranchers make a perfect glossy lake







*Frosty-side up for a snowy roof and a marshmallow chimney:





My Edible Materials:

Hook & Ladder 8 in Tribeca

The infamous "Ghostbusters" firehouse in Tribeca looked so festive during the holidays, I just had to "ginger it" as my second project. Here's the real thing:

And here's the gingerbread replica:

For this project, I created the template myself and used lots of white gum and Big Red for siding, chocolate covered grahams for the sidewalk, and crushed peppermints for the asphalt roof.

And to make sure everything is absolutely edible, I also found these great food coloring pens from Dean & Deluca to create the street sign and Hook & Ladder banner:

The first attempt

I've always wanted to make a gingerbread house, so here was my first attempt: a ski chalet! With chocolate Twizzler siding, Sugar Wafer roofing, and Big Red skis out front. Not exactly a masterpiece, but enough to get me hooked to want to try it again.









The basic template for this house can be found here.