Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Felt Gingerbread House

The Winter BazaarWelcome to the Winter Bazaar, I'm looking forward to reading your ideas for fun, food, games, crafts and tips during the busy but fun holiday season. For past editions, click the "craft" link label at the bottom of the post, to include your own ideas enter your name and link into the list below.

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Felt Gingerbread HouseI saw this cute felt gingerbread house in an online store several weeks ago, and thought I can do that (especially when I saw what they were asking for it). I usually make a gingerbread house with the kids each year but somehow--mysteriously--our gingerbread houses gets denuded until by the time the holidays are over every M&M has been voted off the island and all that is left is a pile of stale gingerbread and rock-hard frosting bits.

So here's a gingerbread house you can make that will stay fresh for years to come. It stores flat and the felt pieces can be arranged however you'd like. Lillian likes to play "Hansel and Gretel" with this one (check out the dreadlocks on Hansel).

Felt Gingerbread HouseI cut two sets of pieces for the house, first a set of four walls and two roof pieces out of stiff felt (the kind they sell in large sheets) and an identical set of four walls and two roof pieces out of the regular felt. I matched the pieces up so that they were double layered: one layer of stiff to help it stand up and one layer of soft to stick to the felt candy pieces. If you plan on gluing the pieces in place you may not need to use a second layer of soft felt.

Felt Gingerbread HouseI then sewed the double-layered walls together along their edges, right sides together, then turned the house right side out. I sewed the two double-layered roof pieces together but these I sewed wrong side to wrong side so that they'd lay in place better, the seem is covered by white felt pieces anyway.

Felt Gingerbread HouseAll that's left is to cut out fun candy shapes to use for decorations--candy canes, gum drops, gingerbread, lemon drops. I also made a little skating pond out front with a couple clothespin dolls the same way I made the Native American clothespin dolls last month and made a little chimney for the roof--mostly because it helped to hold the snow in place but also for added cuteness.

Any questions?



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35 comments:

Ice Cream said...

I LOVE THIS. I love felt and my daughter is obsessed with gingerbread houses every Chirstmas. This would be a great gift idea. And it can last all year as a Hansel and Gretel finger puppet set piece as well. LOVE IT.

Maddy said...

Ooo dear! Creativity! Not one of my strengths I'm afraid. So do I need to write out a little warning to accompany this production?

"Warning - even if you sprinkle sugar on it, it still isn't edible." I have your best interest at heart you know, you wouldn't like to be sued.

You think I jest, I know, but I still remember when I first came to this country. You know the roller towels you have in public loos? This one had a great big chunk of metal hanging in the loop of the towel. Printed on the metal was something that said something like 'don't put your head in here because you might strangle yourself.'

Apparently, all the really weird warnings you see on odd things are as a direct result of someone suing someone. It would seem that there are no guarantees against terminal stupidity.
Cheers

This is my calling card or link"Whittereronautism"until blogger comments get themselves sorted out.

Ami Scott said...

Cute! What a great idea. Too bad I just won't have time. :(

Forest Cottage

Chris said...

You're too crafty!!

Amber M. said...

My kids will LOVE this!

Susan from Food Blogga said...

AHHH! I LOVE their hair! :)

Goslyn said...

That is completely adorable, and I wish I lived closer to you so that I could make you teach me how to use a sewing machine. You come up with the best crafts. Very impressive.

Anonymous said...

Oh that is so cute! I'm going to have to make one this year!

Summer
Mom Is Teaching

An Ordinary Mom said...

We just made our gingerbread house this weekend, but this is a great alternative.

**"Liza"** said...

ohh thats a great idea..i might try that.. ;)

Anonymous said...

I love this idea -- much more my speed than dealing with gingerbread and frosting.

Barbara H. @ Stray Thoughts

Kayris said...

Very cute! I love that it folds flat, and Hansel's dreadlocks are a scream!

jubilee said...

The dreads, are the best, I must say. This will be a hit at the Jubilant household.

ames said...

ha! Are we sharing the same brain? I saw that exact same felt gingerbread house and totally thought the exact same thing! You just beat me to it and you added more of your adorable little people. Looks great!

Pieces said...

That is so cute! Great job.

Michelle Alley said...

Wow - so so cute my dear! What a great idea an how fun to make!

Kerith Collins said...

that is a cute idea....i wonder if i can find the time for it...maybe as a present or a surprise on christmas morning!

Montserrat said...

Oh now this is clever! Forget the kids, I'd have so much fun playing with it!

Amy said...

You rock! I have had this on my to-do list for awhile, but you actually did it ;) Great job!

Mrs. F said...

That is such a cool idea. We made a gingerbread house last week and it was gone the next morning. I am definitely ready to graduate on to something more real.

:)

Annie-Savor This Moment said...

So cute! I'm always looking for something "felty" to make. I think it all began with my love of flannel board stories. Oh, well, blame Primary.

jennwa said...

I think I am going to try this. I was going to do one with graham crackers but this would be a lot less messy.

Anonymous said...

I've sent you a Christmas Spirit Award. See http://blog.vigilant20.net/?p=1375 if you are interested in picking it up and passing it on :)

ohAmanda said...

I LOVE this! I'd have to do it by myself, I don't think a 2 year old would do so hot with this one...

Oh, I always want to enter your bazaar, but I'm just not crafty enough. Off to look at the other stuff....

Unknown said...

Whew! That was a heft price tag! Yours is definitely cute. :-)

We made a gingerbread house last year for the first time. Never.Again. It was in ruins by the second day. Felt is much more practical than real gingerbread.

It's you know who! said...

That is an excellent idea! Wow, my grandaughter (4 yrs old) is going to LOVE this one. Thank you. :)

One Wacky Mom said...

Wow, I wish I could do that. But not...your crafts look fabulous!

Meredith said...

Love, love, love the gingerbread house!

Anonymous said...

You have the neatest ideas! Please keep it up!

Believer in Balance said...

Great idea!

Anonymous said...

I'm definitely going to link to this for my Seasaonal Kids' Activities readers!

Summer said...

Very cute idea!

Grandmother Wren said...

Well look at this!
Love this craft, love this blog -
wow!

Melissa Stover said...

that is the cutest thing! i love the little people the best.

Anonymous said...

Wow, it's a lovely creation - and I applaud Ttwinkle Kids for their creativity and use of natural materials.