Gingerbread Advent Countdown

A Simple Twist on the Traditional Advent Calendar

Aug 7, 2008

Today's project is a gingerbread house used to countdown the days until Christmas.

While it can be made with actual gingerbread, we are going to make it out of polymer clay. This is because we won't need to keep royal icing on hand. Hot glue will work just fine. We also don't have to worry about it going bad over time. Gingerbread houses are great though, and if you have the desire, go for it in the real dough.

How this works is that we create a house to set up on December 1. We also make 23 more pieces ahead of time for the house that will be attached each day. The final piece is added on Christmas eve and completes the scene. The prep for this house is a fun family project and a new tradition you can start for your annual holidays.

To make your house, roll out your clay or use a pasta maker. You are going to want two rectangular sides, two front and back pieces that peak for the roof and two roof pieces. Attach the pieces with hot glue. You can make the house any size you like. Just make sure the sides of the front and back are equal to the shorter sides of your triangles. Allow for overhang with your roof when measuring.

Once your house is made you will need to decide what your other 23 pieces will be. They can be custom to your family by making each child, grandchild and pet. Some ideas you can use for your house are:

You do not have to stick to the polymer clay the whole period. You can add a gumdrop day and use them to line the walk. Or add a licorice day to define the drive and hide seams on the house. You can use sprinkles for decorating cookies to decorate the Christmas tree. The idea is to make it a family project. You will be amazed at how the kids can't wait until dinner time each day to add the next piece. Make the very last piece the most momentous for the kids. You can add a Nativity or the Santa, but that will mark for the children that the time has arrived.

You can add to the tradition and show your children what Christmas is all about by going to your local hospital and giving the house to the pediatric unit.

The copyright of the article Gingerbread Advent Countdown in Crafts is owned by Mary Welling-Bonney. Permission to republish Gingerbread Advent Countdown in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.