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This is our take on the traditional gingerbread house without the sugar mess or - er, gingerbread. Gingerbread I may miss a bit, but the sugar mess I do not. I'm no scrooge, but this is such a win for someone who doesn't have time or the desire to whip up a gingerbread and frosting, but still wants the creative whimsical fun of decorating a gingerbread house. We've honestly had our sugar limit this holiday season too. I was so giggly during this activity the kids asked me if I was okay. Ha. True story. One: all the reasons I mentioned above, and two: these were sooooo CUTE and FUN!

I actually purchased the materials last year, as I often prep for advent during sales and Christmas time each previous year. I then box and have items ready without the scramble for the next year. That's Christmas strategy right there, folks. ;) However, before you think I'm too put together, I had planned on using these items last year upon coming up with the idea when I passed by the party section with take-out boxes, but completely lost track of time and forgot. That's Christmas dementia.

So before I forget! ;) Here's what you need:

- Brown take-out or party boxes (purchase at a local craft store or online)

- Assorted colors + sizes of pom-poms (Make sure to double up on white for the look of snow/icing)

- Green, red, and white pipe cleaners

- White and red felt

- Craft glue (This works better than school or Elmer's glue, fyi. We also had a few glue sticks for paper.)

- Scissors (wire cutters too, if you don't want to ruin scissors by cutting the wire in pipe-cleaners.)

- White and black craft paint + brushes

- (Optional) Small green, white, red tissue paper pre-cut craft squares

- (Optional) Box cutters for older students with parental guidance

Do you notice I do not have glitter in my list? If I don't like a sugar mess, you can only imagine how I feel about glitter. (Craft enemy #1.) We had more items than what we each needed, but all items were used in some form by somebody. It was fun to have options! This said, you don't have to have all of the above. You could get by with assorted pom-poms + pipe cleaners and paint for sure. It would have been fun to have a little candy bar out for a sweet treat too. If we were not at our sugar limit and saving our next sweet moment for Christmas itself, I would have put some nostalgic candy on the table at least, but they were so happy with the activity that a peppermint for each sufficed.

Every single kiddo loved this craft, ages 7 to 15 + me. They actually said they enjoyed it more than regular gingerbread houses because the elements were more manageable and it turned out the way they wanted it to look. Each had their own little work-space with everything they needed, but items were happily shared as we went along. The red and white pipe cleaners were used for candy-canes and rolled peppermints, of course. Green tissue paper became scrubs, wreaths, and trees making some of these un-gingerbread homes look like little holiday houses in Christmas town. To keep glue + paint at minimum mess level I gave everyone a paper plate for splotches of both. The white items, to be expected, made the house have its snowy icing effect, and other than the pom-poms was the most beneficial item. If you see a little sparkle in some of these pictures, it is not glitter. I repeat. It is not glitter. Well, technically it is, but it's in the red felt we used.

I was genuinely surprised that ALL my kids took such delight in this activity without real candy involved. Some were traditional. Some had abstact thought, and others were symmetrical and practically liveable. ;) It got serious for my mini-me, like charts and grafting paper serious. The candy cane home was an all day affair. We started this craft after our morning HIVEhuddle, and my little T continued to add to his holiday home until he went to bed! Each creation bore the signature of these sweet creative minds, and I shed more than one tear as I walked around encouraging, applauding fun ideas, and taking pictures. Honeys, these moments are fleeting. I know it is such an immense privilege to have my children safe, healthy, and happy creating and loving life together at anytime, and I find myself especially grateful during Advent season. It's been such a momentous jarring year; these little things are grander when you let them be.

Now, have fun, and send us pics when you make your own!

The Beims HIVE

CREDITS:

Author - Andea Beims HIVEhome Founder + Curator

Printable + Editing + Publishing by HIVEhome team-member + Honey in the HIVE - Andrea Haney.

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