I had so much fun making a Haunted Halloween Mansion I decided to try making some Christmas Cottages, sort of like mock “gingerbread houses”~
These houses are just like the Haunted Halloween Mansion, but smaller. I decided to do two, with a future Christmas tablescape in mind. I bought some mini ornaments too, to add to some bits and pieces I already had
The cardboard houses look like gingerbread already, so just like making a gingerbread house, the first step was the “icing.” I painted all the “seams” white and added shingles on the roof
When you are drawing or painting a repeating pattern such as bricks or these scallops, make sure to offset the pattern every other row
I didn’t make the 2 houses exactly alike
Now for the fun part!
As tempting as it was to use candy, I opted for tiny decorations and faux candy so they would store over time
Mini lights, ornaments, glass beads, and snowmen all got busy decorating
Santa and his sleigh landed on the roof, next to a cotton ball puff of smoke from the chimney
This one is the Candy Cane Cottage, with a wreath over the front door and a shiny Christmas package waiting to be discovered
A jolly snowman stands on the bright red and green walkway and snowflakes dangle from the eaves
Lollipops, candy canes and polka dots make this cottage a sweet retreat!
This one is the Gingerbread Cottage
Wreaths and ornaments over the windows, and a gingerbread girl above the door, are ready to greet visitors
The roof is lined with colorful Christmas lights
A green pebbled walkway leads around the house to the back
Where gingerbread boys offer you a candy cane!
You might be wondering what got me inspired to create this frosty Christmas display
Last weekend we watched our beach neighbor light up his house for the holidays~he struggled with outages and spots that wouldn’t light for several days…we broke into applause when he was finally done and all the lights went on…
He has a new nickname…. we are now calling him “Griswold” 🙂
[watching the movie “Christmas Vacation” is our holiday family tradition*] 🎄🎅
Thanks for the head start on the holidays, Clark!!
*Clark Griswold is the father, played by Chevy Chase, in the movie Christmas Vacation. He is determined to create the “perfect” Christmas for his family, and one of his goals was to have his whole house covered in lights~
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells~ are you in the mood yet? If not, hit Pottery Barn, it’s magical this year!
source/ houses, ornaments, fence, glass beads all from Hobby Lobby
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