If you’re not at all cooking inclined, or simply don’t have the time to make your own Gingerbread Cottage this year, the picture shows my Gingerbread Cottage Christmas Gift Box or Table Decoration.  It retails for $5.98 and is available for download by clicking on its picture.  It’s a complete digital art kit that you simply print, cut and glue to create this intricate looking cottage, but is so easy a child can do it with help.  You can also use it’s pieces to make card board templates to create an actual Gingerbread cottage. 

To do so, print all of the pieces but only one of each.  Cut them out cutting off the tabs (you’ll use your icing to glue the pieces instead).  Cut off the roof edging from the roof top, making it a separate piece.  From there you’ll glue the pieces onto cardboard and cut them out.  Using these cardboard templates, you simply trace and cut.  You can cut out the window openings if you wish and line them with colored cellophane when baked or drop clear colored candies into the openings when you bake the dough.

I ffound a few great sites in my search today for making real Gingerbread for Gingerbread Cottages or Gingerbread Houses and I thought I would share them with you!  One of my all-time favorite magazines is Cottage Living.  They have a great site with links to several other sites.  You can find it at: (link in all caps here: ) COTTAGE LIVING

Another of the magazines that I subscribe to is Better Homes and Gardens, here’s their contibution to the fairy tale cottage industry!  (link in all caps here: ) BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS 

If making an entire Gingerbread Cottage is too dauting a task for you, try making a Gingerbread Cottage cookie ornament instead!  Here’s my simple instructions for you:

1. Draw your cottage or cottages onto cardboard.  You can freehand draw or search on line for coloring book images that will work.  Also, if you own my Gingerbread Cottages Clip Art sets, you could print one out to the size you would like, glue it on the cardboard and use its shape to make your cookies.  Using the back end of a marker or other pen as a guide, lightly trace a circle to cut a hole for hanging the ornament by.  I like to place my hole’s center about 1/2" from the top of the cookie leaving about as much cookie at the top, as the opening size is wide for strength. 
2. Prepare the Gingerbread man dough as seen in the post below (make sure you download the Free Gingerbread Man Cookie Recipe Card).  Mark your hole by tracing with a toothpick, gently cut through the dough and remove.
3. Using candies and (link in all caps here: ) ROYAL ICING  decorate each cottage differently.
4. Let dry thoroughly and then add your message on the back if you’re good with the icing bag.  "From the Roberts Family 2007" or a nice Christmas saying would be great.

If you’re not even sure where your oven is in your kitchen or how to turn it on, your backu plan just might be my Gingerbread Cottage Box and Centerpiece kit!  If you can print a file on your computer and use a pair of scissors to cut a straight line you can do it!  Decorate it with glitter, candies or jewels and you have an extra special gift box or a centerpiece for your hall table or dinner buffet!

THE CHRISTMAS STORY: Luke 2:8-12
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, 10 but the angel reassured them. "Don’t be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! 11 The Savior–yes, the Messiah, the Lord–has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!"   NLT