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Submitted by: Esprit64

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First, find a photo of a great tree trunk or go outside and observe a tree's bark. Using a round wooden dowel (or other suitable foundation depending on the size of tree trunk you want), color and roll smallest lines of gum paste. Put one line shape next to the other around the wooden dowel (using royal icing for glue if needed), until the entire tree trunk is covered. Once the tree is inserted into your foundation board, add more gum paste to replicate wonderful roots extending from the base--use tool tips to create effects, smoothing all as you go. I have dried parsley to make tree tops. Or, I have colored royal icing and used a leaf-decorating tip to create the thousand leaves needed.

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Submitted by: Kelly

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Most people use fondant or gum paste to create figures like people. You can either make it yourself or buy it at a local craft store (or from this site) and then just model people as you would use playdough or clay. Look at our pages on Fondant and Gum Paste for ideas.

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Submitted by: Kelly

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We have loads of decorating ideas on this site. Check out this page for some specific ideas: <a href="http://www.gingerbread-house-heaven.com/gingerbread-house-decorating-ideas.html">gingerbread-house-decorating-ideas.html</a> and then look around the photo pages for lots more: <a href="http://www.gingerbread-house-heaven.com/pictures-of-gingerbread-houses.html ">pictures-of-gingerbread-houses.html </a> Now, specifically for your questions: For a bridge made out of gingerbread, you can make a rectangle piece and then drape it over something round that's ovenproof (and greased like a cookie sheet). A loaf pan could work great or an ovenproof bowl. An empty metal can could possibly work too (remove labels and test it first for at least a few minutes in the oven before draping gingerbread over the top). See our gingerbread bowl recipe for another idea (instead of a dome, you would simply use part of the bowl to make an arch). Railings could be added later out of pretzels, candies, and/or cookies. Trees: One helpful person already mentioned using ice cream cones. For a larger evergreen tree, you can bake gingerbread cookies in the shape of stars (from large down to small) and then stack them one on top of the other from largest up to smallest. Then decorate with icing and candies (for a Christmas tree). Bushes and shrubs can be made out of bunches of herbs like rosemary or, for larger bushes and shrubs, you can make green-dyed rice crispie treats and then either decorate with icing or rosemary (or other edible plants/herbs). Good luck and have fun!

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Submitted by: Anonymous

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For trees I use an ice cream cone, they need to be the ones with the pointy bottom and straight sides (waffle cones here in Canada). I then use green royal icing and a leaf tip and cover the cone with them. I have posted Cottage Country Christmas in photos here which has examples of this. Hope it helps.

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