Friday, December 12, 2014

Petite homes..
















It's a winter wonderland here .Rose Cottage,  our potting shed , is wrapped in a comfy blanket..
I walked around outside this morning ..admiring how nature paints such a classic holiday scene with a big snowfall..our street  is so pretty with all the huge trees covered in snow..the yards all white still..
Love.


As soon as Christmas preparations are  a fait accompli..I'll be back to my once weekly posts..there will not be a lot to talk about..But I thought I would squeeze in some more in case anyone wanted to try new things..
I don't want to show you a cute cookie cutter AFTER Christmas..or a week before even..
Now is the time to share ideas..
I bought this fantastic little cutter on Amazon..it was close to $10.00 I think..gulp..but cute no?

And  worth it as in one press..you have all the pieces to make a gingrebread house..a petite one..
Read below for pricing..lol

They are fun to make..I made the mug houses by cutting each piece..in the past.. with a pattern I drew..
No more with this ingenious cutter..just cut an extra opening in the back..to sit on a mug..
It was fun the year I did them..I may do again..so far I did the one above..the others..I just knew after  the one I baked from the mix..  it  would not work..an architect dough it is not:)for me..for others it seems to be wonderful..I could have had a really off baking day..maybe that's why ..I had a whole in the baggie and 1/2 the royal icing slid down the front of the dishwasher onto my furry slippers..OY.

Think of the time you save..and they are fun to decorate..make sure your royal icing will act as glue..
I do have some suggestions though..

Head to Target..they were ap.$3.49 there in the Christmas baking section..in Florida..but I bet throughout the US if you are lucky you can get one..I spotted them after I bought mine..
Second tip..make a dough that will not spread..such as the cookie stamps cookies I have shared here.
You need a firm gingerbread dough..this one..above was made with the chocolate shortbread dough as in the critter cookie cutters I shared..and the dough was perfect..
I tried a shortcut to make more with a mix I found in Fl..Betty Crocker limited edition gingerbread mix.
It did not work for me..I even tried my Williiams Sonoma..message cookies..and all the words ..the letters..melted into themselves.But for some it works beautifully!

Fun things to do  ..and they can be made ahead of time..
So it's just me..wanting to tell you about this cute and ingenius invention♥

38 comments:

  1. So cute Monique. Your snow is wonderful even though I am pretty wimpy when it comes to cold weather.

    Madonna

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    1. Oh me too..cold hands..toes,,feet ..face.. me too!:)

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  2. Thank you for your lovely post Monique all snowy and white and Christmassy. What cute little ginger-bread men cut-outs .... almost too lovely to munch on.

    Dianne
    "All Things French"

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    1. I have to start this year's over again..I will they are easy..Thank you:)

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  3. It is looking a lot like Christmas at your place!

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  4. I love the snow--inside and outside.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  5. Monique, II adore the little houses. Too cute. I have always loved the miniature houses; both edible and glittered. I have seen the houses made with graham crackers, but not the gingerbread. The boys must love it.

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    1. They are super cute the graham cracker ones :) Easier too!
      The boys have not seen this one yet..I was with them today but at their home:)

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  6. Oh My, so much snow already. Your little potting shed all covered in white. I hate snow but your photos are very fetching.

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    1. As in fetching a shovel:) Love that word!! Had to be funny for one moment..Tons of snow A!! Tons.

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  7. Adorable! Your little cabins are so sweet. Amazing amount of snow. It's difficult for this Texan to relate. The potting cottage looks inviting, even though I suspect it isn't heated. '-)

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    1. Unheated:-) The front is my potting room..storage..there are double doors at the side for the back part to store tractor..and workbench etc..shovels..rakes..
      It looks so small under the trees:-)
      It will surely be a white Christmas Sarah..Happy Holidays to you..

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  8. Oh my! I had to go back and forth between the photo of your snow covered shed and the iced gingerbread house... which was real snow and which was icing. So beautiful. I love reading of your Christmas preparations.

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  9. Uncanny..you are not THAT far away..yet look at our differences..
    I have socks and flannels on..no more flip flops.

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  10. Monique . . . your potting shed in the snow. Tres Belle! I love, LOVE IT! That would make a beautiful Christmas card I think! And all of your cookies are just beautiful too. They alwayus are. Love you! xxoo

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    1. You are so sweet!
      I thought it looked cute there too ..dwarfed by nature's magnificence:♥

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  11. Bonjour !
    Ces petites maisons en pain d'épices sont adorables *O*
    Je les vois bien posées sur les tasses de thés, yumyum
    Il faudrait que j'en fasse aussi un jour :)

    Bonne journée Nana ~

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  12. Your potting shed all dressed up in the snow is so precious. As a child I would dream I lived in little houses such as that. I am so impressed with your gingerbread houses Monique. They are a work of art and culinary masterpieces. I hope you have a lovely weekend.
    Sam

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    1. Have a great weekend Sam..
      I too dreamt of having a little house.
      Every where we have lived..Jacques built one for our daughters and they had great times..when they moved out..he still built them..this one the last so far.
      Fred helped him w/ the trusses..we put the siding..roof etc..it was fun to build..

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  13. The gingerbread houses are adorable. You made them with the chocolate dough shortbread instead? I like that idea, believe it or not I have never made gingerbread cookies. Not sure I would like the flavor. I LOVE those Christmas ornaments you made! What a steady hand you must have to fill in the embossed words with contrasting icing. Red sugar decorates the ornament? We did our annual baking with the girls and grandchildren but Katherine lost interest and so did Frankie. She kept wanting to eat the dough before it was cooked. She got the ear off a teady bear cutout and that I think turned her off. She does like them when they are baked though! Stay warm and hopefully you won't have to use that shovel again till after Christmas.

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  14. Yes I tried one with the choco shortbread dough and it stayed perfect..that's the top one..the others are a home made gingerbread dough ..the photo is 3 yrs old I think..But those were hand cut and took a while ..the cutter makes them in a breath!

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  15. Your Rose Cottage photo, it looks magical!!!

    Tessa~

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  16. The elves have been busy at Nana's house :) I hoped I could find the gingerbread house cutter online but no luck. I will keep fingers crossed I have time to get to a store to see if they have any left. I have those same WS cutters and made cookies for Mack and Dane last week - I sent them all home with them :)

    Rose cottage looks beautiful in winter!

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    1. Target!
      And you need to get the Wilton bark mold!
      It is not available here..but it is in the states..so cute!
      It has sayings on it.. :

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  17. Oh my! That first shot is amazing!!!! Simply amazing!!!! I want that shed and that photo!!!
    Thank you so much for stopping by earlier and leaving your lovely message.
    diane @ thoughts and shots

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  18. Me encanta, adoro las casitas de galleta. Que bonito.
    Besos

    lagalletarota.blogspot.com

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  19. I like a lot this cutter gingerbread house, I've been looking for it on amazon but I have not been able to find, can spend the exact brand or link.
    Thank you. a greeting

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  20. All look beautiful Monique!
    I love the cute gingerbread house, beautiful!
    xo

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  21. Anything miniature warms my heart to bits!!
    Love it!

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  22. Oh, dreamlike! Pretty ginger houses and gingerbread men.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  23. The houses so cute, Monique!!!-)))

    Hugs,

    Yelena

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  24. Looks like you live in a magical place, love the little gingerbread house. Happy Holidays!

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