Blakely’s 3rd Annual Gingerbread House Tea Party

I’m excited to share the pictures and details from my daughter’s gingerbread house tea party! Read on…

Gingerbread House Tea Party

If you’ve followed along in past years, you know that my Mom and I LOVE gingerbread houses. Each year, growing up, we would have a gingerbread house party for my November birthday. We’re continuing the tradition of making gingerbread houses with my daughter and her friends. This was the third year that we’ve hosted Blakely’s Gingerbread House Tea Party! I can’t believe we started when the girls were just two years old! This is such a “sweet” and magical way to keep off the Christmas season, and it will forever be our favorite holiday tradition!

It’s such a sweet pink-filled tradition with Blakely’s friends and their moms. We added a few little additions this year but it’s very similar to last year’s tea party(I fully believe in reusing what you have)! The first year, which I never blogged – oops, the girls were two so we had them all help to decorate one large gingerbread house that we donated to a local children’s home. The last two years, the girls have been old enough to decorate their own houses.

Many of you have told me that you’ve started this tradition with your own little ones, and it brings me so much joy that you’re inspired by this tea party! I love sharing it with you each year, so without further ado… here are a few pics from this year’s Gingerbread House Tea Party!

I have lots of FAQs listed below the post, so be sure to scroll down if you have questions about how we make the houses, where the chairs are from, source for the invitations, or other questions! I hope you enjoy!

Each little girl had her own house, and we placed them on these gingerbread house plates. They also make a “small” sized plate that is equally as adorable for treats. These plates and napkins are my FAVORITE. They usually sell out each year (at least on Amazon) so if you want them, grab them! They help keep things organized because they keep candy on the plate and off the floor. Any candy that falls off the house usually lands on the plate. It’s just a much easier method than putting the houses directly on the table! Plus, they’re cute!

In the DIY gingerbread house video that we are sharing tomorrow, I chat a bit about this, but true candy canes and peppermints can often “drool” the red color because of humidity, so we usually opt for other candies (more in the video) that withhold the air better. However, I love the look of peppermint, so we often visit the craft store for embellishments like candy canes and ribbon to jazz up the houses!

Pink Gingerbread Topiary

This year we made a pink gingerbread topiary to have in the front of the house! Blakely loved greeting all her party guests by the topiary! To make the topiary, my Mom and I used a wooden stick (sprayed white) and used cement to secure it in planter. Then we added a large styrofoam tree shape on top. Next, we added on ornaments, bows, candies, and swirls of icing on top! You could easily make smaller versions as well!

“Gingerbread Lady Place Cards”

This year, we added in fun “place cards” by creating gingerbread cookie ladies with an initial monogram in royal icing! Each little girl looked for the first letter of her name to find her seat!

For the table, I use two of these pink table runners down the center of the tables. I love the pop of pink it adds, without getting in the way of decorating. Long tablecloths might get hard with little elbows accidentally pulling on them, etc. I love the table runners! Next, little bowls of candy are added throughout. We use some clear plastic bowls and lots of little “baking cups” in various shades of pink. These are my favorites (and the ones we used at each place setting to hold marshmallows).

The little ones loved tea in their mini silver tea cups. These are a family heirloom, but last year, when the girls were just 3, we used these little white cups!

On the back of each chair, we have usually added just a simple bow. This year, we added on these adorable gingerbread man decorations. They’re actually ornaments (from Michaels)!

We also placed nutcrackers down the center of the table as well as a few decorative trees and vases of pink, red and white roses.

Where did you get the invitations?

I ADORED the invitations this year! They’re a die-cut gingerbread house invite that “opens up” to reveal the party details. They can be found by Paper Built Shop here on Etsy! We just added a little red bow to the front of each gingerbread house before mailing out in matching pink envelopes!

How do you make the houses?

We wanted a “structurally sound” house so we pre-make them so they won’t cave in, and the girls can get straight to the fun part – the decorating! We let the girls “go to town” with candy and treats while making them, but these are truly for display and decoration only after they’re made. The royal icing gets very hard.  I’ll have a DIY Gingerbread House video going live TOMORROW with more about this so stay tuned!

Where are the tables & chairs from?

For the little tables, I love the play tables from Pottery Barn Kids. I actually shoot most of my recipe photos on one that I leave in my office. I let Blakely have another as a “play table”. The little chairs are from Chiavari Chair Co. and we use them a few times of year, and they stack easily.

Where did you get the candy?

All over! Lots of the candy came straight from the grocery store (jelly beans, skittles, gumdrops, mini marshmallows, etc). I did add a few pink candies that I found online. Pink and white twisted marshmallows. Pink shimmer gumballs. You could certainly recreate this with traditional red and green candies. You can stick to one color scheme or go all out for a multi-colored house! Sprinkles are also a fun addition, and we add them to the roofs of each house!

If you have any other questions that I didn’t answer, please leave a comment below!

P.S. If you love parties too, add my book to your Christmas list! It’s on sale over on Amazon!

XO,
Courtney