TheRoths started making gingerbread displays several years ago as a family activity. As they grew, the children became more involved. I use Nerds for a gravel roof or stone. Golden Grahams cereal for a roof. I'll use candy canes for pillars.
Most participants learn through trial and error.
For her first gingerbread project, Roth said she used a cookie-dough recipe but found it too soft. Now she uses a very stiff, unleavened dough. Construction is tricky. The home's interior, even though it can't be seen, is crucial. Roth and Woodward advise letting the dough dry out overnight after baking and using cardboard to support the structure and absorb moisture.