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THIRD ANNUAL GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION

From Blueprints TO Peppermints . . . 

Who will build the best
gingerbread house of all?

In true IHR design-build fashion, dream it up, design the details, and build your sweetest showstopper. Gather family and friends, make festive memories, and you could win prizes from local favorites. All ages and skill levels welcome.

Reserve your free gingerbread kit for pickup on Wednesday, December 10, 2 to 5 PM, while supplies last. We’re even giving away sweet prizes that support our NE Seattle local businesses.

Submissions: December 1 - 15

Voting: December 17 - 23

Winners Announced: December 24

House Gingerbread

In the Bottorff family, we have a cherished tradition of building gingerbread houses all together each holiday season. We’re excited to share this tradition with your family!

– Bennett Bottorff,
Founder, Innovative Home Renovations

Star Gingerbread

Reserve a Free Gingerbread Kit!

We’re spreading sweet holiday cheer with 100 gingerbread house kits—on us!

We are gifting 100 Gingerbread Kits to NE Seattle Families! 

Kits are limited (2 per household), and reservations are required. 

Pickup Details:
Date: Wednesday, December 10
Time: 2:00 – 5:00 PM
Location: IHR Office
3711 NE 45th St., Suite 100
Seattle, WA 98105

Let the gingerbread creativity begin!

Using our kit is optional. Homemade or store-bought builds are totally welcome in the contest!

You do not need our kit to enter the contest.

How to Enter

STEP 1
Gather Your Supplies

gingerbread-house

What You’ll Need to Build Your Gingerbread House . . . 

Whether you're going all-out DIY or starting with our free kit, here’s what you’ll need:

  • A Gingerbread House Kit or Dough: Use our free giveaway kit or your own homemade dough. Store-bought or from scratch—both are welcome.

  • A Solid Base: A sturdy piece of cardboard or a wooden board will keep your creation standing tall.

  • Royal Icing in a Piping Bag: This is your edible glue. Use it to hold pieces together and to decorate with detail and flair.

  • Candy Decorations: Gumdrops, peppermints, chocolates—whatever inspires you. Pick your favorites to give your house personality and color.

 

STEP 2
Build Your House

gingerbread-house

Build Your Masterpiece . . . 

  • Assemble the Walls: Pipe icing along the edges of your gingerbread pieces and press them together to form the walls. Prop them gently against something sturdy—like a box—while they set.

  • Time to Decorate: This is where the fun begins. Go bold, go sweet, go wild—there’s no wrong way to bring your gingerbread house to life!

  • No Experience Needed: Seriously! This contest is about creativity and community, not perfection. Whether you’re a first-timer or a frosting pro, your house could be a winner.

STEP 3
Share Your Masterpiece

gingerbread-4

 

How to Enter the Contest . . . 

Once your gingerbread house is complete, snap a photo and choose the entry path that works best for you:

Option A: Instagram Feed
Post your photo by Monday, December 15 at 11:59 PM

  • Tag @IHRSeattle

  • Include both hashtags: #IHRSeattle and #IHRGingerbread

  • Your account must be public so we can see your entry


Option B: Instagram Stories
Share your photo to Instagram Stories by Monday, December 15 at 11:59 PM

 

Option C: Upload on Our Website
If your Instagram is private or you’d rather not post publicly, use our Photo Submission Form below to upload your image and optional caption.

 

Submission window: December 1–15, 2025

House Gingerbread

Built Your House? Show it Off!

Show us what you’ve built! Just submit your photo and join the contest.

Get Ready to Vote!

  • Rally your friends and family to vote for your creation from Wednesday, December 17 – Wednesday, December 23 via IHR's Instagram (@IHRSeattle)
  • The top 3 gingerbread houses with the most votes will receive prizes. 
2023 winners cropped
Snowflake Gingerbread

Prize Information

These prizes come from some of our favorite family-friendly spots in NE Seattle! Whether it’s getting creative at Squirrelly Workshop, whipping up something delicious at Frog Legs Cooking School, or painting your own masterpiece at Paint the Town, each prize celebrates the fun, hands-on experiences our local community has to offer.

Squirrelly_Tag
frog legs logos
paint the town logo

1st Place

$100 gift card to Squirrely Workshop + Art Studio

Squirrelly Art Studio and Gift Workshop is a creative space in northeast Seattle offering a multitude of art experiences for folks of all ages. We love to get messy, try new art forms, create masterpieces that build self-esteem, and make gifts that bring joy to others.

2nd Place

$75 gift card to Frog Legs Cooking School

Frog Legs Cooking School is a culinary academy for kids and adults, offering classes, camps, and events centered around edible fun. Their adjoining Mrs. FrogLegs Treat Mercantile features scratch-made cookies, granola, dog treats, and more—all celebrating the joy of gathering around good food.

3rd Place

$50 gift card to Paint the Town

Paint the Town is a walk-in ceramics studio where all ages can paint mugs, plates, and more—no experience needed! They provide the materials, you bring the creativity. Perfect for spontaneous art, rainy-day fun, or group gatherings.

Location: 5414 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105 

Location: University Village - 2643 NE University Village LN, Seattle, WA 98105

Location: University Village - 4611 Village Court NE, Seattle, WA 98105.

Competition Rules & Conditions

  • Up to two entries per household

  • All entries must be submitted by December 15 at 11:59 PM

  • Instagram Feed posts must tag @IHRSeattle and include both hashtags: #IHRSeattle and #IHRGingerbread

  • Instagram Story entries must also be uploaded via the Photo Submission Form below (so they don’t disappear)

  • Private Instagram accounts must use the website upload option here

  • Voting runs December 17–23 on IHR’s official voting post on Instagram

    • Each comment on the post counts as one vote—multiple comments allowed!

  • Winners will be announced December 24 at 12:00 PM on Instagram

  • Submissions must be original, family-friendly creations

  • By entering or voting, you agree to receive communications from Innovative Home Renovations (IHR) and grant permission for IHR to share your photo (with credit)