2022 National Gingerbread House Competition Grand winner

Ann Bailey, of Cary, NC won the grand prize for her Peter Pan-themed piece, "When Dreams Have Wings." She’s won the grand prize three times before. In 2012, she made "The Three Wise Men." In 2014, she built a chess set. And in 2017, she crafted “The Three Ghosts” which depicted a scene with Scrooge from the Charles Dickens classic.

Absolutely breathtaking! The detail is almost inconceivable. But exhausting looking at all that work. I wonder how much time it all consumed.

Wow!
What are the rules for these? Does everything have to be edible?

Here are the rules
Everything above the base of your entry must be composed completely of edible materials. Competitors are permitted to use up to 40% mechanically produced components in their entry. Examples include: machine designed, 3D printed and laser cut components. 60% of each entry must be handcrafted.

The main structure of your entry must be constructed of at least 75% gingerbread, some of which should be exposed. Edible materials are not limited to candies and icings. Use of gum paste, fondant, pastillage, chocolate, modeling chocolate, royal icing, isomalt, cast sugar, gelatin and pressed sugar is encouraged. Use of "Disco Dust", "Rainbow Dust" or “Hologram Powder” is permitted.

Any entry with non-edible components or using unapproved techniques will be automatically disqualified from placing in the competition. No artificial display materials, such as Styrofoam, interior lighting or other electronic components are to be used in the construction or decoration of the entry. Candies must be unwrapped and free of any non-edible materials, for example: lollipop sticks. Non-edible materials such as paint and/or ribbon are approved and encouraged to decorate the outer edge of your plywood base only. Decorations must not cause the entry to exceed the required size limitations

Judging criteria
All entries will be judged on five criteria:
1) Overall Appearance, 2) Originality and Creativity, 3) Difficulty, 4) Precision and 5) Consistency of Theme.

There is no overall theme for the competition. Although OGPI’s holiday competition is titled “The National Gingerbread House Competition™”, entries are not limited to the structure of a house. Competitors are welcome and encouraged to uniquely design their entry for the 2022 Competition. Theme should be competitor’s own and consistent throughout the entry. Decorative elements that are handmade will carry more weight than similar prefabricated items. All rulings by the judges are independent and final. In the event of a tie, the Competition Call Judge will be asked to break the tie.

Oh my word is that amazing!!!

The detail on all of the winning entries is stupendous.