Make sure the board is decorated, sturdy, and flat(not warped) BEFORE assembling your project.

Judges expect a neat, theme-matching edge that can be filled, sanded, painted, or decorated with ribbon or veneer tape.

Feet lift the project, protect surfaces, add height, and must be included in total height measurements to avoid point deductions. 

Size Limitations:  Each entry must be placed on a board base.  Entries combined with a base must not be larger than 24 inches high, 24 inches wide, and 24 inches long.

Base Board: Recommend using ½ inch or ¾ inch plywood base. Use of risers or feet on the bottom of the base is preferred but not required.  Risers/feet are part of the base and should not cause the entry’s overall height to exceed 24 inches. 

 Approved non-editable materials to decorate the outer edge of the board include: 

• Wood veneer tape (ironed on after sanding the edges), plain or stained
• Paint (after sanding the edges)
• Ribbon

 Risers/Feet include:

• Lazy Susan (carousel)
• Felt pads
• Furniture Legs with metal screws or felt pads

 Finally, draw a layout of the project on the board and consider how to finish it.

Designs may originate from engineering drawings, three-dimensional puzzles, photographs of historical structures, and other sources.

Paper templates can be produced by freehand tracing if desired.

For 3D puzzles and engineering drawings, components are scanned into a computer and resized to the required scale. Paper templates are then printed, and foam core is used to construct a three-dimensional template.

When constructing multi-storey houses, it is advisable to incorporate a support structure similar to those found in real buildings and to add intermediate floors between levels to enhance stability.

For curved roofs, score the template with multiple lines to facilitate shaping. After cutting and baking the gingerbread components, immediately place them onto a form core so they cool into the desired configuration.

In this example, the back wall is recessed at the upper level and omitted at the lower level, allowing for an interior view of the house.