BY KAREN BOSSICK

If you love building things with gumdrops and sugar frosting, Hallmark Properties is looking for you!

Debra Hall and her real estate agents are turning their attention from houses made of bricks and boards to those made of gingerbread and graham crackers for the agency’s first-ever Gingerbread House competition.

Those with the best design can walk away with up to $400 in Chamber Bucks.

There will be six different age categories and a family team category. And Santa’s agreed to join the judging party on Dec. 15—in part, because there’ll be cookies and other treats.

“We were looking at pictures of gingerbread houses and Debra said, ‘Wouldn’t it be fun to have a contest?!’ said Bree Baledge. “Next thing we knew, we were doing it.”

Those who wish to enter a house can register through Dec. 8 by visiting https://bree806.wixsite.com/hallmarkidahoholiday or calling the office at 208-928-7653.

All components must be edible. But the house does not need to be made from gingerbread.

All entries must be delivered to The Chamber Welcome Center next to Hailey’s rodeo grounds by 5 p.m. Dec. 11.

Entries will be displayed at Welcome Center next to Hailey’s rodeo grounds from Dec. 11 through 15. The entries will be judged during an Open House Party there from 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 15.

There’ll be hundreds of dollars worth of Valley Bucks good for participating merchants as prizes. Every child who enters in the 6 and under category will walk away with a gift bag just for participating.

Those ages 7 through 9 and 10 through 13 will vie for $50 worth of Chamber Bucks. The winner among 14 to 18-year-olds will get $200 in Chamber Bucks and those 19 and above, $300. The Family Team that  comes up with the best looking property will get $400 in Chamber Bucks.

Chamber Bucks are good for more than 50 shops and restaurants in Blaine County, including Atkinsons’ Market, the Building Material Thrift Store, Christopher & Co. and Dang’s Thai and Sushi.

Need help getting started?

Debra Hall’s Holiday House web page even has recipes for royal icing and gingerbread.