Chinese Food Container Candy House

Chinese Food Container Candy House
Overview:

This is a fantastic twist on the traditional gingerbread house that doesn't require baking skills! With a few easy-to-find paper products, you have the base of an amazing and delicious house! This is a perfect craft for Christmastime -- or any time you have lots of candy around!

You will need:
  1. Chinese food container
  2. Paper plate
  3. Hot glue or tacky glue
  4. Scissors
  5. French fry container
  6. Knife (for spreading frosting)
  7. Frosting or royal icing
  8. All and every candy imaginable!
Rating:
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Supervision:
1 adult per 5 children
Difficulty:
Attention, please! (a few rules to follow)
Age:
School-age, Tweens, Teens, Adults
Mess Factor:
Put down the tarps!
Prep Time:
5 - 10 minutes
Time Length:
30 - 60 minutes
Step 1:

Once you have everything you need, begin by opening the top of the Chinese food container and use your scissors to cut off one of the longer top flaps.

Step 2:

Now flip the box over, leaving the flaps exposed (not tucked into the box). (Remember, the top of the container has now become the bottom of your house, and the bottom of the original container is now the roof of your house!) Beginning at the base of the house where you previously cut the flap, use your scissors again to cut out a door shape from the side of the box. You can cut a rectangular door or a more cylinder shaped door. Just make sure only to cut to the the top part of the door so that it swings open. Don't cut the whole thing off!

Step 3:

Next you will need glue to seal the flaps of the house together. You don't need a ton of glue, just enough so that the 3 remaining flaps stick together. Remember if you're using hot glue, please have an adult help the little ones!

Step 4:

For the next step, glue the bottom of the paper plate to the base of your house. Doing so provides space to decorate as the front yard. First, be sure to flip the paper plate upside down, then apply a bit of glue in the center, and finally, stick the base of the house on the glue. The picture shows us using hot glue, but tacky glue works just as well.

Step 5:

Last step -- glue on the roof. The French fry container, when flipped upside down, becomes a fantastic roof! Simply apply glue to the top of the Chinese food container, then secure the French fry container upside down on top of it.

Step 6:

Now, gather up your candy supplies. Make sure you have frosting to act as your gluing agent and any candy you can imagine creating a house from!

Step 7:

Begin by using a knife to spread frosting all over the frame of the house. Then add the candy! You can use "Hot Tamales" as I have done for "bricks" on the roof, or you can lay pieces of licorice as "wood slabs" -- it's up to you!

Step 8:

Here is my little creation. I can't wait to see yours!

Video:
Craft Tips:

If you'd like to make royal icing, which hardens and can help the candies stick better, check out these two recipes:

The Do-It-Yourself Method:
3 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 egg whites

Beat egg whites till foamy. Beat in sugar until thick and smooth. Correct consistency with additional sugar or egg whites if necessary.

OR

The Easy Method:
Do yourself a favor and go to the craft or cake-decorating store and buy Meringue Powder and follow instructions – much, much easier!

Craft Variations:

Here are some examples that real kids made at our parties!

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Materials:
  1. Chinese food container
  2. Paper plate
  3. Hot glue or tacky glue
  4. Scissors
  5. French fry container
  6. Knife (for spreading frosting)
  7. Frosting or royal icing
  8. All and every candy imaginable!

Sophie's Tip of the Week

When planning food for your party have a table where the children can grab a snack or drink any time them are hungry, or need a moment to break away from an activity. Kids, like adults, often prefer to "graze" rather than sit down to a full meal - especially at a party.