Violet Lake, of Fannin County, was part of a team that took third place in the National Gingerbread Competition in Asheville, North Carolina.
Lake is a fourth grade student at East Fannin Elementary School and the daughter of Heather and Jimmy Lake.
Lake and her team’s creation showcased Mrs. Claus and her Arctic helpers. The characters consisted of fairies on Narwal whales and Baluga whales, Arctic foxes and seals. A compass highlighted the critters facing in four directions.
The team consisted of four girls who go by “Glitter Girls.” Other members include Bryna Thompson of Toccoa, Sarah Miller of Dunwoody, Georgia, and Maggie McCurry of Atlanta. Thompson and Miller are the granddaughters of TJ and Kathy Thompson, a local resident and the team coach.
According to competition rules, items used to create the project must be 100 percent edible and 70 percent gingerbread.
The base of Lake and her team’s display, which weighed 32 pounds, was covered with fondant of many colors. For individual figures, they used rice crispy treats and finished with fondant. Spaghetti, cinnamon sticks, pasta and candy canes were also incorporated inside as support for the decorations.
Eleven distinguished international judges scored the entries including Carla Hall of Food Network.
All creations are on display at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville through New Year’s Day.