Do They Know It's Christmas?

I approached this challenge with emphasis on 2020.  The only thing I could think of was what a trashcan! I thought about doing a large trashcan but things became a bit too dark and truthfully, the impact to my household is nothing compared to so many others. This got me thinking about the song “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Bandaid for famine relief in Ethiopia. There have been a variety of covers recorded and tweaks of the lyrics but the essence remains. For those unfamiliar, it goes something like this…

It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade

And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time!

But say a prayer, pray for the other ones
At Christmas time it's hard, but when you're having fun

There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear

Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

Feed the world…
Let them know it’s Christmas time!
Heal the world…
Let them know it’s Christmas time!

So, the song became my theme for the challenge.  I started with the world. Two large half spheres, with a disc to support.  The sphere is about 10 inches.

I had some problems with cracks and spreading but not nearly as much as I feared – I was able to patch up problem spots. Additionally, I put a rice krispy column inside each half sphere for additional support. The icing of the spheres was a bit of a fiasco.  I poured the icing but probably should have dipped and been more careful.  The drip marks look kind of like water so I’m not entirely displeased though I could have been much neater.  I airbrushed the assembled sphere with a blue sheen.

The continents were a series of unfortunate events. I first used edible fabric, which looked terrible.  I replaced them with sugar sheets, which did not look much better.  I finally decided to just go with fondant and put a couple, including North America, upside down.  All of this resulted in a pretty beat- up looking world (very 2020!)  I added silver sheen to the fondant and more sheen the “water” to help cover up.

I planned on using a large angel cookie cutter for the people throwing the arms around the world. I baked the cookies and immediately placed them on a trashcan (the irony!) when they came out of the oven in order to get the curve.

The shape proved too difficult for me to create people hugging the world, however, so I made up some rough templates and baked them the same way.

I had so much fun decorating my huggers.  I could have/should have spent weeks on each one but I just didn’t have the time. They are a combination of royal icing, fondant, embossed fondant, transfers.  I am embarrassed to credit the artists who inspired some of the clothes because my execution of their techniques is so bad but thanks to @Manu biscotti decorati for cable knit, @iSugarfy (aka swissophie) for her knit tutorials (I don't know how to attach them!) and @Aproned Artist for snow angels.

To depict my house, I just ma de a simple template because my house seems rather insignificant in regard to the whole world right now.  It is, however, overflowing with cookies.

As I mentioned before, I would have liked to put a lot more focus, care and time on this but I simply did not have the energy. I realize it is pretty sloppy. I did my last batch of cookies for the food distribution and next week will be a much-needed break!  I really enjoyed this challenge though and had fun with it, even if I am geographically challenged (I even had to send my husband on a curbside Target run to get a globe!)

I was unable to completely rid myself of the 2020 trashcan notion so there is one on the base.  I tried to balance it with a dabbing Santa on the top because, why not? It’s Christmas time!

Such a fantastic project! So wonderful pray and wish with deep meaning❤️So let feed & heal the world!!❤️

@Petra Florean posted:

Such a fantastic project! So wonderful pray and wish with deep meaning❤️So let feed & heal the world!!❤️

Thank you so much Petra.  A very Merry Christmas to you and your family!❤️😘

@LisaF posted:

Thank you so much Petra.  A very Merry Christmas to you and your family!❤️😘

sending virtual hugs❤️

So original - I really love the story behind this!

I think you did a wonderful job @LisaF. I love your story. It is not easy to work with spheres. You did great.

@Julia M. Usher posted:

So original - I really love the story behind this!

Thank you so much Julia.  My original inclination was to do a take on a dumpster fire but it jut became waaaay to negative!😂

@Zeena posted:

I think you did a wonderful job @LisaF. I love your story. It is not easy to work with spheres. You did great.

Thank you Zeena.  I'm trying to move up to larger spheres and am discovering a whole new set of challenges!!

Oooooh Lisa, is that great!!!!! That is sooo aptly and wonderfully implemented! You really thought about it !! I am really very excited about your project !! In short, beyond great!!! I love it, Lisa!!! @LisaF ❤️😘

I love it!!!! Oh Lisa, @LisaF, the song is absolutely perfect as it describes 2020 so well. Crazy times for people the world over. What a great project for the Challenge. You are being FAR, FAR too hard on yourself my dear friend!! This turned out great . The meaning behind each part of the "world house" is special. As I said, I love it!! Thank you for all the beautiful pics and explanation. It's always so fun to read and see pictures about the process of creating a 3D project. I just shipped my last order for this year. Yay!! I was thinking about the challenge and what I could make within the remaining time frame. I hope there's time to create something that resonates (as yours does).

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas dear Lisa ❤️❤️❤️. Thank you for your uplifting spirit and kind, generous presence here on CC. It means so much to me. I'm sure it does to others as well

So fun Lisa!!! I love it ❤️🎄❤️

Thank you for sharing so many details about this project. It actually turned out great! I love the whole concept, the design, the dabbing Santa, and of course, the meaning behind it all.

@Icingsugarkeks posted:

Oooooh Lisa, is that great!!!!! That is sooo aptly and wonderfully implemented! You really thought about it !! I am really very excited about your project !! In short, beyond great!!! I love it, Lisa!!! @LisaF ❤️😘

Thank you so much Gabi. I thought of doing a regular house but I just couldn’t get there mentally or creatively. I so appreciate your kindness.❤️😘

@Cookies Fantastique posted:

I love it!!!! Oh Lisa, @LisaF, the song is absolutely perfect as it describes 2020 so well. Crazy times for people the world over. What a great project for the Challenge. You are being FAR, FAR too hard on yourself my dear friend!! This turned out great . The meaning behind each part of the "world house" is special. As I said, I love it!! Thank you for all the beautiful pics and explanation. It's always so fun to read and see pictures about the process of creating a 3D project. I just shipped my last order for this year. Yay!! I was thinking about the challenge and what I could make within the remaining time frame. I hope there's time to create something that resonates (as yours does).

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas dear Lisa ❤️❤️❤️. Thank you for your uplifting spirit and kind, generous presence here on CC. It means so much to me. I'm sure it does to others as well

Thank you as always for all of your kindness. I usually do a couple of gingerbread creations for display at a local fundraiser but it was canceled this year. It felt strange for me not to do something and stranger this year to do just anything ! This turned out to be a surprise solution for me. Once I figured out it would « work «  I really wished I had been more careful along the way though. Oh well.

I do hope you are enjoying the season and having a much needed break from all your (completed!) work.  Big big hug my friend. ❤️😘

@Evelindecora posted:

So fun Lisa!!! I love it ❤️🎄❤️

Thank you so much Evelin!❤️❤️

@Sweet Prodigy posted:

Thank you for sharing so many details about this project. It actually turned out great! I love the whole concept, the design, the dabbing Santa, and of course, the meaning behind it all.

Thank you Christine. And thank you for the challenge ! Each year I do gingerbread projects for a local display. They tend to be elaborate and I start in September. This year things were already canceled at that time so I figured I would just skip it. Thanks to the project I at least did something which was wonderfully cathartic.

However, don’t have your children look to me for geography advice. There are currently a couple of family members and universities in this country seeking to disassociate from me.

@LisaF posted:

Thank you Christine. And thank you for the challenge ! Each year I do gingerbread projects for a local display. They tend to be elaborate and I start in September. This year things were already canceled at that time so I figured I would just skip it. Thanks to the project I at least did something which was wonderfully cathartic.

However, don’t have your children look to me for geography advice. There are currently a couple of family members and universities in this country seeking to disassociate from me.

Looks like Pangaea to me! 😂

Lisa, I like the fact that you had your focus on the globe and on the people... all the right places. Beautiful project all around!

@Tunde posted:

Lisa, I like the fact that you had your focus on the globe and on the people... all the right places. Beautiful project all around!

Thank you so much Tunde!❤️

I always love to read the details about your challenge project💙

@Manu biscotti decorati posted:

I always love to read the details about your challenge project💙

thank you Manu.  I loved trying out your cable knit technique.  I can't wait to work on it more and improve my performance!