Step aside, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." There's a group of bakers in town who are taking your housing game and making an even sweeter deal. Making gingerbread houses is typically a casual, family-friendly activity, but some fans of the traditional holiday activity are taking it to the next level and creating some of the most elaborate, awe-inspiring gingerbread houses you'll ever see.

Events like the George Eastman House's annual "Sweet Creations" gingerbread display and the Gingerbread House Competition of New York State in Elmira have brought bakers, artists, and gingerbread connoisseurs alike from across the state to Rochester to show everything from traditional houses to space ships, carousels, and replicas of famous Rochester landmarks, such as the Eastman Theatre.

Jim Altoonian, who has participated in the Eastman display for two years, says that making gingerbread houses has become something of an art form for him. "I put a lot of thought into it, and I think other people who do this do too," he says. "Planning it and testing out different things is part of the fun for me."

For this year's exhibit, Altoonian is making a gingerbread replica of the Hallman Chevrolet Building (which now houses Spot Coffee) circa the 1930's, which he says will include silver-painted fondant detailing and melted sugar for the sweeping glass windows. Though the structure is complex - it's known as a shining example of Art Deco architecture in Rochester - Altoonian says he's up to the challenge.

"I'm an engineer, so hopefully that background will help me make everything structurally sound," he says. "There's nothing worse than spending 20 or 30 hours on a house and having it crumble on you."

Kathy Connor, curator for the George Eastman House, says she is routinely blown away by the creativity the artists bring to the display, which is in its 14th year. "We only require that they use gingerbread and frosting to hold it together," she says. "I'm routinely amazed at what people think of and manage to put together."

Connor says she's seen everything from traditional gumdrop-and-candy detailing to more elaborate designs with stained glass made out of melted Life Savers candies. She says participants spend anywhere from a few days to upwards of a month or more designing, planning, and creating their gingerbread works of art.

Felicia Sherley and her Girl Scout troop have participated in the event for the last two years. Sherley said it's a great activity to get the girls' imaginations fired up.

"The girls come up with ideas every year and I just let the creativity flow from there," she says. "It's one of those activities that all the girls can do, and they really seem to love it."

Bringing people together is part of the reason Burt and Anne Beebe of Elmira created the Gingerbread House Competition of New York State two years ago. The Beebes say that while ingenuity is crucial to the competition, the bottom line is to have fun.

"I love just watching from the sidelines and seeing peoples' faces light up when things come together," Burt Beebe says. "We don't really put too many limits on the participants, so it's always amazing to see what people dream up." The most recent installment of the competition took place November 14 at the Arnot Mall in Horseheads, and proceeds benefited Habitat for Humanity.

Gingerbread house-building competitions like these are springing up all over, including a new one at Genesee Country Village and Museum. This is the first year the museum will host a competition like this, which Darlene Braun, one of the event's organizers, says was inspired by the Eastman House's annual display. However, unlike the exhibit at Eastman, the Genesee Country competition tasks participants to re-create historic buildings from the village in edible form. Braun said she has received a few entries so far, but is hoping for many more.

The competition will be judged in three categories - adult (18+), youth (17 and under), and group - and on criteria such as creativity, decorating detail, and theme. Entries must be submitted by November 29, and will be displayed in the village's art gallery (1410 Flint Hill Road in Farmington) during the first three weekends in December. If you want to get in on the action, visit the Genesee Country Village and Museum's Website, gcv.org, for more details and entry forms.

These kinds of extreme gingerbread houses aren't just for the pros. Altoonian says that anyone can learn to amp up their traditional gingerbread creations. He says one of the most common mistakes people make is not letting the frosting dry long enough.

"It usually takes several hours, sometimes upwards of an entire day, for it to dry properly," he said.

Other tips and tricks from these gingerbread artists: have a theme in mind, experiment with different techniques before actually implementing them, and don't be afraid to use all types of candy.

Perhaps looking through the 60 or so entries at the Eastman House will inspire your gingerbread house this holiday season. You'll have to resist the urge to nibble on the sweet treats (Connor says that's a no-no), but you can bid on the houses in a silent auction. The display runs through December 17 at the Eastman House (900 East Ave). For more information visit eastmanhouse.org.

"It's become sort of a tradition for many families to come and see the display," Connor says. "It's truly a unique exhibit, and is something that's just fun to do around the holidays."