I have tried the gingerbread house before-- with graham crackers at the kids' school, with pfefferneus instead of gingerbread (our family's preferred cookie). My sister has been through various disasters. Mostly, they are 'binding' icing that doesn't bind, and roofs that collapse from the stress of gravity. But overall, it's a fabulous potential project where the reality tends to be unpredictable and obnoxious. :O

I'm glad you decided to try again for your friend, though-- that seemed like kind of a heartbreaking disappointment for her, and how sad. Kind of like the Christmas Suckhole instead of the Christmast Spirit. :(