A Christmas fanatic turned her office cubicle into an incredible life-size gingerbread house amusing her colleagues. Monika Orrey, 47, had only worked at her new job for two months when they announced a workspace decorating competition. The practice manager threw herself into the contest, spending eight hours turning her cube into a festive gingerbread wonderland. She constructed the sides and roof of the house by herself with duct tape and cardboard that she covered in brown craft paper. The mum-of-one visited the office on a Sunday to construct her masterpiece as a surprise for her colleagues the following Monday. Monika from Oakley, California, USA said: "I consider myself very festive, or as my daughter would say, I am 'extra'! "I do indeed have far too many decorations at home according to my family but I know they love it. "When the cubicle decorating contest was announced, I knew I had to do something 'extra' and started stockpiling cardboard right away. "I was at first concerned my new colleagues might think I was odd but soon remember that I am happiest when I am authentically me so I pushed right past any concerns and got to planning. "I wanted to do something big and incorporate my well-known sweet tooth, and what better than a giant gingerbread house? "I wanted to share my love of Christmas and make people smile... oh and win the contest! "With the cardboard I had collected and the decorations I had on hand, the biggest cost was tape. "I was able to collect bowls from the dollar store, paint pinwheels on them, attach the bowl to a white cardboard tube and cover in cellophane for extra large 'lollipops'. "I bought some candy stickers and found more candy images online that I printed out for more decorations." And when her colleagues rocked up on Monday morning, Monika says they were "speechless". "It definitely broke the ice!" she said. "I am a bit competitive and I love Christmas so it was really right up my alley. "I figured 'this is who I am, they will find out sooner or later', and it was definitely sooner!" Despite stiff competition from the rest of the staff, Monika's cube won the decorating competition. She said: "Many colleagues brought their kids in to see my gingerbread house and it brought smiles to many - mission accomplished! "The Christmas spirit was alive and well in the office with faux fireplaces and a 'melted snowmen' crime scene that was amazing."