Crystal chandelier cookies

Sometimes inspiration comes to me in the strangest ways.  Like these magnetic colored crystals that I found at Hobby Lobby. 

I love being able to change out the look of my chandelier with the seasons.  I'm not sure how my brain made the jump to cookies, but it did.

And if I'm being honest, I will have to admit to some accidents and missteps along the way.  I meant to have this posted yesterday, and midway through I almost gave up and tossed the idea out.  I'm glad I didn't.

The camera really doesn't do them justice - they are gorgeous in person with the light shining through them. 

I began by finding the shape of a crystal I liked from an online lighting store.  I was able to enlarge it by clicking on the enlarge image area.  Then I traced it again with the smaller version.

I cut this out of paper and then used it to make  templates out of cardboard. 

 I rolled out my sugar cookie dough and cut the shapes out with a knife.  I then used the smaller template to cut an opening in the cookie.  Be sure you also make a hole in the top so they can be hung.

I wanted pastel colored hard candy for the center and I had no idea how difficult it was going to be to find some.  Lifesavers are great for this kind of project, but the colors just weren't cutting it for me.  At long last I found pastel lollypops at the Dollar Tree.  I LOVE the Dollar Tree.  Smash the hard candy in a food saver bag.  This helped me deal with my frustrations of the day.

Now just sprinkle the crushed candy in the holes and bake - note:  I had to bump my baking temperature up from 350 to 375.  Watch them like a hawk because they go from unmelted to burnt in a hurry (not that it happened to me or anything...).  After they come out of the oven, they look like this.

Let them cool completely, then decorate.  I initially used fishing line to string them, but that didn't work well (as in cookie dropping to table and breaking).  A fine craft wire worked wonderfully.  I just made a small loop out of wire and then used tulle to tie the cookies to the chandelier.  Ahhhh, I am finally happy.

Wouldn't these be darling as party favors?  Decorate a little pair of scissors with tulle and let guests snip a cookie down on their way out. 

It is a gorgeous day here and I couldn't resist taking some outside and hanging them in my flowering crabapple tree.

It was breezy, so getting them photographed wasn't the easiest.

I really love the little yellow ones.

I probably shouldn't mention this (it will spoil the mood), but if you did this on a hot humid day they would act like fly strips.  Just sayin.  Anyway, today was lovely and the cookie crystals on the chandelier and in the tree were just right.  At last.

Today I am linking with

Tatertots and Jello

Wow us Wednesday

Craftastic Monday

A stroll through life

Seasonal Sundays

Tempt my tummy Tuesdays

Tidy Mom

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Home and Family Friday

Romantic Home

Iron Violets

Foodie Friday

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Pink Saturday

Sweet as Sugar