Storybook painted cookies

I ran into some charming vintage storybook animals while cruising around on Pintrest.  They look like the Little Golden Book illustrations that I have always loved.  

Cue the icing!

I had trouble deciding which ones I wanted to do, but decided on the kitty,

deer,

and who could resist a duckling with a balloon?

Adding borders of fancy icing stitching was the finishing touch!

Childhood innocence is pure joy!

Link parties
Savvy Southern Style Wow us Wednesday
The DIY Dreamer Dreams to Reality

Painting on cookies - my first video tutorial

I can honestly say that this is the first time in my life I have ever been tempted to imbibe in a glass of wine at 9:00 a.m..  

Let's just say, it took a hundred few takes.

I had so many issues with my camera, I had to resort to consulting the owner's manual.  Now THAT is serious.  

My other issue was with my dog barking.  She would be lying there calm as can be or snoozing, and about 30 seconds in, she would start barking.  I tried giving her a barbeque chewy rawhide stick outside, and she just brought it back to the door, dropped it, and continued barking.  It brought back to mind when my five kids were small and the phone would ring.  They would come from every corner crying, whining, tattling, hungry, thirsty, and fighting.  As soon as the call would end, they would go back to being little angels.

Can I hear an amen from the other moms out there?  I can't be the only one  :\

So I decided to outsmart my dog Nellie (that's right - matching wits  with a little spaniel...).  She is a serious chow hound, so I took a handful of her kibble and tossed it off the deck hoping she would consider it to be a doggie scavenger hunt.  And she did - for about three minutes.  

Close but no cigar.  

Now my kids think Nellie is terribly spoiled and pampered by me.  

And no, she is absolutely NOT eating creme brulee in the photo.  

*Cough*

But, it needed to be quiet and I had to take tough measures with my  "6th child".  It was out to the garage with her, where she gave her vocal chords a good workout.  Happily, it wasn't heard on the video! 

And so with the house quiet at last, I made this video tutorial - 

PAINTING ON COOKIES!

Let me know what you think - suggestions for making it better or new subjects you would like to learn about.  

I also embellished the painted cookies with a Celtic knot border - I love the way it has a three dimensional look!  

Nellie and I hope you enjoy the video tutorial, and give painting on cookies a try!  

Link parties I am participating in:

Home Stories A to Z
Seasonal Sundays
Inspired Friday at Common Ground
Little Mom on the Prairie
Home Sweet Home
House of Hepworths
View from River Mountain
Stone-Gable Tutorial, Tips, and Tidbits
Seven-Alive Link it up Thursday
The Dedicated House
Wicked Awesome Wednesday
Sugar and Dots
Made by me Wednesday

The Hunger Games cookies

These cookies are for a dear friend's daughter who is loves The Hunger Games as much as MY daughter!

District 12 training uniform

I must admit, that I entered the whole HG hype with skepticism.  Traditionally, if something is a big hit with the masses, I don't like it.  Not that I try to be contrary; it's just how I roll.

Mocking Jay bird

So, I reeeeealy wasn't overly enthused to read the book or go see the movie.  

The much needed gifts from the districts.

But when the book got a good review from my oldest son Drew, I became curious enough to read a chapter or two.   Before I knew it, I had read the whole book.  

Katniss becomes the "girl on fire".

It really was a compelling story.

Katniss is a wonder with bow and arrow.

Almost made me want to take up archery.  

I said ALMOST.  

Another mocking jay with a rather bad representation of a ring of fire.  

Since I liked the book, and Isabelle was DYING to see the movie, I agreed to go.  I figured the movie would not be very good - books remade into movies never seem to be - but I have a daughter I didn't want to disappoint and a discount refill tub for popcorn, so it was a go.  

Coal mining in District 12.

Just so you know, my daughter and I can eat our weight in popcorn.  

Kind of difficult to have the odds in your favor when it is one out of twenty four...

I enjoyed the movie.  Of course, in my opinion, the book was better, but the movie really captured the spirit of it.

Tracker jackers.

I can see, however, that it would have seemed disjointed to watch the movie without the book for background info.  

Effie Trinket

I LOVED the costumes, hair, and makeup for the people of the capitol.  JUST FABULOUS!

Katniss Everdeen

I haven't started the next book, but I certainly will finish the series. And we will be back in the theater with our discount popcorn bucket when the time comes for the sequels!

Do you think she will go for Peeta or Gale.....?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOLLY!

Easter wishes

Did you wake up to bird song this morning?

Have you colored your eggs?

I hope you are wearing your new Easter bonnet!

Sending you wishes for a joyous Easter.

Have a blessed day filled with family, love, and faith.

And maybe a little chocolate!

Painted Easter cookies

I have been playing with food coloring as paint.  Maybe it is my extreme dislike of cleaning icing bags and tips manifesting itself.

I have to say, though, that I really like using tips and paint brushes together on the same cookie.

The icing borders seem to make the painting pop more.

After outlining and flooding a cookie with icing, I let it set up till it is very dry.  

Then I squeeze food color gels onto a paper plate, get a bowl of water for washing the brushes, a paper towel for blotting, and start painting.

White food coloring comes in very handy to tone down the intense color of food coloring gels.

Of course, I use artist brushes that are only used in food coloring - 

NO REAL PAINT ALLOWED!

I'm not sure it is a quicker form of decorating, but it is certainly fast in the clean up department!

I really enjoy trying new techniques.  If it doesn't work out, hey, you eat it.  

I actually did eat one.  I was curious to see if the food coloring was adding a bitter taste (it doesn't), and it was a really bad design.  

It all works out!

I think the ones above are my favorite.  A true "mixed media" cookie, and who doesn't love sugar egg dioramas?  They are 

PURE CHILDHOOD MAGIC!

Linking with French Country Cottage Spring Link Party

Belleek Irish cookies

I am participating in Cuisine Kathleen's Irish blog crawl



Today's cookies are my take on Belleek Irish china.  I used royal icing to make the patterns around the rim, and I painted the shamrocks with food coloring.  I am really enjoying the paint technique.  It has opened up a whole new world of possibilities - I even got myself a couple of new brushes today!  

And now for a few Irish blessings!

MAY THE ROAD RISE UP TO MEET YOU.

MAY THE WIND BE ALWAYS AT YOUR BACK,

MAY THE SUN SHINE WARM UPON YOUR FACE,

THE RAINS FALL SOFT UPON YOUR FIELDS AND,

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN,

MAY GOD HOLD YOU IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND.

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE WORK FOR YOUR HANDS TO DO.

MAY YOUR POCKETS ALWAYS HOLD A COIN OR TWO.

MAY THE SUN SHINE BRIGHT ON YOUR WINDOWPANE.

MAY THE RAINBOW BE CERTAIN TO FOLLOW EACH RAIN.

MAY THE HAND OF A FRIEND BE ALWAYS NEAR YOU.

AND MAY GOD FILL YOUR HEART WITH GLADNESS TO CHEER YOU.

MAY YOUR TROUBLES BE LESS,

AND YOUR BLESSINGS BE MORE.

AND NOTHING BUT HAPPINESS

COME THROUGH YOUR DOOR.

MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE WALL FOR THE WINDS,

A ROOF FOR THE RAIN, TEA BESIDE THE FIRE,

LAUGHTER TO CHEER YOU, THOSE YOU LOVE NEAR YOU, AND ALL YOUR HEART MIGHT DESIRE.

And, my personal favorite,

MAY YOU BE IN HEAVEN

A HALF HOUR BEFORE 

THE DEVIL KNOWS YOUR'E DEAD.