PYO Christmas Cookies

You don't know what PYO means? Ha. All the cool kids do. Sorry, that was rude. 

PYO = Paint Your Own

Around Thanksgiving I saw a post from the Bearfoot Baker on PYO Turkey Cookies.  So, like everything else, I decided I could/should do that too. Which turned into, "Hey, wouldn't all of the children in my life love those instead of toys? Yes. Let's make 9 million."

So the research began. I found stencils, and went to town. Between these and the Birthday Deer cookies, I have learned that stencils and I should have become friends a long, long time ago. So easy, and SO CUTE.

The hardest part was mastering the paint palette cookies, which, so we are clear, are made with food coloring so all of these are edible.  I did have a stencil for the "paints" but I just made a bigger mess than necessary. In exchange for plan A, I decided to hand-dab the colors on with tiny little sponges from Michael's.  

I would also like to mention that because I live in a humid climate, color bleed is always a viable concern here. And to be honest, I usually avoid cookies that require any kind of dark on light because they always bleed. Enter, the fan.  I now have a little fan on the table where drying cookies sit, and what do you know, no bleed.  I also painted a couple of these as a test, and they worked pretty well.

Deer Birthday

Do you know what I would really love? The ability to take decent pictures. Here is the thing, this blog is totally my fault, although it wasn't really my idea, it serves as a great place for me to catalog the cookies I have made. You know, for reflection, or sentimental value, or something...I guess.

Anyway, when I was teaching myself how to make cookies, the fabulous bloggers that have taught me everything I know about cookies, have also taught me something else. To have an attractive blog, you need to be a photographer. With lights and plates, and cake stands, and props, and backdrops.....it is exhausting. I mean, I assume it is since it looks awesome and I don't do it, or have any of those things.

What do you all get? Skewed colors, views of my kitchen/dining room, bad lighting, all captured on my trusty iPhone.  Now. Could I build a little lighting unit? Yes. Could I buy a Nikon 40862435XFS, or whatever? Yes. I could also buy backdrops and who knows what else.  I consider it a win when I take pictures of cookies on a white plate when the sun is up. And we are just going to have to stick to that.

Now. Two things have happened, but I can post them separately. First. Travis turned 4. The party themed with all things deer, and I wish I had more photos because Cyndy always has the best props.  But the cookies, while starting their life in a horrible fashion due to an icing color malfunction, ended their life looking pretty good.  The wood grain effect is not as visible as I had hoped, but all things considered, I am pleased (and in love with that shade of blue).