Instructions for Autumn's  Wonderful Christimas Cookie Bouquet

Step One:  Mix up a batch of your favorite sugar cookie recipe, or use the one below.  (I love this recipe because it is so easy, and requires no separate mixing of flour, sugar, etc... just throw the ingredients one at a time in the mixer and in a few minutes its ready to go!)  It also rolls out very nicely.

1 cup butter, softened
1 3 oz. package cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups all purpose flour
In a large mixer bowl combine all ingredients, except flour.  Beat at medium speed, scraping the bowl
often until creamy.  Reduce speed to low; add flour.  Beat scraping bowl often, until well mixed.  Divide
dough into 2 equal portions; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm (at least 2 hours).

Step Two:  Roll dough out at least 3/8" thick. Carefully twist and push 11 3/4" sucker sticks into each cookie before baking. The stick should go from the bottom of the cookie to about 3/4 length of the cookie. Bake.

Step Three:  Allow cookies to cool.   Mix up a batch of royal icing to fluffy consistency.  Divide the mixture into several small containers and cover with wet towel.  Add a small amount of water to each batch  until it us just barely fluid, NOT watery making "color flow" or "picture flow" icing.  Test consistency by dropping a small amount from spoon onto waxed paper.  It should smooth itself in about 10 seconds.  If it runs too much, add more powdered sugar.  If it is too thick, add a bit more water.   Remember: keep this icing covered when you are not using it.  It dries out quickly.  Outline the cookie with desired color of color flow and immediately fill in.  Allow several hours for royal icing to harden. When icing has hardened, paint details with a fine brush and additional flow icing in appropriate colors. Details may also be piped on with flow icing and parchment paper cone with a tiny hold cut.  In some cases, metallic colors may be desired, such as Santa's gold belt and parts of the sleigh. For the belt: First make the belt with flow icing. Allow several hours for belt to harden. Then mix lemon oil with super gold dust to make a paint and paint over the buckle.

Step Four:  When all cookies are decorated, glue (glue gun works best) a chunk of styrofoam inside vase.  Allow to harden.  Place sucker cookies into styrofoam.  Cut small amounts off the bottom end of the sucker sticks to achieve different heights in the vase.  Glue greenery.