cookies: Pretty Pink Seahorses . . . and finding inspiration

Once you've been making cookies a while, finding inspiration is not a problem...

"Ooo...that lamppost would make a great cookie! Gosh, I think I'll make doorknob cookies."

But if you're looking for some really CUTE inspiration, look no further than a printable site, like that of Living Locurto. Amy of Living Locurto has the *most fun* party printables that are sure to spark some awesome cookie decorating ideas!

Take a peek at these:

These seahorse cookies were made to go along with Amy's *darling* Mermaid Party printables. Amy provided a template and the cookies were hand-cut around the design. You can find the template on Amy's site, here.

{A note about using templates. Hand-cutting designs is time-consuming. One way to make it a bit faster is to use the template as a guide and then let your decorating define the shape. You can see the difference above. See how the one on the left has each little point and arch cut while the one on the right is just the general shape.}

To make the seahorse cookies, you'll need...

Amy's template
cookies....I made chocolate ones
royal icing colored with AmeriColor Bright Pink and Light Pink
disposable icing bag
#3 decorating tip and coupler
squeeze bottles
toothpicks
Americolor Gourmet Writer in black

With a #3 tip (a #3 will allow the outline to show more), pipe the outline of the seahorse in the darker pink icing.

Thin both the light and the darker pinks with water, a teaspoon at a time, stirring by hand until it is the consistency of thick syrup. Cover with a damp dishtowel and let sit for several minutes.

Stir gently with a silicone spatula to pop and large air bubbles and transfer to squeeze bottles.

Working 6-8 cookies at a time, fill in the cookies with light pink icing. Use a toothpick to guide into corners.

Going back over the same 6-8 cookies, add the cheek and stripe detail on top of the wet icing. Also, fill in the "crown" and fin of the seahorse with the thinned dark pink.

Now add the light pink detail on top of the dark pink.

Let the cookies dry overnight. The next day, add the eyelash detail with a food coloring pen.

Want sand? Crush up some graham crackers on a platter....you have sand. (FYI...making sand takes A LOT of graham crackers. Have a few boxes on hand. You can always spread the extras with Nutella....it's part of a balanced breakfast.)

Now, wouldn't your little mermaid like some pink seahorses?!?
And, remember to check out Amy's Mermaid Party!