Christmas Craft: Stained Glass Ornaments

I realized that this week will likely be the last full week I may have available to try out some new crafts for a while, so I've kind of coined it as "Christmas craft week."

I decided to give a craft from Better Homes and Garden a whirl.

STAINED GLASS ORNAMENTS

These were mostly easy, colorful, and you can eat them (if you want)...yeah!!

You'll need:  jolly ranchers, sturdy metal cookie cutters, baking pans, PAM cooking spray, twine/string/ribbon, decorative bling (if desired)

Here's what ya do:

First, unwrap all your jolly ranchers!  And if you're like me, you may want to indulge in one while you work :)  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and spray your cutters lightly with cooking spray.

Second, place your jolly ranchers one level deep in your cookie cutters on a lined baking pan.  (**take note, I used some plastic cookie cutters...don't know what I was thinking, actually, I wasn't even thinking...however, these two above held up, two others had a different outcome, though...oops**)

Third, bake for 10 minutes (or until melted).  Don't worry if it leaks out of the cookie cutter, it breaks off easily.

Take out and let cool for 4 to 5 minutes.  Then take something pointed (chop stick, skewer, etc.) and add a hole at the top for stringing.

Let cool completely for 30 to 40 minutes.

Hold up to the light and admire.  See, it looks like stained glass...love it!

Fourth, crack the excess off the cookie cutter then carefully cajole your ornament shape out (this can be a little precarious).

Fifth, add your string or ribbon.  I then used left over bling bling from a previous project just to add a little extra somethin' somethin'.

Finally, hang by a window and let the gorgeous light shine through, or hang it on your tree for a festive touch.

P.S.-- if you decide you want to eat these you might want to leave off the bling!

P.P.S.-- don't be ridiculous like me and use plastic cookie cutters in a scorchin' hot oven...duh!!!