I just realized I had taken some additional cookie photos specifically to share about details on the heat gun....thus Part 2.

One thing I learned pretty quickly this last week about the heat gun.....you need to dry the cookie right after adding the icing.......BUT.....don't move the heat gun in sweeping motion too quickly over the cookie. The wet icing can be moved in waves, and it is NOT pretty.

Gasp......gingerbread men with wrinkles. :(

 Here's a pic to show you how you can do the same to all cookies and still a get a different result. I dried all of these holly berries equally. Most had no craters, but a few did. Go figure!

Here's one of the main reasons I love the heat gun......those snowmen squares would have been full of craters had I no dried them with the gun.

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One of my dream cookie orders this month......make a bunch of quilted squares heavy in red. Yippee......I equated that to a patchwork Christmas quilt!!!

I loved how those little squares looked in the box all piled together. :)

And finally......one of my most favorite Christmas tree cutters.....from Ecrandal HERE.  These cookies are over 7" tall. (Oh....and note to self......extra large cookies take lots of extra large time to decorate. ha ha)

I'm sure you all are busy busy busy getting ready for Christmas. Me too. I have a pile of cookies to decorate today.....and then I will done decorating for 2011. I've decided to make next week completely free of cookie decorating. I have to admit, these last few weeks have taken their toll. I'm a bit burned out. But next week is my birthday week.....so I plan to do lots of other fun things to rejuvenate and get ready for 2012. :)

Happy baking, preparing, and planning for such a wonderful time of year.....

Heat Gun: Part 1