Gum Ball Cookies and Bubble Gum Alley

 

 The other day (7/9) was National Sugar Cookie Day! I'm sure that every day a food is celebrated nationally, but sugar cookies are special:) Sugar cookies, especially decorated sugar cookies, make people smile.  {Wow, I just mentioned sugar cookies four times already...make that five.}

And these gumball cookies make me smile:)  The colors are so bright and cheerful!  The inspiration for the gumball machines came from the one and only, Sugarbelle (Callye), and the cute little gumball idea came from the amazing Partiologist (Kim)! I just love my versatile, little, round cookie cutter!
Thanks so much, Callye and Kim!

 

The gumball machines were made using a template that I cut out on heavy paper. The cookies were iced with royal icing, and m&m candies (gumballs) were added while the icing was still wet. Also, I don't know if you can tell, but I used some silver luster dust (mixed with clear vanilla extract and applied with a small paint brush) for the "metal" details on the gumball machine after the royal icing was dry.  Lastly, an AmeriColor  Gourmet Writer was used for the black detail.
I packaged each gumball machine cookie in a clear, cellophane bag, and tied it with a ribbon.  I included some gumball cookies in each bag and gave them as gifts.
Everyone seemed to enjoy them:)

On July 4th my husband and I ended up making our way north to our favorite local town. One of the reasons I wanted to visit that day was to take these photos of Bubble Gum Alley, solely for this post:) 

From Wikipedia:
Bubble Gum Alley is a local tourist landmark in downtown  San Luis Obispo, known for its accumulation of used bubble gum on the walls of an alley.  It is a 15-foot (4.6 m) high and 70-foot (21 m) long alley lined with chewed gum left by passers-by. The locally created, "most-talked-about landmark" covers a stretch of 20 meters between 733 and 734 Higuera Street in downtown San Luis Obispo.

The consensus is a toss-up as to whether this collective gum wall is an eyesore or a work of art.  What do you think?  Would you like to chew a wad of gum and add your own masterpiece?

Looks like this was a unique way of asking someone to the prom:)  (I accidentally cut off part of the question mark when I took the photo.)  I wonder what the answer was?!?

If you're ever in the area, be sure to take a stroll down Bubble Gum Alley, and don't forget your gum!

Linked to:

Sweet treats and Swanky Stuff 
Inspiration Friday
I'm Lovin' it Party  
Kitchen Fun and Crafty Friday 
Saturday Seven Party