Dashing to send off a post today as I continue to deck the halls, craft, bake and prepare to celebrate the holidays. Happily, the shopping, wrapping and cards are finished. How about you?
When I first began collecting large Christmas cookie cutters, the plan was to decorate whimsical cookies — wrapped in cellophane bags — as table favors. Instead, for several consecutive years, I gave duplicates as Christmas gifts to family and friends. I imagined they (or one day I) would bake giant cutouts for a cookie decorating activity with kids or grandkids.
Fast forward, and I’ve finally gotten to a decorating idea that’s been in my noggin for several years — hanging the oversized holiday cookie cutters on my upper kitchen cabinets.
Not that it was a difficult project to do. But, it did mean finding extra time to get organized and put them together. Last year, I was wearing a giant boot and getting around on crutches, so there was no climbing on a stepstool to hang them!
Let me show you my Christmas cookie cutter collection, and how festive they look decorating the kitchen.
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Decking the Halls Kitchen
Over the years, I’ve collected cookie cutters from William Sonoma during post-Christmas clearance sales. All are stainless, which don’t rust and nicely compliment my kitchen appliances. Depending on your cabinet finish, copper cookie cutters could look fabulous, but might tarnish and need more upkeep.
Since I don’t really have any kitchen wall space for decorating, this trio of cabinets in the corner is a high visibility area for displaying them.
When we Remodeled the Kitchen Design & Layout, most of the walls are covered by cabinetry, appliances, doors or windows.
Here is a view of how the nine-foot island looks with the Casual Christmas Table & Bar Set for Holiday Season. In the background you can see the large pantry — in a minute I’ll show you more cookie cutters hanging on the upper cabinet doors. On the angled door hangs a snowman. It’s another spot in the kitchen I use to display seasonal and holiday wreaths and decorations, in lieu of wall space.
Only one of the three doors in the corner is opened frequently, as it holds coffee cups. Although the cookie cutters swing a bit, I haven’t found opening and closing the doors an issue. It helps hanging them high on the cabinets, requiring shorter pieces of ribbon.
It’s the same space I Decorated with Red Heart Ornaments for Valentines Day.
Decorating Tip: All the oversized cookie cutters are between 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 inches tall. You could go smaller, but I’d advise at least 5 inches so they don’t look lost against the cabinet door. And, I’d try to stay consistent in the size and finish of the cookie cutters displayed.
Wreath Making
Hanging on the center cabinet is a wreath cookie cutter, measuring 8″ by 7 1/2″. You know how much I enjoy making wreaths, so why not large decorated cookie versions?
Even though 13 holiday wreaths decorate the inside and out of our home, it’s been years since I crafted a new one for the house. Instead, I Refreshed & Updated Christmas Wreaths with new bows, ribbon and embellishments.
A year earlier, I made a new Holiday Peacock Wreath. It not only compliments my Peacock Ornaments on the Christmas Tree, but how I Decorate for Christmas with a Peacock Theme. And since I have peacock decor accents in the living room — like a vase full of feathers on the grand piano — I leave the wreath up on the mirror through February.
Two other whimsical Christmas wreaths I made were gifts for my sons. See both the Bringing Home the Christmas Tree and Elmer the Elf Christmas Wreath.
Nuts for Nutcracker
On the left-side corner cabinet, is a nutcracker cookie cutter. He’s the newest in my collection; a gift youngest son tucked into my stocking. D knows how much I love The Nutcracker ballet, especially it’s timeless music. When they’re home for Christmas, I’m always requesting that he or his brother play it on the piano.
This year, we are all going to see Hip Hop Nutcracker, “a holiday mash-up for the entire family, a contemporary re-imagination of Tchaikovsky’s timeless music.” It on it’s fourth national tour. Have you seen it?
There are quite a few nutcracker items in the living room; including ornaments on the living room tree, a needlepoint pillow, set of Byers’ Choice figures, and large Drosselmeyer Steinbrenner nutcracker.
Several years ago, Drosselmeyer was displayed as part of my Nutcracker Collection Christmas Centerpiece & Table.
Presently, I’m hand painting nutcracker stemware and crafting napkin rings to update that tablescape for our Christmas Day meal. Hoping to share with you soon, but I may not have time to finish both projects and create a post before the holiday.
Build a Snowman
Pairing nicely with the same size nutcracker cookie cutter, is a snowman. He joins a number of snowmen that decorate the kitchen in the months of December and January.
In addition to the snowman hanging on the kitchen door, are others decorating the adjacent open shelves.
Along with dishes and decor vignettes on the countertop, these shelves are the primary area for seasonal and holiday displays in the kitchen.
Check out more of my collection at Building a Snowman Table Setting, and 5 Snowman Centerpieces Decorate Winter Table.
Let It Snow!
Nearby, a pair of giant snowflakes hang from the cabinet doors above the stainless refrigerator.
Since I’ve already removed the vintage cookie tins, cookie cutters and other holiday items, these cabinets will remain closed until the New Year. Besides, I need a step stool to reach them anyway!
Each snowflake is different and beautifully detailed, measuring 7 1/2 by 8 inches. William Sonoma is currently showing a similar but different snowflake cookie cutter on their website.
Tied around each of the eight cookie cutters is narrow 5/8ths inch-wide grosgrain ribbon (Target this year), with no wire that would ripple. Wide painter’s masking tape attaches the ribbon to the backside of each cabinet door.
Simple, right?
Once hung, I decided the stainless silhouettes and tan striped ribbon looked too subtle. So to add some festive color, I got back on my stepstool and tied a piece of faux holly (Dollar Tree, 6 clusters/bunch) to the top of each cookie cutter.
After taking them down for the season, I’ll try to lightly press flat the curled edges of the holly using a cool iron (between a piece of fabric). Then, I’m thinking of adding a dab of glue around each knot of ribbon holding the holly in place.
What do you think would look best — with or without the holly?
Festive Upper Pantry Doors
Nearby, a trio of cookie cutters decorate the cabinets above the large kitchen pantry.
These upper doors are also opened less frequently.
Behind the reindeer cookie cutter, trays, cookie sheets and racks are stored between vertical dividers.
Platters, serving bowls, cake stands and larger seasonal dishes are stored on wide shelves behind the other pair of doors.
Isn’t the gingerbread man cute? Someday, I’d like to craft a new kitchen wreath decorated with a gingerbread theme. I’d embellish with regular-size cookie cutters and theme ornaments. Gingerbread is one of the holiday gift wrapping themes I use frequently. And, I’ve used gingerbread wrap and bags to package the cookie cutter gifts given to family and friends.
Sometimes, I’d attach a cookie cutter with ribbon as a package embellishment. Cookie cutters also make a nice hostess gift, especially when paired with other holiday baking items.
The Christmas tree cookie cutter is also beautifully detailed. One similar to it is currently listed on William Sonoma‘s site. It might be that it and other large format styles are still available in stores?
Time to Hang It Up
Wish I had a picture of the entire kitchen in a single view to share with you. I’m pretty pleased with how each cookie cutter looks. Especially with the decorated chandelier over the Bringing Home the Christmas Tree Holiday Table.
I finally finished decking the halls yesterday — hurrah! Its been several years since I decorated the small tree in the guest room with my collection of Scottie dog ornaments. I lost my Fibber McGee suddenly and unexpectantly two years ago in December, and it was a struggle just to make merry. This year the ornaments bring back happy memories of him.
And our Scottie puppy, Glenfiddich “Whiskey,” is celebrating his first birthday and Christmas. More importantly, both our sons will be home for two entire weeks through New Years — and R is bringing his girl with him. I’m trying to pull out all the stops!
They are arriving this weekend, so I’ve got to move on from decorating the house to finishing those nutcracker projects and start baking cookies!
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I regularly participate in: Metamorphous Monday, Share Your Style, Tablescape Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Crafty Creators, Saturday Sparks, Happiness is Homemade, and Love Your Creativity.
Love this post, I use jello forms, cake pans and cutters in my kitchen Christmas decor. I love the nostalgia as most of mine are vintage! Very cute
Thanks Sandi! Curious how you manage to display Jell-O forms and cake pans? I have several but they are large and kept in the cabinets. I do have vintage cookie tins that I stack in a vignette near the coffee/hot chocolate bar though.
Those look fabulous! I keep thinking I want to put mini wreaths on our cabinet doors but I kind of like the idea of cookie cutters in the kitchen even more.
Appreciate it Joanne! That’s what I originally thought to do, but hanging the cookie cutters allowed me to display my festive collection. Plus, I can still use ’em if I want to sometime. Hmm, that may be a good reason not to glue the holly in place…
Merry Christmas. Still out of commission Debbee
And to you and yours Myrna! Gosh I’ve missed conversing with you. Sorry to hear of your continued issue! Hope you are able to get it resolved soon.
Very cute decor Debbee. You have quite the collection. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas.
Ah thanks Linda. Can’t believe it took me so many years to get them displayed — no time lol! Have a happy, healthy holiday.
What a beautiful way to use cookie cutters! And BTW – your collection is outstanding. I will have to shop for some fancier ones at the after-Christmas sales and do this next year. Thanks for the ideas!!
Hi JJ, it’s lovely to “meet” another blogger! When I add holiday decor, storage is always an issue. But, with the cookie cutters, I put them back into the vintage tins we use to store holiday cookies. Happy shopping — let me know if you find something special!
What a super idea! I have some copper cookie cutters that would look cute as Christmas ornaments. Your large ones look perfect tied with French ribbon. Thanks for the inspiration.
Really looking forward to the new year and getting back to the FWF party! I always enjoy seeing what you have created! Happy New Year. Hugs
I think copper would look fabulous Rachelle, and like the idea of using cutters as ornaments. I’m in my 12th day of nursing a terrible cold (but its just a cold), and putting away all my holiday decorations and tableware. Apparently, a very crazy lady lives here who has way too much stuff, lol! May be a month before I publish a new post, but will definitely be checking in the on your wonderful weekly party.
Such a great group of cutters you have, and I think they make perfect decor—I have them spilling out all over my kitchen at Christmas! Fun Post, from MetaM…hugs, Sandi
Oh, I’ll bet your kitchen looks darling! I was so happy with how the large cutters looked hanging on the upper cabinets. An easy way to decorate too!
This is all so adorable! I love the cookie cutters!
Glad you like the look Pam! Appreciate you stopping by. This is the second year I’m hanging the cutters on the cabinets. So since I had already attached the ribbon and holly, it only took me 10 minutes. Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season!
I’ll be featuring this at the TFT party today, Debbee. Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season, too!
Thanks for the feature and hosting Pam! TFT is the first and now longest linkup party I participate and look forward to every week.