Blog: How-Tos

There are few things in life more gratifying to Julia than making special gifts for others and watching the smiles that ensue when those labors of love are shared. Here, you’ll find Julia’s how-tos for everything from cookie projects and decorating techniques to paper and other inedible crafts.

Julia M. Usher

February 2022 Stencil Release

BEES AND BLOSSOMS! Whether for a belated Valentine’s Day celebration or any other day of the year, my February 2022 Dynamic Duos™ release is the perfect way to tell your loved one (or secret crush) that you care

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Julia M. Usher

January 2022 Stencil Release

FROM PARIS WITH LOVE! With everything from cabbage roses and Cupid to the Eiffel Tower and singing swallows, my latest stencil sets will make you feel as if you’ve visited the City of Love without ever leaving your kitchen

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Julia M. Usher

November 2021 Stencil Release

GINGERBREAD VILLAGE! With a host of charming gingerbread houses and a candy cane-striped landscape as their background, these sets are sure to make your Christmas extra sweet

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Julia M. Usher

September 2021 Stencil Release

THANKSGIVING PLACE CARD! I’m a sucker for stunning place settings, and particularly ones with an element of surprise. That’s why I’m especially excited about this month’s release, which will allow you to make a plethora of Thanksgiving place cards!

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Julia M. Usher

August 2021 Stencil Release

BAD TO THE BONE! So, for years I’ve been wondering what to do with the stray cow bones from our farm that my husband “arranged” in a vintage cart on our porch. He so rarely attempts to decorate anything around the house that I didn’t want to

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Julia M. Usher

July 2021 Stencil Release

BIRDS AND BITTERSWEET! If it’s still hot in your hemisphere, fall may not be calling you just yet. But, I assure you, with the way time flies, it will be soon! So, to get you geared up for that active autumn cookie season, I’ve got a charming fall-themed stencil set to help make easy work of those upcoming orders. It features

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Julia M. Usher

June 2021 Stencil Release

ALOE BEAUTIFUL! I told you my stencil releases were deviating from seasonal and going more trendy! While I’m a bit late to the boho macramé planter craze, there’s no imminent threat of it disappearing any time soon. The look is just so darn

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Julia M. Usher

May 2021 Stencil Release

CHOMP-STOMP-ROAR! As I mentioned in last month’s fairy princess release, I’m departing a bit from my usual seasonal stencil releases, and adding a few more event-related and on-trend themes to my stencil mix. No unicorns or llamas though, I promise!

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Julia M. Usher

Alcohol- vs. Water-Based Airbrush Coloring

Having trouble with airbrush colorings being too wet and pooling on your stencils, or with white coloring being spotty and see-through? If so, this video has some solutions for you! In it, I distinguish between water- and alcohol-based airbrush colorings and reveal

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Julia M. Usher

How to Adapt Cookie Dough for 3-D Projects

Hi, everyone! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked if gingerbread is the only cookie dough that can be used for 3-D projects. Or why some doughs crack and spread, and others don’t, when baked over curved

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Julia M. Usher

Mini Costume Jewelry Christmas Wreath

I love crafting non-edibles just as much as making cookies and other sweets! I’m also a huge fan of those big retro Christmas wreaths adorned with tinsel and then jam-packed with vintage Christmas ornaments! In this video, I do a much

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Julia M. Usher

Valentine’s Day Heart Box

Apart from decorating sweets, there’s little I like doing more than breathing new life into old things. There’s something about seeing underappreciated objects turn up in unexpected ways that puts a smile on my face, and a fresh sparkle on

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Live sweetly, Julia