Preheat conventional oven to 350 degrees.
Grease baking sheet with butter, margarine or cooking spray.
Be sure to wash hands. Cooking can be messy work. You might want to wear a smock or apron.
Combine 7 1/2 T melted butter or margarine with shortbread cookie mix in medium bowl. Stir well with fork until soft dough forms. With hands, form dough into ball.
T = Tablespoon
Place dough between two sheets of waxed paper. If waxed paper is not available, place dough onto lightly floured surface and turn to coat both sides. With hands, rolling pin or sturdy plastic cup, flatten dough like a pancake. Use included zoo cutters to make Uncomonly Good® Animals or create your own shapes! Shortbread dough is flaky. For cookies with fine features flatten dough right on cookie sheet apply cookie cutter, and peel dough away from sides of cutter. Voila-yummy details.
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until edges are golden. (Oversized cookies may require longer baking time.)
While you wait, practice designs on paper using Crayola crayons or markers. Read the fun facts, and do the awesome activity on the instructions sheet.
Remove cookies from oven and cool on baking sheet 1 minute.
Move cookie creations to rack and cool completely.
in a small bowl, mix dry icing with 1 1/2 T water. Whisk with fork until smooth and set aside.
For thinner icing, carefully add water - 1 drop at a time - until you like the consistency.
Place bowl of water and paper towel next to work area.
Spread icing on cookies. Icing will harden after 15 minutes and dry completely in 30 minutes. When ready, wet paintbrush and tap to remove excess water. Place tip of brush into part of one color on edible decorating palette and rub gently to activate color. paint your animal art! Rinse paintbrush between colors.
