Thanks guys. Crusty, I thought of painting them to, but I felt it might be better to use a food safe product since they would be in contact with the gum (at least inside). I read somewhere else about using cake icing dye mixed with alcohol and decided to give it a try. I gave them to the kids at Christmas and they haven't faded yet. I made them out of poplar, so the colors are a little blotchy, but it seems fairly appropriate to the project. I have had several requests and have made a few more since then and everybody seems to want the colors. I think your in natural wood looks great to!
