can anyone give me ideas on how to make fake cookies and crumbs that can sit out for display? I"m at a loss .. please help

Alicia

A "dry mixture" (not as much water as
recommended) of Plaster of Paris can be molded
into cookie shapes and painted.   This will give the
surface of the cookie a rough, doughy texture and
plenty of crumbs.

M&M's or glass beads can be pressed into the
sculpted cookie (while it's drying) to add "chocolate
chips" or "raisins."

I've also seen very realistic cookies sculpted out of
upholstery foam (and painted, of course).   
Unfortunately, I cannot tell you how this was done,
but they were very impressive -- even up close.

I have seen very realistic cookies sculpted out wax and some that looked good enough to eat out of the plastecene clay that you can bake.

Linda

You can use a salt dough. I have a recipe for in in my Joy of cooking christmas cookies book. it is used to make keepsake cookies. I can't find my book but I know it is a salt dough. you maks the dough and cut it like sugar cookies, after it is baked it becomes hard as a rock.

I have to agree with Shatcher about the salt dough....it is non-toxic and very durable.  There are a lot of recipes for it....try looking on-line for "salt-dough".  The only thing I recommend is to use a recipe that includes a small amount of cooking oil.....much better dough.