In a mixing bowl stir together flour, baking powder and salt.
In another large mixing bowl add sugar and butter and beat with a electric hand mixer until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and continue to beat until well combined. Add in flour mixture into sugar mixture and continue to mix until a cookie dough forms.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 2 cookie sheets with nonstick spray.
Divide the dough in 2 balls. Using a rolling pin, roll out dough into 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Place cookies on baking sheet. Continue until all the dough is gone.
Sprinkle the cookies with colored sugar and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges turn a light brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool. If you prefer to use icing, bake the cookies and then add icing once the cookies are cool.