Cookies + Crafting

Fantastic idea from the Making Memories blog on using die cuts as templates for cookie decoration! What a lovely gift to give. Yum!

Witch Cupcakes

Believe it or not, these silhouettes were created with rubber stamps ($25 for two, Rubber Stamps; 212-675- 1180). Using a cookie cutter or a glass, cut fondant into circles and leave out overnight to stiffen. Paint a clean rubber stamp with black food coloring and press image onto the circles. If needed, fill in bare spots with a small paintbrush dipped in food coloring. Just before serving, place the circles on top of cupcakes with buttercream frosting.

cookie decoratin

I’m starting work at a new place on Monday. The plan was to take it a little easy for a couple of days before that, i.e. no baking, no running errands, no anything. BUT it figures that things rarely ever go as planned when it comes to rest.

A week ago, my cousin SL texts me with a request for 20 custom cookies for her marketing course project to be collected on her 21st birthday.

I’d stopped taking orders for a long time now, but I couldn’t, in all good conscience, disappoint her, especially when I knew her to be all stressed out about her coursework and that she probably didn’t have much time to search for other alternatives.

How much work could 20 cookies be? I factored in about 8 hours of baking and icing, taking into account the various designs and colours.

20 disposable piping bags and 5 hours into cookie decorating, all the while dealing with rapidly softening cookies and icing that refused to dry completely even in an air-conditioned room (oh, how I loathe this humid weather!), I remembered why I’d always limited cookie orders to a maximum of 3 designs with a choice of 4 different colours. Note to self: bake cookies longer and limit choice of designs and colour.

Happily, I was done right on schedule and stored the completed cookies in an airtight container, together with 2 small packets of desiccant.

The next morning, I was dismayed to find that some of the darker icing had bled into the lighter backgrounds. This was most apparent with the dark brown and red icing on white. My guess for the unslightly bleeds is that the darker icing had absorbed moisture overnight and proceeded to stain the lighter icing below, despite the airtight container and desiccant.

I was equally annoyed to find that the cookies had turned even softer, after just 1 day. There was nothing I could do to stop both the staining and softening process. I only hope the cookies survive till the time of SL’s presentation!

On the upside, SL has given me new cookie decorating ideas and a lesson in cookie decorating. I even managed to make her a celebratory cookie (and try out a couple of new designs for myself) for the all-important 21st!

I’m optimistic that I’ll still find time to bake when I begin my new job tomorrow, but for now, I’m happy that I got to do this just once more.

decorating Sugar Cookies

These Valentine’s Day Cookies are the masterpieces (if you will) of five fabulous friends together again decorating Sugar Cookies made by Loretta, the intrinsic Orange County Baker. We’re decorating our way through the 2009 holidays. It’s a fun way to spend time and our families love it when we bring home trays of yummy Cookies — And Candies, to be posted HERE soon.

ornament cookie platter

Fun and frugal cookies

*Cue the Theme from Jaws*

Da nuh
Da nuh
Da nuh Da nuh Da nuh Da nuh


Did you know that it's Shark Week?  Yep.  It just happened to start on the only day that we've been to the beach all summer.  It didn't stop me from going out into the ocean.  I went out *almost* waist deep.


Here's what I've learned from Shark Week:

1. Sharks don't *want* to eat you, but when they see you out there on that surfboard, they think you're a seal.  They can't help themselves.
2. Sharks really don't like dolphins OR their sonar. [Note to Self: next summer buy a greyish-blue wet suit, complete with snout and built-in sonar.

You know how cookie inspiration can happen anywhere?  See this picture from my phone?

Well, I happened to run across this cute shark picture in a magazine at...
...my OB/GYN's office.
{Not someplace I would normally break out my camera.}

Anyway...I cannot remember name of the magazine.  I was so worried the doctor would come in and I would have to launch into some nonsensical explanation...

"You see, Doctor...next week is Shark Week and well, I make cookies, for my blog...and this idea is so cute and I didn't want to rip the picture out of the magazine...I'll just stop talking and put my camera away now..."

So, if you've seen this in a magazine, let me know and I'll update the post with the source from which the cookie was inspired stolen.

Want to make your own Shark Week cookies?

You will need:

• circle cookies
• royal icing, tinted with AmeriColor: grey (using Super Black), orange, bright white and super black
• disposable icing bags
• couplers and tips: #2, #1
• squeeze bottle
• toothpicks

Use a #2 tip to outline the shark body in grey. (Do not forget to take picture.)

Use a #2 tip to pipe a starfish near the shark's mouth in orange. (Do not forget to take picture.)

Thin the grey icing with water to the consistency of a thick syrup.  Cover with a damp dish towel and let sit several minutes.  Gently stir with a rubber spatula and transfer to a squeeze bottle.


Flood the shark with the thinned icing.  Use a toothpick to guide into corners and edges.


Use a #1 tip to add teeth to the shark in white.


Use a #2 tip and grey icing to add gills.


Use a #1 tip to add eyes on the shark and eyes and a mouth on the starfish.

Show that shark who's boss.  Eat HIM!
***update, update! This little shark image is from Beatrix New York's Nigel.***

How I spend my free time : Pinterest . . . . Works for Me Wednesday

Have you heard of Pinterest?

Pinterest is the greatest thing since, well, twitter.

Here's the deal....Pinterest is an online bulletin board.  Instead of ripping pictures out of magazine, you "pin" them and Pinterest automatically saves the link, so you can go back to the original post.

And you aren't just limited to one board...you can have all kinds of boards!!! (These are mine.)

I've pinned oodles of goodies pinned on a board I call "Swooning Over Food" (shocker, I know).


But, "Yellow" is another one of my favorites.


My favorite part of Pinterest?  Seeing what other people are pinning.  You can find friends or follow people you don't know (that sounds like stalking, but I promise, it's ok).

Here are some I love....

"Color Inspiration" from Courtney of Poppy Pedals



"Travel" from Kristen of Dine & Dish 



"Cupcakes" from Laurel of Go Against the Grain



"Make me SMILE" from Teresa of Blooming on Bainbridge

Are you sold, yet?  Pinterest...it works for me & I'm lovin' it! :)