Michigan Graduation Cookies

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My cousin graduated from the University of Michigan today!

Her mom contacted me with an order for two cookies in celebration of the weekend. The first cookie, the one pictured above, is a more personal one documenting her time and interests while at Michigan and also her future plans which include a move to DC!  Represented in the cookie is Michigan football, her sorority Alpha Chi Omega which includes their symbol the lyre and their flower the red carnation, and the Phi Beta Kappa key which is the symbol of her academic honor society. Of course, I couldn't forget to make Michigan the center of attention in this cookie! Meg absolutely loves the school and everything it stands for as do her parents and this day was a celebration for all of 4 great years at Michigan.

 Congrats Smeg! :D

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There are 9 more congratulations that need to be extended as well. One for each of the other housemates that have all lived together at 849 Tappan for 2 years. When I heard that the next cookie I needed to decorate was for 10 housemates who are all graduating, I knew just what to do for the design. I decided that I would create the Michigan sign again, but that this time it would serve as the base for a house. All that I needed to add was the roof, a few areas of siding, and the address and I had created a unique representation of their beloved house and university.

It was important to include each girls name on the cookie and with there being 10 girls, that took a little planning. In the end the continuation of text around the edge of the cookie was a good look and the addition of a graduation cap above each name really brought the whole theme of the cookie together.

To make the cookie a bit more special I added some delicate yellow detailing around the graduation year and between each of the girls names to connect that aspect to the simple scallop border. I was very happy with how well both of the cookies turned out and so happy for all of the girls on such a big day, especially for my cousin!!

Secretary's Day Cookie

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A big thanks to an old friend for passing on this link to her mom. I was so excited when she contacted me and happy to create a cookie for the mother of a family that has meant a lot to me since my childhood.

Formerly Secretary's day, April 27th is now referred to as administrative professional's day, but that's a bit much to try and put on a cookie! So, instead of trying to put a label on this cookie I decided to pick a symbol that would represent the day best and let that be the message. Since the day is about thanking those who do all the little things that make any office run smoothly, I thought that flowers can literally say 'thank you' as this bouquet does while being a beautiful centerpiece and conversation piece.

Since this was for the administrative professionals at a local High School I chose to use the schools colors in the bouquet and in the vase which includes the school's crest as well. I haven't done many specific flowers in my cookies except for the gerbera daisy bridal shower cookie up until recently and I am learning how best to create each unique flower out of icing. The daises were simple but very striking when I added in the purple while the yellow roses were a challenge, but I ultimately figured out the best approach and now feel confident in creating them for future cookies. The message cards were a simple way to get the message of the day across without having to say specifically on the cookie 'Happy Administrative Professional's Day' which created a simpler and cleaner design which I really like.

 

What better way to express your thanks for someone's hard work than with a beautiful bouquet that can also say exactly what you want with message cards?  Well how about a beautiful bouquet that says exactly what you want to say but then satisfies your sweet tooth when the novelty wears off...yeah I think that's better :)

Thanks to all those 'Administrative Professionals' who do such great work, especially those at Guerin Catholic High School who were so gracious and kind when I delivered the cookie.

mmmm....individual size cookies

As I try to expand whatever it is that I am doing in terms of selling my cookies I have been advised that I might try and include an option of selling additional smaller cookies along with the large cookie so that it feeds more people and perhaps delays the cutting of the cookie. Some people apparently have a problem with this. I personally don't understand that and would prefer to dig in as soon as possible, but the feeding more people is always a good thing.

So my mom set off to try and convert our unique recipe for the large cookie into individual sized cookies. This was our first attempt and though we might change some things about the baking process, and I'll have to figure out some better designs, the taste was right on and they are something I would be happy to include with any order!

Island Themed Bridal Shower Cookie

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I'm so glad my Aunt has such a big family, otherwise I wouldn't have any cookies to update :)

This Island Themed Cookie was for her soon to be daughter-in-law who is getting married in Cancun!!! I thought I would bring a bit of the feel of the tropics to this cookie for her bridal shower. I used corals, yellows, and greens, also the accent colors to her wedding, to really create that effect. I chose a simple beautiful flower to surround the central beach scene which includes a palm tree, (much improved  from my last attempt with the Sunset Housewarming Cookie),  bright blue water washing up on the beach, and his and her sandals resting in the sand. With all the colors and details in the design, simply listing their names and the date of their wedding was all that was necessary to complete the design. 

The simple yet detailed flowers really bring this cookie to life and are my favorite element. I did spend the most time on them making sure they were perfect, but I think it paid off in the way that they define the feel of this cookie. This is really the first time I used the technique of painting the icing to fade out right to the cookie as I did for the water, the sand, and around the names. For this particular design I think it was very successful. With such attention to detail, the realistic effects of all the elements let them stand on their own and bring the whole cookie together without the need for a conventional border. 

I hope the cookie captured the beauty and elegance that the gorgeous bride has planned for her big day, and maybe even helped get her more excited about that beach wedding that's not too far away!!

Congrats Tony and Sarah!

Another big thanks to my Aunt for the beautiful photo

Puppy Birthday Cookie

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Right after I finished the Valpo Baseball Cookie for another of my Aunts, I quickly got a request from her son and daughter-in-law for a Birthday cookie for their 3 year old daughter Addison or 'Addi'. 


Lucky Addi had even gotten to pick out the theme for her own Birthday party this year so 'Puppy Themed' was the order of the day for this cookie.  After the last dog that I had recreated for Mo's 30th Birthday Cookie turned out so well I was feeling pretty confident about my ability to do another dog and make it work well with the cookie.


Overall, I really like the way the puppy turned out with the bone with Addi's name on it in her mouth and the number 3 hanging from her collar to complete the Happy 3rd Birthday title. My mother actually really helped bring the cookie together by suggesting that I add the adorable little bows to the puppy's ears, both to bring some of those bright colors to the top of the cookie, and to make it a girl puppy for the little girl's birthday. The bright glitter filled paws and the fun detailing around the center are all great elements on this cookie. If I had to do it again I might arrange all the elements differently. I was very pleased with the way each turned out, but just not in that configuration.


But, a 3 year old doesn't have to know that part :) As long as Addi enjoyed her puppy cookie and it tasted as good as I know it did then I can't complain because it was a really bright, fun, glitter filled cookie to celebrate an adorable little girl's Big 3rd Birthday party.

Young Baker's Birthday Cookie

Another order for my best customer :)
 

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My Aunt asked me to design another birthday cookie, 

this time for her 5 year old granddaughter who loves baking and using her kitchenaid. (The Girl's Birthday Cookie was for another granddaughter and was a big success)

I started with the Birthday design template that I use unless there is a  request for a more specific design, but in my sketches I got so caught up in the idea of adding baking stuff to the cookie that I forgot to leave room for the 'Happy Birthday' and her name! I ended up having to cut out some of the number to fit the name, but it was an easy fix and I like the way it emphasizes her name against the white background. Of course I had to incorporate a replica of her kitchenaid mixer, and the rest of the cookie I filled with her favorite things to bake like cookies and cakes. 

The color palette turned out better than expected and the lime and pinkish lavender contrasted and complimented the turquoise base sooo well, enhancing the design of the cookie. A cookie can always look great in a sketch, but the colors are key to making it work.

I love to use the fact that a cookie is for a little girl as my excuse 

to add as many sparkles and sprinkles to a cookie as I can!!! And this one was no exception. The '5' is filled with white sugar flakes and then finished with the swirl details. I used silver edible paint to make everything that would be metal shine and sparkle, I used the iridescent sugar pearls around the edge, and then added even more of the sugar flakes to the cupcake icing around the edge. 

 

The border of this cookie is my absolute favorite design element 
of not only this cookie, but maybe any of the cookies I have created!! 
This was the first time I used an object and not just an icing technique as a starting point for the border design. Ally also bakes cupcakes and I thought that the sides of the cookie would be a perfect place to add them so they looked as though they were standing up. The top of the icing then comes over the edge. So, from above it creates a border around the central design and from the side it is a unique design in itself. I was so happy when the actual product turned out as well as my mental image. I wish that would happen more often :)

I hope Ally loves this cookie as much as I loved making it for her. 

Looks like she did!! :)

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