Gymbo Birthday Cookie

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Gymboree is one of my nephews' favorite places to go and play so when I was asked to do a cookie for a party there I was pretty excited to be able to include all the things that make that place so intriguing for the kids. 

The most recognizable thing about Gymboree is Gymbo the clown who I decided to put front and center on the cookie. I tried to add different textures where I could and use Gymboree's bright primary colors as a theme. I included bouncy balls, the big tent that they use in the classes, and tried make it look as though Gymbo was juggling the balls as well as Owen's name. I used sprinkles to make the 2's inside the bouncy balls and sprinkled them all around the outside border as well which all the kids loved. 

The border around the top was a new technique for me but seemed to fit in nicely with the clown theme and added a new texture and depth around the edge. 

This cookie was a lot of fun to make and even more fun to see eaten and enjoyed at the party by all kids and parents alike.

Cars Birthday Cookie

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Ever since Christmas my nephew has been updating me regularly with what he wants on his cookie for his 4th birthday. Luckily, some ideas like having Santa riding in the Lightning car fell by the wayside, but even since December he has wanted a 'Cars' cookie with Lightning McQueen on it and with balloons. 

So I decided to do a track scene with Lighting racing against some other recognizable cars characters. Of course I couldn't forget the balloons which I made look like they were tied to the back of Lightning and each has the number 4 on it. I gave the track some texture by adding silver sprinkles to the gray road which adds a great touch and made the cookie sparkle in the sun. To keep with the race track theme I put the 'happy birthday' and the birthday boy's name on a giant road sign with yellow dots and white sugar peals that make it look like the sign has lights around it. I even finished of the cookie by surrounding the edge with some of Lightning's best quotes. 

The best part of the cookie though, as my nephew will attest to, is the Lightning car (we had to cut out the car just for him to eat). The detail and character that the car has makes it look just like one from the movie making it instantly recognizable with its decals, numbers, and design. 

I was very proud of this cookie and the especially the work I did on the car, but I was most excited that I could make my nephew so happy on his birthday

(had to sneak a taste before everyone else)

Colts Birthday Cookie

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 I would like to thank my former co-worker Jeff for presenting this opportunity to me....this is the first cookie I made for a client. Jeff had seen the Harley cookie that I made for another co-worker's birthday and I was so happy when Jeff asked me to do this for his sister's birthday. 

All Jeff told me was that she loves the Colts...Well, I love the Colt's too so I just went with it. I made the Colts horseshoe the center focus with some nice detail to add texture, but I complimented it by placing it on top of a football field which again adds texture and a new color which helps the overall composition. I used a new technique on this cookie to create the field texture which turned out very well. 

Since this was for a 29 year old girl I decided to add a bit more of the decorative detail on top of the football theme as well as using secondary colors that compliment the Colts blue but also pop against it. 

According to Jeff the whole family loved it and didn't want to cut into the field at first, but then after eating the outside they couldn't help themselves and had to go for seconds and ended up eating the whole cookie. I love to hear that because as nice as the cookies look sometimes they taste even better...so just jump in, cut it up, and enjoy

Harley Cookie

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In an effort to get my name out and introduce people to my cookies I like to make one as a surprise from time to time for someone's special occasion. In this case it was my former supervisor's birthday and I thought that instead of the usual cupcakes the company buys for an employee's birthday I would make a cookie and maybe drum up some business at the same time. 

The design was easy. My supervisor is a HUGE Harley Davidson fan and is also a landscaper who happens to love flowers, so a centrally focused but well executed Harley sign in the center just felt right. After that, I could just fill in the rest here and there with vines, flowers, and texture. 

One thing that this cookie displays well is the impact our hand mixed colors can bring to a design. This wasn't just any orange, I made sure while hand mixing the colors that they were as close they could be to the company's colors. The effect is always noticed and appreciated (which is good because mixing the colors is one of the hardest parts about making these cookies). 

When I had the sign in the center done I was so happy with it that I almost didn't want to put anything else on the cookie, but after I added the flowers I think it brought the whole composition together. 

The design is very specific and doesn't seem to fit together to some people, but for the recipient it was the perfect design encompassing some of her favorite things and she was truly surprised and thrilled to receive it after I had been telling her all about my cookies.

Dolphin Birthday Cookie

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Created for my young cousin's 10th birthday. This was my first attempt at cookie decoration. It turned out much better than I had expected for such an ambitious design. I utilized all new techniques to me from using a wet paint brush to smooth out the icing to using my free hand drawing skills to create a fun water scene.  

My mom was too busy one day to decorate a cookie she had made for my cousin's birthday party so she asked me to do it for her. I decided to take it a little further and make it a truly unique cookie just for my cousin who was a fan of dolphins at the time. It's my first time making a cookie so why not draw a dolphin jumping out of the water, simple right? 

As you will see throughout this blog I love to challenge myself to make the best cookie I can and make it truly unique for those who are going to be enjoying it. My personal challenge usually yields a fantastic cookie for whoever it is that I'm making it for and that's what makes me happy at the end of the day!