Cancer-Free Tattoo Cookie

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After a battle with bladder cancer that left her with a scar, my sister-in-law's younger sister decided to put a tattoo over that scar and for five years the scar and the tattoo are all that she has left from her battle, because she has successfully been cancer free for that entire time, which is truly amazing!

To celebrate that anniversary, my sister-in-law asked me to make her a cookie. This was truly a custom cookie. I knew that she had a tattoo so I suggested that we make the cookie and the anniversary very personal and very special by recreating the tattoo that means so much to her. 

The tattoo itself is a very intricate, detailed and highly personal reflection of a very hard time, so I used orange (her favorite color) and green along with a bright white to contrast and compliment the very artful tattoo that an artist had created just for her. The white border around the top of the cookie and highlighting the date of remission, along with the multiple details I included in it, contrast well with the center image making both elements stand out and work cohesively together. 

I do not have the skill of a tattoo artist, but I was rather proud of my work here recreating from a cell phone image what an artist spent hours designing and applying. The fact that it was to commemorate something so special and so meaningful not only to my sister-in-law's sister and  family but on a different level to me as well made this cookie very personal and something I was very proud to be able to surprise her with.

Congratulations Karen!

Valpo Baseball Cookie(s)

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I was soo excited when my Aunt, after looking at this blog,
contacted me to make a cookie for her upcoming party. She has made and decorated these cookies for years and she trusted me to make one for her big party and I was honored to do it!  Plus, sports themes and mascot recreations are something I love doing for cookies and I was really pumped to get started on this one and make a great impression.

My cousin is a pitcher for the Valpo University baseball team.

Today, my Aunt and Uncle hosted 70 baseball players and parents at their house after a game against Butler. Their house and decor for parties always impress guests so I knew this cookie needed to do the same. 

And yes I said cookie (singular), but I'll discuss that later :)

My Aunt was a great help in designing the cookie. She had an idea of everything that she wanted to see included on the cookie and she sent me all the logos and info I needed which saved me time, but still gave me the freedom to put together the cookie and do all the finishing in my own way. 

I chose to do the more intricate Valpo logo because I think it makes a much stronger impression and a better look for the cookie. The 'baseball' banner underneath the University name is my own addition as an attempt to incorporate baseball into that center image. The baseballs themselves balance the cookie and stand out well along the edges while giving it a little extra detail with some clear sprinkles. The ribbon border is one of my favorite looks and the yellow ribbon connecting the baseballs was perfect for this cookie! The finishing touch was a generous sprinkling of silver sprinkles all around the edge to contrast the black tray and add a special touch. With a little text to cheer on the crusaders and some graphic designs to help bring the baseballs and the logo together I think I achieved a pretty well executed cookie that I am really proud to have created. 

but....

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Unfortunately, I had made a mistake!!

That cookie that I just decorated was supposed to be made without nuts! (A point that apparently slipped my mind while baking). To remedy this situation I decided to bake and design another cookie, the way my aunt had ordered it this time. Even though it was made and decorated in a short amount of time, the second cookie needed to match the look and quality of the first. For this second cookie, I wanted to do something more directly related to the baseball team itself so I chose to put their jersey as a center piece. I outlined the jersey with some similar graphics as the first cookie, included another shout out to the crusaders, and finished it off with another ribbon border and a round of sprinkles just like the first. 

It was a good thing they were hosting 70 people because in the end they received both cookies for the party since I had made such a mistake. My Aunt was gracious enough to accept 2 cookies and happily they both worked extremely well together and looked great in the party roomed decked out in Valpo gear.

Real Estate Function Cookie

I donated one of my cookies to a fund raising auction at my nephews'

school a couple of months back. The winning bidder decided to use the cookie for a real estate event that she was putting on today. 

The theme of the event was setting goals and in terms of the design she said "surprise me" so I tried another ambitious scene design for this cookie.

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To showcase a lofty goal, I wanted to show a street with all the homes on the street boasting sold signs.  I chose to use a one point perspective leading off into the sunrise to give the idea that these sold homes continue down the street. That's quite a goal for any real estate agent I think!

This wasn't the deign for all the flashy sparkly details, so instead I chose to focus on the homes and make them as realistic as possible. I used a specific tip with the icing to create horizontal lines of the siding which was very important to the look of the cookie. I did use sparkles in the cookie, but mostly to add texture to the roof. I think the technique and the roofs looked great in the end. A little more texture added in the landscaping and the whole scene comes together as it fades back to the focal point and highlights the whole street.

The cookie was meant to be inspirational and set the mood for the event that was being hosted. The theme of the event was well represented in the cookie and hopefully eating the cookie was the perfect end to the meal and to the event.

Mardi Gras Themed Fundraiser Cookie

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My youngest brother is embarking on a mission trip to Honduras 

this summer with some friends from High School. They are attempting to raise funds to pay for the trip and one of the ways to do that was to host a themed fund-raiser and present their plan for the summer to prospective donors. Seeing as Mardi Gras is right around the corner it was a perfect party theme and the house was expertly decked out to fit that bill. 

 I chose to stick with the Mardi Gras colors and accentuate them with a lot of fun detailing and accessorizing. 

Although the mask's shape is simple the icing is full of texture 

in the green and purple regions as well as being topped off with plenty of sparkling sugar flakes to create a great glittering effect for Mardi Gras. The eccentric mask is displayed against a stark white background so that it stands out as much as possible. However, unlike most white backgrounds I create this one's edge adds to the exciting feel of the cookie and is another element 

that makes the design whole.

To buffer the edge of the mask against the bright white background I utilized the green, purple, and gold shimmering edible powder that I can paint with.

I made the strokes dynamic and festive and topped it off with gold glitter stars that radiate out from the mask.

I utilized the white iridescent sugar pearls a lot in this cookie to add depth and detail to the mask and to the overall design. It not only added texture, but added to the beaded effect that is so important to the Mardi Gras celebration. The idea of Mardi Gras beads also plays into the border that I chose to create. The mask is attached to a string of beads that form the border all the way around the top of the cookie. The bottom of the border is just a festive collection of star tipped shapes in the custom green, purple, and gold colors that works well below the string of beads surrounding the cookie.

To finish of the edge I sprinkled the border with purple, green, 

gold, and black sugar sprinkles which was a nice finishing touch that I will utilize more often. This cookie makes a bold statement with the large white area and it's erratic edge, the use of multiple layers of detail, and the lack of any text, but it works especially well against the dark cookie and is brought together by the boarder. It fit in perfectly at the party and looked great with the elegant decor for the night. 

Annie's 13th Birthday Cookie

It's been 3 years since I made my first cookie...

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Today is my cousin Annie's 13th Birthday marking that occasion.
It was for her 10th birthday that I made the Dolphin Cookie 

This cookie was made the day of the party so it wasn't as uniquely designed as that first one, but I still fit her current interests and passions which are strongly geared towards music into the birthday template that I have used in previous cookies like the Girl's Birthday Cookie. 

Annie not only loves being in the band, but she is also into crafts and design just like I was at her age, so I knew she would appreciate all the little details I put into the numbers making that the focus. I really like the choice of colors used in this cookie. The contrast between the different greens in the numbers really emphasizes the detailing on top of the bright green background and makes the detailing and music notes stand out more than the similar design of the pink numbers in the girl's birthday cookie. The background of the numbers is also coated in clear sugar sprinkles making it shimmer and all the details on top pop that much more. 

The music notes are emphasized by blue sugar peals that give a nice texture over the whole cookie. With the title on the top and such an emphasis on the numbers and the horizontal bars with the notes running behind them there was an empty space on the bottom of the cookie that needed some detailing; A simple music note and some white icing and the cookie was brought together nicely without much effort.

To draw attention to that little detail I made the border around it by alternating the two contrasting greens only in that area. The rest of the border that goes around the entire edge is made from alternating blue and white icing to emphasize the focus colors of the greens in the center of the cookie. I really liked this effect of the border and think it worked to bring the cookie to a cohesive design.

Wow! 3 years...here's to many more and many more fun and inventive designs

Christine's Bridal Shower Cookie

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 A bridal shower is such a great occasion for a cookie. It goes well with multiple other smaller desserts usually served at a shower such as cupcakes and it allows a better display of the bride's wedding theme for all to see. I personally enjoy making bridal shower cookies because the importance and elegance of a wedding allows me to pull out all the stops in terms of my designing skills. There is always a theme and specific colors or a specific design that the bride has for the big day and I get to add my spin on it to make the bride happy as we celebrate her on that day. 

For this cookie, a long time friend of mine from grade school through high school and now was getting married in St. Louis where she lives now with her husband. She came back home for a beautiful shower for all of our hometown friends and their mothers. It was a perfect shower and luncheon, but it was also an opportunity to showcase my cookies to my friends who all live in different cities now. 

For all these reasons I tried to make this cookie extra special and I spent hours trying to achieve my design objective which doesn't show well in photos, but which was really special in person. The white band across the cookie was where I put a lot of my focus using just icing to create an angled stair step appearance around the center icon that they used as the theme of their wedding. The white texture radiates  up and out from the center putting the focus on the center icon and is delicately detailed to emphasize the raised texture with iridescent sugar pearls and contrasting dark blue scrolls. A light blue folded ribbon finishes the detailed band nicely bringing it all together. 

Because of the amount of detail I put into the center portion I decided that a simple swirl pattern incorporating mostly the darker colors and smaller versions of their wedding theme icon would be appropriate and compliment the stark white of the band. Usually I don't like to used the darkest color right against the cookie because it gets lost, but in this execution I think it actually serves the design of the cookie better and I love the way it turned out.

The icon design is taken from a necklace off of Heidi Klum's jewelry line which the bride loved so much that she transformed it into her wedding theme. To distinguish the stark white in the center of the icon with the stark white surrounding it I utilized my awesome new technique that I discovered. I again chose to use the more elegant silver as opposed to a color which serves to make the names pop and works as a great background.

Overall, this was such a fun cookie to make for a good friend and I loved the icon and colors that I got to work with. All the hard work paid off and it was part of a perfect afternoon.

 

A better view of the textured band

Owen's Baptism Cookie

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When I get to create cookies for special occasions like Baptisms I always try to make it extra special and pull out all the stops in terms of utilizing new techniques. 

For this cookie for my nephew's baptism I again utilized design from the plates and napkins that his mom chose for the party as a base for my overall look. I really liked the way the last baptism cookie turned out so I kept a similar composition with the solid square in the center and cross on top surrounded by the design from the napkins. 

The cross is a large version of the one found on the napkins, but the different depths and textures added make it pop against the background which is something I am especially happy with and proud of because it's a new technique for me that I just discovered. Wilton makes an edible iridescent powder in all different colors that when added to a little bit of vanilla turns into a liquid that I can then paint with. This was my first attempt at this technique, but it turned out so well I plan on using it a lot. The silver color kept it elegant and was subdued enough that it only emphasized the cross and words written on top.

I like the bold and layered design of the swirls all around the edge and I think it holds its own as it travels down around the edges not needing a border, but relying on the design itself for all the impact.

Purse Party Cookie

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For all those who aren't in the know a purse party is just like the jewelry or Pampered Chef parties where a whole bunch of women get together for a sort of Girls Night while a representative comes to assist the guests in designing their own purses to be hand sewn for them.  As with any good girls night get together desserts are the real focus of the party and I wanted to make a fun, accessories focused cookie for the occasion.

Instead of just one centrally focused purse I chose to create many different purse designs to show off all the unique styles and scatter them all around the cookie. I was able to achieve a flatter shinier appearance on all the accessories I made by using some water and a paintbrush to blend all the rough icing together and make this cool stylish effect that worked really well to make these purses all pop. Each design is different and all are detailed some even getting some pink sprinkles! 

The rest of the cookie is filled in with some simple yet fun spirals and dots that fall off the edge and end in a simple sparkly pink border...perfect for that party and that crowd. Something like a purse party is a great occasion for me to be able to really have fun with my designs.

Pineapple Housewarming Cookie

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The pineapple is a symbol of welcome in some cultures, but all I knew when I was designing this cookie for my brother and his wife-to-be's housewarming party is that she absolutely LOVES pineapples and they pop up everywhere in the new house probably for that same reason.

I really wanted to focus on just the pineapple for this cookie since it was a quick one I made right before the party. So I decided that the texture of the pineapple was going to be the pop factor in the design. I used a simple star tip with the yellow icing to achieve that and then framed each section with the different greens to create a more layered and realistic look with real depth and texture. Since I had put so much detail into the body of the pineapple, the stem was a bit boring at first, but when I started adding the second green color and then swirling them together it really came together. A little white detailing added and the pineapple became the center of attention.

With the addition of the 'Welcome Home' title it all came together and was a hit for all the hungry family and friends who had worked all day cleaning and moving everything into the new house.

Ryan's Baptism Cookie

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 This was an ambitious design attempt for one of my first cookies of this detail, but I always love doing cookies for family members, especially for my only nephew (at that time) on his Baptism day.

Being one of my first cookies I decided to leave the intricate designing up to whoever it is that designs plates and napkins for Baptism parties...OK so I copied the design, so sue me. Everyone needs to start somewhere. I loved the spring colors and the level of detail around the center was right up my ally so I thought it was a great design to start with.

The green background is one flaw that I wish I had figured out how to remedy first. I couldn't get the icing to be as flat as I liked so I decided to keep the spatula marks which I didn't like in the end, but with the depth and detail of the cross which I LOVE and all the really beautiful detailing around the box it doesn't take away from the overall cookie. 

Bold capital text works well in this design and with the overall composition. The simple finishing around the edge brings it all together and finishes a great cookie. I really loved this cookie and I was so proud to present it at the baptism for all the families to see and enjoy.

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!