Cookie Crazie

"Not So Sweet" 16 Birthday Cookies

2012-02-16T07:50:00.001-06:00

In the past......most 16th birthday cookies I've done have been for girls....and have that "Sweet 16" theme. But this time I did a 16th birthday set for a "manly" young man. :) How's this for "not so sweet"....... :) I attempted the USMC logo.....but it was a rush attempt, and thus not that great. I told Jackson's mom that if he really does go in the Marines in a few years..... I will gladly make some extra special Marine cookies for him..... Probably my favorite of the bunch.....but then I've done dog tags a few times before. What a change from Valentines Day, huh? lol Get ready for a big birthday theme coming soon......... Next week is going to be a very special week here at CookieCrazie. You don't want to miss it!

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CookieCrazieBasics: Glaze Icing Recipe

2012-02-15T09:44:00.002-06:00

Now that we've made the dough, cut out the cookies and baked them..... it is time to make some icing. If you haven't heard already...... CookieCrazie is in the minority among cookie decorators. I don't use royal icing. (gasp.....I know, it's unthinkable!) It's a personal preference for each decorator. Even though RI is AWESOME to decorate with and gives so much dimension and depth to decorating.... I've chosen to go a different route. I made that choice because I was very dissatisfied... with the way RI tastes (especially the aftertaste), with the way it gets very, very hard after drying, and the funky quirks it has while decorating (i.e. dries quickly so you have to work fast, air bubbles are a big problem, clogged tips, etc etc). I had been using my glaze...

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Wishing You a Happy Valentines Day!

2012-02-14T06:31:00.000-06:00

There's no better way to wish you a Happy Valentines Day than with COOKIES! :) Hopefully your day is filled with lots of expressions of love...... and hopefully LOTS of cookies too. (If not, come to my house.....I've got a few left over. lol) HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. Psalm 63:3

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Add Envelopes & Lips to those Valentines Day Heart Cookies....

2012-02-12T18:07:00.000-06:00

The Valentine Days Heart Cookie train is rolling into the station. It picked up some love notes and kisses on a couple of stops. Oh what fun this holiday is.......but then I think I say that about all the holidays. ;)

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And the Heart Cookies Just Keep Marching On......

2012-02-11T18:01:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure why.....but this Valentines Day season I've been obsessed with the heart shape. Oh.....I've done a few other shapes......but it is like I can't get enough HEARTS. In the past few years I've done all kinds of crazie Valentine cookies. (click on the photo to see the post) Candy heart boxes...... Valentines quilts..... Lady bugs, Candy boxes, and "LOVE"..... I {heart} U, XO, funky flowers and squares..... Stitched valentines & buttons..... and even chocolate kisses. But this year.....H-E-A-R-T-S mostly. Why? Who knows! lol So here's so more Valentine heart cookies to add to the collection. This pink one is probably my favorite..... And shhhhhh......don't...

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CookieCrazieBasics: Get Your Dough In Shape - DIY Templates

2012-02-10T17:22:00.000-06:00

So what if you don't have THAT cookie cutter? Have no fear......you can make a template that will do in a pinch. I don't recommend hand cutting LOTS of the same shape (for that you might want to reshape a real cookie cutter to make the process MUCH EASIER!), but if you just need one or a few cookies in a particular shape...... a template is the perfect solution. I've collected lots of photos/graphics and ideas of shapes and cookies I've wanted to do over the last couple of years. Ha ha ha.....what a mess. They've been residing in that "cute" little box up there in the left top corner of the photo. :) But my goal for 2012 is to come up with lots of categories for this cute little file folder I just bought...... ...and get all my photos,...

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Great Shot! Camera Cookies

2012-02-09T20:35:00.000-06:00

A random turn in the road...... I've got a much shorter list of Valentines cookies to show you......so I thought I'd take a left turn and share some camera cookies I did several weeks ago. You might remember that the big 3000 FB fan giveaway in December included a set of camera cookie cutters. These cutters come from the DIY Photography store.....and were donated for the give-away. The company also sent a set to me to try out.....so here I go. :) These cutters not only include the outside edge cutter for the three different camera shapes..... but also a piece you can lay on the top of the dough to imprint the cookies. It's a cute idea.....and works well if you are not going to add icing on the top of the cookie. But for our...

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String-A-Long Valentine Cookies Using Nonpareils (Tutorial)

2012-02-08T18:38:00.001-06:00

One more tutorial in time for Valentines cookie baking...... You'll need: cookies in varying shapes with a string hold cut out (I used a wide straw) icing in your choice of colors nonpareils (I'm using Valentine-sy colors of red, pink, & white) a wide surface bowl, dish, or pan with sides (to keep the lovely nonpareils from escaping all over your kitchen...hee hee) twine, ribbon or string to match our icing colors Outline your cookies with a #2 round tip including an extra line close to the outline to make your outside border be thicker to hold nonpareils. Be sure to outline the string hole if you'd like. Fill in between the outline and the extra line to make your thick border. While it is wet, place it in your container with sides and...

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Airbrushed Valentines Day Cookies

2012-02-07T19:29:00.000-06:00

I don't really want to post these cookies......but it seems only fair to share the ones I love.....and ummm.....the ones I don't love. ;) I bought an airbrush in the fall......but so far, I'm not super happy with it. First of all, I don't really know what I'm doing......but also, I don't think mine works right. I saw a demo in September.....and mine doesn't do what I saw demonstrated........ Oh well......I outlined and flooded a bunch more red, pink, and white hearts for my airbrush episode. And here's the results. Nothing amazing about these.....but a nice change from the same 'ole, same 'ole. I decided I'd add some text to a few of them......so I added my favorite Bible verses about God's love. More Valentines cookies coming your way......

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Sweet Valentine Text Cookies (Tutorial)

2012-02-06T20:35:00.000-06:00

More cookies on a string......but THIS time...... you get to personalize them for that special someone. :) A few weeks ago, I saw this adorable poster on Pinterest. I loved the sayings so much.....and knew I just HAD to put a few on some Valentine cookies. heehee I picked out a bunch of varying shapes to go together for these text cookies. It was fun to even change up some shapes by putting the string hole in a different spot. Ok....so you know the drill for cookies with strings after my last post of the hanging stitched valentine hearts, right? Cut out your shapes with a small hole for the string. I used a wide straw.....but any small cylinder will work. You can pick any colors you'd like. I chose more electric colors for this one......rather than the...

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Hanging Stitched Valentine Heart Cookies (Tutorial)

2012-02-05T20:06:00.000-06:00

Only 9 more days until Valentines Day..... I gotta get movin' on all the things I want to show you before the big day. I've got several Valentine cookie tutorials I want to share with you in the next week....so let's get started! I know, I know......you are shocked that I'd do STITCHED hearts AGAIN. I hope you don't tire of them.....because I just love stitched things. :) These are fairly similar to the Christmas ornaments I did in December. They are nice and simple......and yet really cute. Simple and cute.....great combo. ;) Bake up some heart cookies and use a straw or other small cylinder to punch a hole through them. Outline your hearts. (You're gonna see these next photos several times in the near future.) I know some people are very...

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CookieCrazieBasics: Get Your Dough in Shape - Cookie Cutters

2012-02-04T20:29:00.000-06:00

OK......so we've made our cookie dough and we've rolled it out nice and smooth. Now it's time to get that dough in shape. :) Awwww.....the subject of cookie cutters. Ummm.....I'm just going to admit something right upfront..... I have WAY TOO MANY cookie cutters.....and the worst part is.....I always want more. OK....I said it. I guess it feels a little better to get it out in the open. lol What is it about these little strips of metal made into a million different shapes that is so appealing? I don't know.....but I'm hooked. :) And to prove it, I'm going to let you see my stash. And.....I'm even going to let you look in the some of the drawers. (Somehow this feels like I'm showing you closets in my house. Yikes.....I hope everything is...

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Red, White & Pink LOVE Cookies

2012-02-03T11:27:00.000-06:00

Oh what fun I've been having...... I love it when someone says, "I want two dozen.....whatever designs you want to do". Oh boy......you can imagine the giddy glee. :) So I go crazie.....and have a blast in the process. And then I get to have a wonderful photo session with these babies. :) I guess it is bizarre to have so such fun with cookies......but then, who cares what people think, right? I hope you've got some big plans for Valentines cookies in the coming days. Have fun!

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Striped Valentined Heart Cookie (Tutorial)

2012-02-02T08:19:00.002-06:00

I love patterns. Ha.....I'm sure you knew that. ;) There's something about patterned cookies that sends my heart a flutter. I have trouble making PLAIN ones. :) It's an illness. I have to FORCE myself to do plain cookies sometimes. hahaha And I make myself repeat over and over, "Simple is better.....simple is better....simple is better." But I must admit.....it doesn't work very well. I love the challenge of making something "even better".....and that usually means more complex (in my CRAZIE brain). Silly me. Complex is not necessarily better. I see some pretty amazing cookies that are quite simple. There is an elegance and beauty to them that busy-patterned cookies can't touch. But I guess I don't live in that elegant beautiful world. lol I try.....but I keep...

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Random Valentine Cookie-ness

2012-02-01T05:35:00.000-06:00

As you can see from these cookie photos.....I tried a little of this and a little of that last week. I don't know why I think I've got to make every cookie different......but I'm driven to do so. Why "waste" a perfectly good cookie on the "same old, same old"?? THIS defines CookieCRAZIE-ness! Tomorrow...............another Valentine cookie tutorial.

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Sending Love.....Cookie Style (Tutorial)

2012-01-31T07:56:00.000-06:00

Do you wanna send some love? Here's some fairly simple cookies to make for your loved ones. For the envelopes.....outline a square or rectangle cookie in white including the flaps. Notice the one on the left.....I did it first. I like the two on the right better. hee hee :) In them, I made the upper flap go down deeper into the bottom.....making it looking more realistic. Let the outline dry for 20-30 min. Then add sections. Start with the outer two triangles. (Dry for 10-15 min between each). Add the bottom next....and let dry. Finally add the upper flap. Notice I added more icing on the right cookie. Do that! ;) (But don't add so much that it collapses.....just enough to give it that 3D puff look.) I forgot to take pics of...

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Sealed With A Kiss......Valentines Cookies

2012-01-30T07:19:00.000-06:00

I've been busy with red, pink & white icing. :) Want to send some love? How about some love letters sealed with a kiss...... Be sure to put some LOVE-ly stamps on those envelopes.....either red...... or pink ones....... Tutorial coming tomorrow. Happy Monday!

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CookieCrazieBasics: Smooth Even Cookies....EVERY Time (Tutorial)

2012-01-28T18:37:00.001-06:00

Who knows how many times I've been asked questions like......"How do you get such smooth even cookies?" or "How do your cookies always turn out the same thickness?" or "How do you get your cookies so thick?" etc etc. I wish I could say it was skill.......but no, I have the perfect tool. I remember when I first got my DoBord. I was so excited! I even posted about it on this blog HERE. That was nearly two years ago.....and my DoBord is still going strong and as good as new. Love, love, love my DoBord! This quality product called the DoBord LTD is featured HERE .....the site where I purchased it. (They have great customer service.....by the way). Yes, it is expensive......but I'm telling you right now that it is worth ever penny. (I did a...

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Ultimate Cookie Quilt for MeeMaw's 80th Birthday

2012-01-27T07:45:00.000-06:00

Not only did I make special quilted birthday related cookies for my mother-in-law's 80th birthday last week, I also created a huge patchwork quilt of cookies for the big birthday party. This was definitely on my list of favorite cookie projects. :) Each "quilt square" was unique. Fun. :) It just makes me happy to see all the patterns and colors together. I heard some happiness in MeeMaw's voice when we talked on the phone. I'm glad. She's a very special lady who needs some extra special cookies to represent her wonderful life. :)

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Update on Pan Lids for Drying Cookies

2012-01-26T09:07:00.000-06:00

Learning is a process, right? Well.....I'm still learning about using lids on my half sheet pans to dry my cookies. More than a week ago, I did a post entitled "No Pan Rack for Drying Cookies....How about Pan Lids?" Since then I've learned some things.....and suspect I'll learn more in the coming days. ;) First of all, I put my lids over wet cookies the other day.....and it seems that is not a good idea. Look at how uneven the surfaces were the next morning when I took the lid off. :( Note to self (and to CookieCrazie blog readers): Let cookies dry for a few hrs before putting lid on pan to cover overnight. (In other words, don't put lid over very wet cookies.) Also, one of my readers (Susan) ordered the Nordic Ware lids for her Wear Ever half sheet pans...

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MeeMaw's 80th Birthday Quilted Cookies Collection

2012-01-25T08:38:00.000-06:00

My mother-in-law just turned 80 last week.....so I wanted to do some very special cookies for her. Since she is a quilter and I love to do quilted cookies......the theme was a no-brainer. :) I can not tell you how much fun I had taking all the normal birthday shapes and making them with a quilted look! Pure joy. I just talked to her last night. The crowd at the party devoured the cookies.....and she didn't get one. But she seemed so happy about them, that I don't think she minded. :)

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CookieCrazieBasics: Chocolate Cut-Out Recipe

2012-01-24T08:29:00.000-06:00

Now that you have my basic sugar cookie recipe, let's move to my chocolate cut-out recipe. I love making chocolate cookies on occasion......not only because chocolate is AMAZING (!) but because the dark background of the cookies really makes certain designs pop. All I've done for my recipe is modify my regular sugar cookie recipe. I didn't want to mess with the success I've had with the original......so I traded out some of the flour in the original recipe and added cocoa instead. It works well.....and is very yummy if I do say so myself. I also add coffee flavoring to intensify the chocolate flavor. Mmmmmm..... Notice I use THREE different kinds of cocoa. What did you expect from someone as CRAZIE as me?! I love the black cocoa I get from...

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Stitched With LOVE: Valentines Cookies

2012-01-23T06:59:00.001-06:00

It is a super windy Monday morning (almost scary wind!).....as I sit here with a lovely winter cold.....sneezing, coughing, and blowing my nose. :( Thankfully, I already have plenty of cookies and photos in line to show you.......so it is just a matter of putting together a post. I've got a few more "stitched" cookies to share with you......there never seems to be a shortage of those type cookies around here. hee hee And just in case you weren't aware........my cookies are Stitched with Love... I think that is probably the best part about making and decorating cookies. You put your heart and soul into them and then delight someone with them. I call that "Cookie Joy". :) I hope your day is filled with lots of joy....despite the weather or...

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Stitched Valentines Cookies (Tutorial)

2012-01-21T20:35:00.000-06:00

Wanting to make some Valentines heart cookies to share for the holiday? I've put together a little tutorial to help you make some of the simpler designs you see in my Stitched Hearts collection. _________________________________ To make the polka dot hearts..... Outline and then flood the cookie in your base color.....then immediately add your polka dots (wet on wet). For the size polka dot you see here.....I used a #2 round tip. But if you want larger dots, use a #4, and for smaller, use a #1. _______________________________ To make a checkerboard heart...... Use a #2 round tip to make your criss-cross pattern. Dry with heat gun and then let it air dry for 20-30 minutes. Fill in the darker of the two colors. Dry with heat gun...

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Simple Valentine Heart Cookie (Tutorial)

2012-01-20T10:05:00.001-06:00

Well.....it is about time I got to Valentines Day cookies. :) Actually I decorated hearts a couple of weeks ago.....but the snowmen revolted and took charge. hee hee I've got several simple tutorials to share with you for making some fun patterns on hearts.So here we go..... The day I did these cookies was one of those "happy days".Everything was "right with the world".....if you know what I mean. It was snowing outside....which always makes me happy. It was bright and cheery, warm and wonderful inside..... And I was getting to decorating cookies.....which always makes for a good day. :) So I got a little CRAZIE with the photos. ha ha I was enthralled with how pretty these Americolor gels looked all staged...

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