Christmas 2024

Hundreds and hundreds of cookie cutters can be found at my house and I always say I don't need to buy more, but it never works.  When I saw these designs I knew I wanted to include them in my holiday collection this year.  Dozens and dozens of tree cutters, but not one with a star on top, so another cutter has been added to the cutter closet.  It was worth it, these designs make me smile.

As I was decorating them, I remembered some other non-traditional trees in the past, so here is a look back at some previous designs.

 

In addition, great-niece Avery, received a special collection of cookies reminiscent of paper dolls.

 

Love, hugs, cookies and Merry Christmas to all!

Reference:   Tutorial for the tree designs can be found at Little Cookie Co.

 

Cookies or Toys?

Once upon a time great-niece, Mary Grace, challenged me to make cookies that were "real" toys.

Her sister, Leann, always requested puzzle cookies. 

  

 

Their cousin, Elliot, told me he likes looking at the cookie designs and enjoys the stories I've written about their special cookies.

 

Now that they are getting older, I took inspiration from the three of them to create some special cookies for their younger cousin, Avery, to enjoy on Christmas Eve.

Hopefully, the cousins will read the story together and play with the puzzle pieces (covered in plastic wrap!), but the big kids don't get to eat them because they are Avery's special cookies.

                                           *****************************************

'Twas the day before Christmas and all through the house, the creatures were stirring, even the mouse!

 

Santa woke up very early, took his shower and strolled into the kitchen in his underwear to drink a cup of coffee and eat the breakfast Mrs. Claus had prepared for him before she went to the barn to feed the reindeer.

After breakfast, Santa got dressed and went to the workshop to help the elves put the final touches on the toys.

Santa worked all day and skipped lunch and dinner because he knew children would leave him lots of treats to eat during his journey.  At last, it was time for Santa to dress up in his special suit, gather the reindeer and start his long trip delivering presents to children all over the world.

Once Santa finished his long journey, he arrived back at the North Pole and donned his special pajamas and slippers, drank a cup of hot chocolate and told Mrs. Claus all about his long trip.

 

So, what does Santa do on Christmas day while all the children are enjoying the surprises he delivered to them?  Well, if you look very closely, you might find him on vacation, enjoying the beach at Riviera Maya in Mexico.  Unfortunately, he won't be there in February when Avery makes her annual trip.  He will be back at the North Pole busy working on toys to deliver next Christmas.

    Merry Christmas to all and a special thank you to Santa!

 

KISS for Christmas!

Kept it simple. . .

Since my sister, Rita has carried on Mom's tradition of making thousands of Christmas cookies to share with family and friends, I do not need to make many cookies at this time of the year.  I am happy to add my sugar cookies to her platters of family favorites. 

 

This year, great-niece Avery helped pack the cookie trays for the family Christmas Eve 

gathering. . .

 

and proudly displayed them after donning her new Mira, Royal Detective costume.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas is Here

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and after social distancing in 2020, our extended family was looking forward to our celebration. Since some of the "kids" in the family now live out of state, the crowd was not expected to be as large as usual.  However, due to the Omicron variant of the Corona virus, by Christmas day the crowd had dwindled from 27 to 6!

Matt and I were grateful to be able to attend and the food was packed and delivered to other family members.  I guess "meals on wheels" was a step in the right direction from last year and we are grateful that the vaccine has kept symptoms mild for those who were afflicted with the virus.  Hopefully, next year we can return to a full family gathering.

Cookie designs this year,  included:

Plain  .  .  .

Fancy .  .  .

Traditional  .  .  .

One cutter, four looks. . . 

a new Santa .  .  .

and angels in remembrance of family members, Kathy and Diana,  who left us this year.

         Merry Christmas one and all.

A Few Good Men and Friends!

Why is it that I prefer sunshine and sandy beaches to snow, and yet, snowman cookies always make me smile?  This design is new this year and he will definitely become part of my Christmas tradition.  So simple, but so darn cute.

A dapper, snowman for the Women's Club was another fun design that kept me smiling through the hours of decorating.

Since I make a special cookie for my great-nieces and nephews every year, I opted for even more snowmen designs.  The older kids will receive a happy snowman shopping for his tree . . .

. . . while the younger children will be able to create their own snowman, thanks to my "sugar sister," who gave me this creative cutter.  

"Stick" cookies are the trend this year, so snowman sticks will be part of the family treats.  Along with  cookies with "lots of sprinkles" that were requested by Leann.

Finally, I made some Frozen cookies for a friend, Payton, who is celebrating her 3rd Christmas and is a big fan of the movie.  She currently wears her Elsa dress every night and was excited when her cookies arrived in the mail.

Of course,  it wouldn't be Christmas without a new version of Santa Claus.  

O'er The Fields We Go

Cookies to send to friends in Iowa and Ohio are baked, decorated, packaged, and in the mail.

The Ho-Ho-Ho cutter is new this year.  I have made them before by piecing two cutters together, but this year I purchased a cutter designed by Mike at SemiSweetDesigns.  I was unable to manage the crisp clear lines that Mike had and my elf looks a bit tipsy, but I keep telling myself,  "it's just a cookie."

I had no intention of repeating the cars and trucks that I made last year for my family because it is time consuming to piece together the car and tree from two cutters.  However, when I found this tin and card with the same theme, I thought they would be a fun package to send to friends.

In addition, an internet search helped me find some inspiration for more realistic looking trees.

Finally, I had to purchase the new cutters designed by my favorite cookie mentor, SweetSugarBelle.  That reindeer just makes me smile.

To friends near and far,

love, hugs, cookies,

and

a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas 2015

The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!
Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason.

I've been feeling like the Grinch this season, so I made him into a cookie just for me.

This year the shopping, planning, decorating, and chasing, just seemed to take away from the true meaning of Christmas rather than helping me celebrate the season.  Fortunately, taking the time to decorate cookies for family and friends allowed me to think about the special people who I have in my life, they are the true gifts of this magical season.

The 2015 holiday collection included:

Pink for Payton's first Christmas, with Angel Grandma Kathy, peeking in.

More pastels for various friends .  .  .  I like the new Snowman family and deer ornaments that joined my ever growing cutter collection this year!

Same designs, different colors for the family.

Peace Doves for the Women's Club party.  I always love the elegance of white cookies.

The truck with trees was inspired by my brother-in law, Bill, who has always chopped down the tree for his family and is now growing his own trees in Wisconsin. 

Tree designs dominated the cookie platter for Christmas Day.

With a few snow people and some minis to complete the collection.

Personalized letters to Santa for the younger generation (ages 5-20). . .

 

 

.  .  . and a grown up Christmas wish inspired by the song.

Finally, in memory of my Dad, dear friend Kathy, sweet, young Grace and Jim D.  .  .  forever in our hearts and in the stars.

Welcome Christmas. Bring your cheer,
Cheer to all Whos, far and near.

Christmas Day is in our grasp
So long as we have hands to grasp.

Christmas Day will always be
Just as long as we have we. 

                                                          Dr. Seuss