Halloween 2013

I always have fun making Halloween cookies and every year I try to do some new and different designs.

LilaLoa's  car cookie has been so much fun since I first attempted it in August, that I knew I wanted to create a Halloween design using her tutorial.  Then when SugarBelle introduced her school bus cutter, I decided to try a front and back view of a car.  I trimmed the top of the bus so that it would look more like a vintage car.




Last summer I found these cutters on sale and although they are much larger than the cookies I usually make, "cookie cutter" + "70% off" was too good to pass up.  I used one to make treats for Mary Grace's birthday party, but I wasn't sure if I'd ever find another use for them until Ali Bee posted a design for a ghost and a vampire.

Since I purchased an extra set of cutters for my cookie friend, Donna's, birthday, I knew I had to try these designs.  I really like Dracula, but I think my ghost looks like the Michelin man dressed up for Halloween.  





                       Trick or Treat!

Linda Excels

 Twenty-eight years ago, I met Linda at a luncheon for teachers who were new to the school district.  What were the chances that in a 6 high school district, I would sit next to a person who would be working at the same school and in the same division?

As Chicagoans, we car pooled to the 'burbs during our first year of employment.  We became good friends and have shared lots of laughter and a few tears over the years.

I was so excited to learn that this very, worthy teacher has been selected to receive the Award of Merit from the Illinois State Board of Education.

While baking Halloween cookies, I decided to make a few special cookies for Linda and one of my "cookie cards", a home made card illustrated with pictures of the cookies.


Linda's collection will include a few cookies in honor of, ¡Hoy es Viernes!  A tradition in Linda's Advanced Placement Spanish Class,  that evolved from a weekly greeting, to brightly colored t-shirts, to a classroom bulletin board  featuring the t-shirts being worn in locations all over the world.

Linda's card will say:
  
Fly Swatters, iPads and now even Twitter. . . are just a few of the items in your creative bag of TRICKS.

                                                                                           
                                 So make no BONES about it, 

there are nothing but TREATS in store

                                   for this teacher who Excels!

Congratulations on your 
recognition from the 
Illinois State Board of Education!





A search of the web turned up many designs for skeleton and trick or treat bag cookies, but if you are interested in a step-by-step tutorial, check out:
http://www.makemecake.me/2012/10/09/halloween-trick-or-treat-bag-sugar-cookies/ 

Christie and Roy's Rehearsal Dinner

 This wedding car design from LilaLoa has been my go to cookie since August.  I selected it for Mom and Dad's 65th Wedding Anniversary in August, recreated it in a different color for my sister's 25th Anniversary in September and jut shipped some to a cousin in Alabama for a rehearsal dinner.  I added  a tuxedo design which I've never made before and some simple pumpkins and  hearts covered in disco dust.

Hopefully, a few cookies will make the long trip in one piece.

Ghoul Friends

My sister, Carol, asked if I could make a few cookies for a  co-worker's daughter who was hit by a 15 passenger van while she was jogging.  I wanted to do something fun rather than creepy!

I added a note in orange ink and a "cracked font" that said:



Sending you some “Ghoul Friends”
to keep you company as you recover. 


Little square monsters thanks to LilaLoa's tutorial.  The Count's hair was a challenge but I really like Frank.  The hat is a smaller version of the one that I did last year and it is still one of my favorite designs to make.

Carol received the following message from her colleague who was recently transferred to the building at the VA where my sister's team works:

This is to let you and your staff know how much of a smile (which I haven’t seen since before the accident) that I saw on my daughter when she received the box of cookies and how much it meant to her and her momma. She loved them.  The cookies were so cute.   You all are the GREATEST!!! I am so glad they moved us here. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!   

 

Also,  I appreciate their thoughts and prayers during this crazy time and enjoy the company when they stop by my office to check on me and see how I am doing…..It makes me cry with happiness.  You have a GREAT Team!   

 

Thank you, Thank you, thank you!!!! 

This note is a nice reminder of why 

I spend the time making cookies!

Baby It's A Jungle Out There

Thanks to the creativity of SweetSugarBelle, I have now used my reindeer cutter to make giraffes more often than he has appeared during the Christmas holidays!  The pumpkin baby was inspired by the shower invitation.