Santa's Back

Santa's back this year sporting a stylish buffalo plaid hat!

I opted for cookie platters for the family this year, but I wasn't very happy with the outcome.  No matter how many times I arranged the tree, it just didn't look very appealing to me.  In addition, the holly berries look like Mickey Mouse. 

Although I made truck cookies in 2016 and 2015, red trucks seem to be everywhere this year, so here is my updated version.

A few snowman and snowflakes will guarantee a white Christmas!

Our Christmas celebration included a new addition to the family, great-niece, Avery.  Her "First Christmas" cookie was designed to mirror her signature style, a headband with a bow.

In past years, this cookie would have ended up in the reject pile once I smashed the bottom of the cookie.  However, I am now trying to remind myself that "it's just a cookie" and make the best of it.

The smashed foot gave me an opportunity to create a tag to add to her bagged cookie that included Lincoln, the family dog.

As Avery joined us this year, we lost her Great Grandpa just a few days earlier.  Dad, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa S.  .  .  forever in our hearts and in the stars. 

Merry Christmas one and all.

Women's Club Christmas Cookies. . .Ten Years and Counting

This year marks the tenth anniversary of baking Christmas cookies for my sister, Rita's Women's Club.   I thought it would be fun to take a look at the designs that I have shared with them to see how my cookie decorating has evolved.

The first year, I made several different designs, each bag having an "itty bitty" cookie with a larger design.  I also made a special set for a woman who was celebrating her 90th birthday.

The following year, I opted to make the same design for every guest at the party.  The Partridge in the Pear tree collection was fun to make and yet, I have never repeated it.  So many design choices for the holiday.

This Santa package shows the influence of "Spring Fling," a Cookie Convention that I attended in 2012.  We learned about creative packaging for our cookies and "toppers" are now a part of all my cookie favors,

I love, love, love this Santa and have repeated and improved upon the design over the years.

Since these cookies are for women, I decided it was time for Mrs. Claus to make an appearance.

The cookie topper had a picture of Santa and the Mrs. kissing under the mistletoe.

Santa in the chimney made his appearance in 2014.  This is the largest cookie I have ever made and I learned why there are so many large cookie cutters available.  The bigger the cookie, the easier it is to decorate.  However, I prefer smaller cookies, so I have not repeated this 4x6 inch design very often.

The peace dove that I made in 2015, is one of my favorite designs.  I love the simplicity of white cookies and the timeless message that I included on the cookie topper.

 

 

A cute little reindeer was the design I chose for 2016 with a silly topper that said:  One night a Viking named Rudolph the Red was looking out the window when he said, "It's going to rain."  His wife said, "How do you know?"  He replied,  "Because Rudolph the Red knows rain, deer."

 

In 2017, I prepared a cheerful snowman design."

 A traditional holiday favorite, a nutcracker appeared in 2018.

And in 2019, Santa returned wearing a stylish buffalo plaid hat.

Not sure if I can pick a favorite from this festive assortment, but I know I'm already thinking about what design I will choose next year.