Take-A-Peek Tuesday! Easy Woodgrain Cookie Tutorial!

Did you happen to see those little signs I made for the Easter tushies this year?

Yup, those are the ones. 

At the time I didn't really think of them as woodgrain.  

I was going for a dirty, grubby sort of look, like Mr. MacGregor's garden.

So, when I started getting questions about how to make woodgrain on cookies, I was stumped.

"I don't know how to do that?

How the heck would I even begin to know how to do that?

oooooooh...maybe I did do that. 

Hmmmmm."

They're super easy to do.  Especially if you think of them as 'dirty' instead of 'wood'.

'Cause, how can you mess up something that's just supposed to be dirty?!

I cut rectangles and lightly pressed a skinny wooden stick onto the front before it baked. To make it look more like a garden stake,  I extended it out the top and made it crooked. (really, I meant to do that...)
Flood with white or ivory and let it dry.


Gather up all your supplies...

Some clear water or vodka, plastic paint palette with ivory and brown food coloring, clean foam brush or sponge, and a dry paper towel.

Dip the foam brush in water, then the color and smush it around in the middle of the palette. (looks like I got a little red in there to by mistake)
Try it out on the towel to see if you like the color...

...and wipe it all over the cookie.

Let that dry just a bit, maybe a minute or two. I liked it a bit drippy and messy...
For the first pass, use just a little bit of color.

For the darker bits, dry your sponge almost all the way, then dip the corner into the color.
Paying special attention to the edges, lightly paint streaks back-and-forth.

Keep adding streaks until its dark enough for you.

Don't forget the edges....

And that's that!
Dirty ole wood signs for your garden...




....or old poison labels for Halloween!

I hope you try it out!

(and show us lots of pictures when you do!)

Easter Cookies....What's in the Garden Today?!

When Bonnie and Trish from Uncommon Designs asked if I could make cookies for their  Easter Tablescape project, these popped in my head.

I made them last year and couldn't wait to make them again...with a few added ideas.

Same little bunny tushies, but the carrots are a bit bumpy now.
Trish thought these would be perfect for a Garden Patch Dirt Cake.

Which made me think.... 'We need a few garden signs!' What should they say?

That gardener probably doesn't need all those carrots, he can sell one or two.

Free?  Why would the bunnies be free? They're so cute!

Oh my, okay.  The bunnies shouldn't be eating the carrots. That's just bad manners.

I love them just like they are but....





 how sweet is this cake!!

I'll be needing to make this for Easter for sure!
You can see lots more pictures and fabulous ideas for your Easter table  at Uncommon Designs all week.

There's a new tablescape everyday!

Happy Easter to you too little bunny. (At least one little guy remembered his manners!)

I almost forgot...I made a little tutorial for these bunny tail cookies!
Come back tomorrow for Take-A-Peek Tuesday.  Its a tutorial edition!
AND
it's the last day to enter the GIVEAWAY! Good Luck!

My flower girl!!!!

Went on a field trip today!!!

First Jack and I stopped at Miss Christy's classroom at the High School!
I planned to get really cute pictures of Jack delivering a box of sunshine and there would be lots of smiling and hugs....

Not so much...

Apparently Jack is afraid of the wild species of teenager than runs rampant on High School Campuses.

So we just dropped off our box and were on our way to.....

My Flower Girl!!!!

(Please excuse the awful picture taking.  Have not yet started lessons with my photo guru....Steve.)

Its really cute, all outdoors the way flowers should be.  Feels like walking into someone's lovely garden..

Lisa has the most beautiful hand tied bouquets.  

This was Jack's favorite (mine too!)  and it came home with us!!!

It smells lovely and it feels just a little more like springtime....

Not to mention that Jack fell a little bit in love, he hasn't stopped talking about 

'Miss Lisa, the pretty flower lady'.

And we delivered a little sunshine to her too!!!!

www.myflowergirl.com

So good to see you Lisa!  We'll be back soon!

(Jack is blowing you kisses on the computer.....the boy is not subtle...)

Love ya!

Lizy B

Here's one more shot of the cookies for all the bakers out there....

Knock-Knock....Anyone gnome?

I know, I know....bad joke.  At least I crack myself up....

I'm just about done with a great big batch of lovely flowers....but I thought they looked a little lonely....

The last time I ordered from Karen's Cookies

http://www.karenscookies.net/

I picked out an adorable little garden gnome cookie cutter.
(okay so maybe its a Christmas elf who was 50% off)

I was sure it would be one those cutters I buy but never use because gnomes have faces and I'm scared to do those.  Not sure why,  just sure they're going to look all wonky.

But, in the spirit of my very brave friend and her new shop, I decided to go for it!

Here's a little planning sketch, along with a happy little caterpillar....

And then all the colors, outlining and flooding, all ready to go...

Why is it that mixing the colors ALWAYS takes forever....really would like to be quicker at that.

And here are all the happy little gnomes...

I hate to play favorites but....these were my favorites..

Pretty happy with them, I wish my photography was better.

Hmmmm.....

Maybe I know someone that might be able to give me a few (or a thousand) tips....

Who do I know that is a fabulous photographer, and a great friend, and is kind enough to help a girl out  with her so-so photos.....

(stay tuned)

Love to all!!

Lizy B