Star Cookies for July 4th!

One of the first pretty food pictures I can remember seeing

was Martha Stewart's berry tart.  

It was a long rectangular tart with red and blue berries and white filling, 

arranged to look just like the American Flag.

I distinctly remember seeing it on the cover of her magazine, thinking....someday.

Not someday as in....'Oh I really want to eat that!!!'

(I have strong feelings about fruit showing up in my dessert...)

But someday as in...'hmmm, I wonder....'

I wonder...'could I make something that gorgeous?'

I wonder...'could I take a picture like that?'

I wonder....

Almost two years ago I found a blog that would inspire me the same way.

It's The Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle,

 full of the most amazing cookies with perfect instructions and tutorials, AND

written by such a lovely lady, Miss Callye.

I started having those moments again...

I wonder....

About ten days ago I got an email...

from Miss Callye, Sugarbelle, herself.

(While I had emailed back and forth with her before, 

I still do a little happy dance when I see her name in my inbox.)

It was an invitation to sit with the cool girls at lunch.

(AAAAHHHHHHH!)

Callye was working on a post involving her favorite bloggers 

(again....AAAHHHH) 

showing all the different ways we could use a simple star cookie cutter,

for the 4th of July.....

I wonder.....

I could say that I took days to decide what to make, but I didn't.

I knew immediately.

It had to be an arrangement of cookies that looked like the American Flag.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag...

of the United States of America...

and to the Republic for which it stands...

one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thanks Miss Callye, for the invitation to sit at the cool kids table,

and thanks as well to all the other bakers invited to the party.

You've all inspired me to be a better decorator and writer.

So....would you like to see everyone's work???

Thought you would!!!!

Here's a list of links to visit these lovely ladies!!!!!

1. Strawberry Shortcake on a Stick, The Decorated Cookie
2. Patriotic Lace Cookies , My Little Bakery
3. Independence Day Parade Cookies, Jill FCS
4. Old Fashioned 4^th of July, Vicki’s Sweet Treats
5. Light up the Fourth Cookies, The Partiologist
6. Declaration of Independence Cookie, Vanilla Bean Baker
7. Badge of Liberty Cookies, Lila Loa
8. Red, White & Blue Star Cookie Towers, Bake at 350
9. 4th of July Firecracker Cookies, Klickitat Street
10. Star Cut-out Cookies, Glorious Treats
11. Cookie "Pledge", Lizy B Bakes
12. Star-Shaped Krispie Treats, Cookies and Cups
13. Easy Star Cupcake Toppers, Confessions of a Cookbook Queen
14. Rustic 4th of July Galletes, Haniela's
15. Patriotic Cookie Wreath, Sweetopia
16. Patriotic River Rafter, Ali-Bee's Bake Shop
17. Funny Fox Cookies, The Bearfoot Baker
18. Quilted Cookie Stars, Cookie Crazie
19. Gimme Your John Hancock Stars, Life's a Batch
20. Patriotic Cookie Stir Sticks, The Cookie Artisan
21. Patriotic Floral Stars, SweetSugarBelle

I hope you'll go pay everyone a visit!

Happy 4th of July!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lizy B

Circus Animal Cookie Disaster....Can I Get A Do-Over?

 We all dread the moment as bakers and moms.

That loud crash, 

the ear-splitting clang,

the feeling of your heart sinking to the pit of your stomach with a thud...

All because your cookie sheets and your

 perfectly decorated cookies have scattered across the floor...

into a million sandy little pieces.

*sigh*

Click here to continue reading!!

Smiley Face Cookies for a Smiley Birthday Boy!

(The following post is proof that I have children)

What's a tree's favorite drink?

Root Beer!!!!

What's green and loud?

A foghorn!!!

Why don't aliens eat clowns?

They taste funny!!!

What is the best thing to do if you find a gorilla in your bed?

Sleep somewhere else!

Why does the Easter Bunny have a shiny nose?

His powder puff is on the wrong end!

What's gray, eats fish and lives in Washington D.C.?

The Presidential Seal!

How do you make an 8 year old boy smile?

You make him smiley face cookies for his birthday!!!

Happy Birthday, Birthday Boy!!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lizy B

Let's Talk About Writing on a Cookie!

Let's talk words, shall we?

I think cookie people fall into one of two categories.

You either love piping words, or you HATE it.

(I love it.)

And we've all had the thought....

"AAAHHHH!  I really need a Kopykake!!!"

Yes, a Kopykake helps, not gonna lie.

I've found that it's great for spacing, placement and consistency...

 but you still have to hold the dang piping bag and do the work.

Here's how I go about deciding which fonts and tips to use, and practicing

 BEFORE I mess up a whole bunch of cookies!

I type the different phrases I need in different sizes and fonts.

Usually....I'll print the page and pipe directly onto the paper.

This particular day my printer was having a temper tantrum and wouldn't print.

So I emailed the document to myself and opened it up on the ipad 

and piped onto a sheet of paper.

Here we go!!!

I started with a number 2 tip and piping consistency icing.

OOPS!  Icing too thick!

See the broken exclamation mark up there?

(you can see it in the O's too, they are a bit flat where I had to push the icing down)

Okay, remixed with a touch more water.  

See how the icing in the second line site up a bit higher?

Switched to a number 1 tip...not bad!

Piped the letters a little smaller...better!

This font is Bosshole.  

I like it for kids cookies.

Let's try a couple more.

Bradley Hand is another favorite.  

But...not all letters work well in all fonts.

Love the R's and k's.

Not crazy about the G.

G's are not easy.

G's are hard.

Just keepin' it real.

This is one of those fonts that seem like a good idea but aren't.

Super cute on paper, messy in icing.

All these phrases went on cookies for my son's 5th grade classmates.

They had just finished up some big projects and deserved a treat!!

Hope this inspires you to try some lettering!!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lizy B

Graduation Cookies for Miss Katie!

My eldest niece just graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo!!!!

Yay!!!!

Hooray for Katie!!!!

*cookie talk*

The 'oval cookie + grad cap/star cookie (smushed together) = cool cookie'

comes from Miss Sugarbelle.....she explains it HERE.

Once upon a time Katie was a flower girl in my wedding!

And now.....

Oh my.....the gorgeousness!

(she's just as lovely on the inside)

We're so proud of you Katie!!!!!!

(Did I spell congratulations right?

Why does that word always make me break out into hives?!)

San Luis Obispo is a big deal for our family.

Katie is our 10th Cal Poly graduate and two nephews

will finish up in the next couple of years.

I think I'd better get used to green and gold cookies!!!

Go Mustangs!!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Lizy B

Cookie Necktie for Father's Day!

I recently had an opportunity to write a featured post for the website

SheKnows.com.

They asked me to create a special Father's Day Cookie and tutorial for their readers....

It needed to be something I hadn't made before.....

but definitely something that just screamed 

"FATHER'S DAY!!!!!"

what to do....what to do....?

Oh!!  I know!!!

All Dads love ties, right!?!?

Head over there for a FULL tutorial with TONS of Pictures!!!!

You can make your very own GIANT SUGAR COOKIE TIE for Father's day!!

CLICK HERE!!!

What do you have planned for Father's Day?

Thanks for stopping by,

Lizy B