Baby Bunting Cookies

Earlier this week, I share the photos from the Vintage Bunting Baby Shower I recently hosted for my sister.  I made quite a few decorated sugar cookies for the shower... some to enjoy during the party and some for the guests to take home as a little treat. 

The favor cookies were inspired by the shower invitation (shown above) from Swish Designs.  I packaged the cookies using custom labels and paper ribbon from Paper Jacks.   

Below are the different sizes and styles of cookies I made for the party... two large centerpiece cookies as a special treat for my sister (the new mommy) to take home, mini circle cookies for guests to enjoy at the shower, and then 3" square cookies that were packaged as favors. 

~ How to make baby bunting cookies ~

1.  Outline and flood the cookie, using a medium/flood consistency icing.
2.  When the base icing has set (1-2 hours), add dots of a contrasting color, piping consistency icing (I used a #1.5 tip).
3.  Allow the first set of dots to set up (about 1 hour), then add another color of dots in between the first set. 
4.  When the base icing is dry (4-8 hours), use a medium (or piping) consistency icing to 'draw' the 'string' that the bunting flags hang from.  Outline then immediately fill the first color of 'flags'.  Use a medium consistency icing (just thin enough that it will settle into place, but not too thin).
5.  When the first color of flags has set (1 hour), add the second color of flags.
6.  Allow the bunting flags to dry fully (1-4 hours), then use a piping consistency icing to write the word of your choice (in this case "baby").  I used a #1 tip and ivory icing. 

This general design could be altered for different themes or occasions.  The bunting could read "boy", "girl", "party" or a short name. 

I love pretty packaging, and a bit of extra care when packaging a cookie or small treat can make it into much more than "just a cookie".  I packaged the cookies using the same general method I've shown here.   The beautiful "J" labels, as well as the paper "ribbon" accent was from Paper Jacks. 

Happy Decorating & Packaging!    

Vintage Bunting Baby Shower

I recently had the honor of hosting a baby shower for my little sister, Joy  (don't be confused... if you're a long time follower, you may realize that my youngest daughter has the same name).  

  We knew that the baby-to-be would be a boy, with the name Jeremiah already decided (to honor a recently deceased very special Grandpa).  I also knew that baby Jeremiah's room was painted a beautiful, soft blue.  Along with Joy's leading, I chose a color palate of mixed blues, along with touches of green to pull the party elements together without the typical "themed" feel.  I created a fabric bunting using fabrics in various colors, both solid colored and polka-dot to add a bit of a vintage feel.  The bunting was an element that I included in the invitations and the cookie favors as well (as you'll see below). 

Please join us for baby Jeremiah's shower...    

One of my very favorite elements of the food table was the antique blocks shared by a long time family friend (Sally), that were used to spell out sweet Jeremiah's name.  We also used more of these antique toy blocks on the little side tables and drink tables outside (where most of the party took place). 

The party menu included...

Croissant sandwiches filled with delicious Chicken Salad

Fresh fruit

Simple Caprese Salad

Homemade pasta salad (not pictured)

Chocolate Cupcakes

Decorated Sugar Cookies

 Fresh fruit served in individual treat cups (these are from Shop Sweet Lulu).

Delicious Caprese Salad, one of my favorites!

 (Tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, dressed with salt and pepper)

  I often make these Chicken Salad Sandwiches for parties.  The chicken salad can be made a day or two in advance, and they are always enjoyed!

For the sweets, I made Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting, and topped them with simple, pre-made flowers (from Sweet Estelle's Baking Supply).  I also made decorated Sugar Cookies, some to be enjoyed at the party, and others wrapped as favors. 

The favors were a single, special sugar cookie, decorated with a little bunting design (full tutorial soon).  I packaged the cookies as I've show HERE.  The personalized labels and the finishing paper trim on the packages were from Paper Jacks.  I displayed the cookies in vintage milk glass, and Hull Pottery.   

Here's another look at the favor cookies, which were inspired by the custom invitations by Swish Designs, and then packaged with perfect labels and paper ribbon from Paper Jacks.  Donna of Swish Designs did a great job creating a special invitation to incorporate the look of the fabric bunting.  

In the kitchen, I had a table for drinks (iced tea, lemonade and water).  I used extra fabric from the bunting I'd made to tie around mason jars, to be used as drinking jars.  I carefully calculated the number of different fabrics I had, and then used 4 different colors of straws (from Shop Sweet Lulu) and was able to have each jar have a different combo of fabric and straw color, thus identifying each glass (without name tags).

Although baby Jeremiah was due to arrive a month after the shower... apparently he'd heard about "Glorious Treats" parties and didn't want to miss it!  He arrived quite early (at 32 weeks) but was surprising healthy (thank you Jesus!) and was able to come home less than 3 weeks after delivery, and made it to his own shower! 

And what did he think of the party...  

...it was just dreamy! 

Party notes:

All styling and photography by (me) Glorious Treats.

Recipes linked below (or near) the appropriate item within the post.

Invitations by Swish Designs *Use the code GLORIOUS at checkout with any Swish Designs order on Etsy for a 10% discount.

Polka-dot treat cups and paper drinking straws from Shop Sweet Lulu.

Cookie favor labels and paper ribbon from Paper Jacks.

Chocolate Cupcakes in a Jar

Recently, I've been dreaming up lots of delicious and creative combinations for variations on Cupcakes in a Jar.  The first ones I made last year were Chocolate with Vanilla Frosting, then I made Red, White and Blue for the 4th of July, delicious Orange Creamsicle, and then simple Halloween Cupcakes in a Jar.   But when it came down to it and I had some time to make some this week,  what did I make... chocolate!  Not super creative or original, but oh so delicious!  Sorry, but given the choice I'll always choose chocolate... and if you can add the word "double" in there (as in "double chocolate"), then I'm really all in!  So that's what I have for you today, Double Chocolate Cupcakes in a jar. 

I used my favorite Chocolate Cupcake Recipe and Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting.

Of course these could be made with any combination of box mixes, or recipes.

How to make Cupcakes in a Jar ~

 
Bake cupcakes as directed by the recipe, using paper liners.  Cool cupcakes, remove paper liners, and slice cupcakes in half (horizontally).

Prepare frosting as directed.  For easy (and pretty) assembly, fill a large piping bag with frosting (or a large ziplock bag, with the end cut off). 

Layer cupcake halves and frosting in 8 oz jars (I usually buy mine at Wal-Mart, also available on-line at The Jar Store).  Each jar will have 3 cupcake halves (or 1 1/2 cupcakes). 

Serve open, or top with the lid for travel or gift giving.  Store, covered with lids, in the refrigerator up to 3 days (maybe longer, but I can never seem to wait!).  Best when eaten at room temperature.    

In my mind, Double Chocolate Cupcakes could be considered medicinal, under certain circumstances... so feel free to save a few toward the back of your fridge to use "as needed", or share with a friend in need  =)

I'm also excited to add that my cupcakes in a jar are featured in this weeks Women's World Magazine!  Below is a peek of the magazine and the (full page!) article featuring my photos and recipe suggestions.  The issue is on stands now, and is marked as the May 28th edition.  And yes, I know that magazine covers often share quite conflicting headings.   I'm not sure these cupcakes will help you get "slim" even while drinking tea... but you could try to enjoy them while running in place! 

Happy Baking!

Sewing and Quilt Cookies

Sewing has been a part of my life almost as long as I can remember.  Growing up, my bedroom was right at the top of the stairs in our house, and my mom had a sewing room/closet directly at the bottom of the stairs.  To me, one of the sounds of the Christmas season was hearing my mom sewing late into the night.  Most every year she would make each of us (myself and my two sisters) something that she had sewn as a gift... a quilt, a stuffed animal, or a dress.  Still today, my mom continues to enjoy sewing and quilting and makes lots of beautiful things as gifts and for her (and my Dads') home. 

My sister's and I each learned the basics of sewing from my mom, and at different times in our lives we've enjoyed dabbling with sewing projects.  When I was preparing for my wedding (at the ripe old age of 19), I signed up for a sewing class in college and made my own wedding dress as my class project.

My daughter Grace, now 8, has taken quite an interest in sewing, and although I could teach her myself, I knew she would enjoy taking some sewing classes from a "real" teacher.  She's been taking classes at our local quilting store and loves showing off the tote bag and skirt that she's made so far. 

I've been wanting to make some sewing and quilt cookies for a while, and when I realized that a  (sewing loving) friend's birthday was coming up, I thought I could make fun cookies for my friend, as well as some for Grace's sewing teacher.

Here's the collection I came up with...   

I had a fun time creating several different quilt-inspired designs...

Want to make some sewing and quilting cookies too?  Let's get started! 

I started with my go-to Sugar Cookie Recipe and Royal Icing Recipe (the post with the royal icing recipe also includes lots of cookie decorating basics, if you are new to cookie decorating). 

Because each of the cookie designs in this set required some drying time between steps, I began with the first steps on each design, then moved on to another cookie shape/design.   By the time I had done one portion of each cookie, it was time to move to the next layer of design.  As you can see above, I did the first color on some of the quilts, then I move to some buttons (using a great tutorial from Sweet Sugar Belle), then I started on the spools of thread.   

~ How to Make Quilt Cookies ~

1.  Decide on your pattern, and use a light colored edible marker (and a ruler) to mark your desired design.

2.  Begin your pattern, using a piping/outline consistency icing to outline the areas for your first color.

3.  Fill in the outlined areas (with a medium/flood consistency).  Allow this color to set/dry (1-2 hours) before adding the next color, in the remaining space. 

~ How to Make 'Spools of Thread' Cookies ~

These cute and simple cookies were inspired by Sweet Sugar Belle.  I used a mini dog bone shaped cookie cutter, and stretched it open just a bit.  Using a medium consistency brown icing, pipe the top and bottom of the "spool" (as shown in an above photo).  Allow the brown "spool" area to set/dry (1-2 hours) before adding the "thread" color.  Fill in with the "thread" color, in this case blue or green.  Allow that section to set (1-2 hours) before adding the final detailing, the top layer of "thread" in a thicker/piping consistency.  I also added a thin line on the "spool" with a brown edible marker to add just a bit more definition.   

My favorite cookies from this set were the two centerpiece cookies (inspired by Maryann/ Cookie Artisan's centerpiece cookies).  I outlined each cookie in two different colors (allowing a little drying time between colors) then flooded the cookie in white.  When that base was dry I used piping consistency icing and a #1 tip to pipe my messages to resemble embroidery. 

When I mentioned to my daughter (Grace) that I was making some cookies for her sewing teacher she said that I should make a cookie that looked like a sewing machine.  I didn't think I had the skills to do that in a way that would actually look like a sewing machine, but I said she could do it!  So I outlined and flooded a square cookie, allowed it to dry overnight, then let her bring her idea to life using edible markers.  I love that she was braver than I was!  And I think she did an adorable job (see her cookie below)!   P.S.  Any comments you have on her cookie I'll gladly pass along to her.  

Do you love sewing and love cookies?  Here are some great sewing and quilt cookies from cookie friends around the web...
Sweet Sugar Belle - (Button Cookies and 3-D Sewing Machine Cookies)
Bakerella - Button Cookies
The Bearfoot Baker - Sewing Cookies
Cookie Crazie- Quilt & Sewing Cookie Collection
Sugar and Meringue - Granny Square Cookies (crochet style cookie)

Happy Stitching Piping!