The first time I "met" Glory it was over a cookie she'd made with fondant. I came across it on Flickr, and I was in the middle of telling her how pretty I thought it was, when I read her caption pointing out that her elegant embossed fondant cookie in fact, looked like an egg. 

From that day on, I remembered her.  Before then, she was only an online stranger that created these beautiful treats.  However, that day in my eyes she became a  real person.  A REAL, funny person that made beautiful things but still wasn't afraid to laugh at herself, which REALLY appealed to me.

Over the last two years I've had the pleasure of getting to know her much better, and my respect and admiration for her have only grown.  I gave her the nickname Glory-bee because it just suits her.  It's positive and happy and bright, and since she lives in sunny California, it only makes sense.

As much as I admire her, you can only imagine how excited I was when my amazing friend asked me if I would consider making cookies for her daughter Joy's fourth birthday.

I wasn't just happy, I was completely flattered and more inspired than I had been in AGES.

I always tease Glory and call her Mini-Martha, {only nicer} because everything she touches she transforms into beautiful. 

Once again, she did not dissapoint.  When she sent me the photos from Joy's party, I was floored.  She put together the most AMAZING party and I got to contribute. 

I have a few of the gorgeous photos here, but they don't even begin to tell the whole story, so be sure to read about all of the fun details on her blog, Glorious Treats.

My friend Mique and I had so much fun making cookie Valentine's last week, we thought we would do it again!  I couldn't wait to make her newest printables into  cookies!

Believe it or not, I don't have a small shoe sole cutter, so I had to make one. 

*A  flip-flop would work, but the one I have is too large for the design I wanted to do

It was easy and inexpensive.  All I needed was an extra dog bone cutter from my collection.

Inexpensive cutters work best for this kind of project because they bend easily and they are easily replaceable.  Remember to be careful though, they CAN break.  My hulk of a husband has snapped more than his fair share.

To make double soles cut out twice the number of cookies you are planning to bake.  Then, arrange them side by side {flip one so they make right and left feet} on the cookie sheet, making sure they are pushed together so they fuse  while baking.  Each two cookies will make one.
 


After they cool, it's time to decorate.  First outline, and then fill.  It's important to outline the cookie in sections and fill as pictured below.  After the first sections have dried for thirty minutes or more, go back and fill the rest.  Filling in this manner creates dimension without layering.


Let the cookies dry completely {about eight hours} then complete the steps below.  If you have trouble piping, use my video on perfect writing without a kopykake.


Now for the fun part!  To get these cute printables, head on over to  Mique's blog, Thirty Handmade Days and grab her free "SOLE MATE" printables!  Now you have all you need to re-create these cuties for Valentine's Day.

Ever since I came across this adorable photo on my friend Glory's Flickr page, I have been dying to make cookie Valentines with my kids. 

As a beginning cookie Valentine-r, I did learn a few things this week that I would like to share to help others avoid some of the headaches I encountered...

• Make simple cookies for kids.  Save the masterpieces for grown up events.
• Stock up on treat bags, small and large.
• If it's hard for you to fold cardstock cleanly, use a butter knife, or even better, use regular computer paper instead of cardstock.  Then it's easier for the kids to help staple {for some reason staplers intrigue my boys}
• Since these toppers are a little small, if you have a child that still writes a little on the LARGE side like my Evan, keep a fine tip Sharpie handy.  It's WAY neater. 
• Print extras so that mistakes are no big deal.
• Bite size cookies are a good idea for younger kids.

I was so inspired by The Celebration Shoppe's free printables that I showed yesterday, I made some simple cookies to go with the owl version. {Click on the photo and then follow the instructions to get your printables}