Santa Cookies

I wanted to make Santa cookies using the same style of hats I've been using on my snowmen.

I'd been looking at my 8/snowman cutter and cookies, formulating a plan. But he needed feet.

Thanks to a lot of inspiration from posts around the cookie blog world about piecing together parts from more than one cookie cutter, I looked at this fish...

And found feet!

Santa is ready to bake.

HO, HO, HO! Merry Christmas!

Chocolate Stars

Last year I made these Chocolate Trees.

This year I made Chocolate Stars with Sprinkles.

And Mini Chocolate Stars.

Christmas Cookies

Chocolate Christmas Trees

Sugar Candy Canes

Christmas Fish Cookies

Nina's Cookie Shop recently made these cookies for a holiday party/birthday party. The birthday boy loves to fish!

A festive wreathed green fish.

A ribbon-tied gold fish.

Holly leaves,

Presents, 

And a wreath accompanied the fish for the party. This wreath is a simplified version of my first proposed design. I like this one a lot!

The party guests were treated to little bundles of cookies to take home.

Happy Birthday, Royce!

Snowman Cookies

I have a couple of snowman cookie cutters but was looking for a simple one.

 When I saw this cookie cutter in the store I thought it was perfect! It was hanging on the wall and I looked around it to see what other holiday cookie cutters there were. Instead of seeing cookie cutters in the shapes of snowflakes and Christmas trees, I saw the numbers 7 and 9. Oh, it's the number 8! But still a perfect snowman for what I wanted to do!

I love making variations. I like the one with both the hat and scarf best.

This one has a different hat and it looks like he might have a tummy ache!

I didn't intend for this one's mittens to be giving the thumbs up sign, but I'm glad he likes how I made him!

A plate of ginger snowmen.

My Zazzle.com Store

Introducing my Zazzle.com Store, nina_nina!

So far I have an apron and a postage stamp featuring this Gingerbread Boy (I'm considering myself ahead for 2012 instead of behind for 2011!)

And heart and flower cookies on a Valentine's Day card and notecards.

I hope you will enjoy a visit to my new shop!

Gracie's Gifts

This year we gave a few Gracie-inspired gifts to family members.

My dad is enjoying his Grampa status. He's been getting many compliments on his new t-shirt!

Visit my Zazzle Store for a growing selection of Family Alphabet t-shirts.

Gracie created this artwork (with a little encouragement and the absence of the black and brown crayons)...

Which I cropped... 

And used to create mugs for the Auntie and Uncles...

And had printed on this 5x7 canvas.

The custom gifts were well-received and are being enjoyed!

Gingerbread Play Dough

Gingerbread Play Dough, all wrapped up with a bow and a cookie cutter attached and ready for gift-giving.

The recipe and presentation idea were inspired by Sweet Sugar Belle.

It smells good but supposedly doesn't taste good. I didn't try it, but Gracie did and kept wanting to nibble at it. She's watched me make so many cookies that she thinks that something yummy always comes from dough!

Christmas Cookies!

It wouldn't be Christmas without home-baked cookies!

This bear was part of a birthday present for our friend Jack who turned 5 just before Christmas.

These initialed bears were for the kids on our list.

This one was for my Sweetie.

And this guy has presents!

Chocolate Trees (recipe from LilaLoa) decorated with royal icing and white sprinkles.

I was inspired by these cookies I saw at Starbucks. Thanks to Mom for discovering them!

Glazed Peppermint Stars (recipe from Sweet Sugar Belle) sprinkled with crushed candy.

Shortbread and Chocolate Shortbread Cookies. The basic recipe is from Got Milk? The Cookie Book which I adapted for the chocolate shortbread. I've had success with every recipe I've tried in this book.

There was more baking on the agenda when we visited my parents.

Mom made the Glazed Lebkuchen Stars from a recipe my brother got in his high school German class. Danke schön, Herr Reuss!  It's a family favorite and we look forward to it all year. She also made Pecan Balls, Orange Sugar Cookie Trees, and Gingerbread Snowflakes. My sister Jill brought red sugar sprinkled Sugar Stars. Gracie and I baked Gingerbread Boys.

This is how I decorate Gingerbread Boys.

This is how Gracie decorates Gingerbread Boys.

Our cookie assortment usually includes Spritz, Jam Buttons and sometimes Pfeffernusse, but time and energy were in short supply this year. We had plenty to enjoy, though!