Valentine's Day Cookies

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.

This is the photo that started it all…

The problem was, even though I know my way around a cookie cutter, I’m not so patient great with paper crafts.

So, late last Sunday night I called Glory for a last-minute, one-on-one, how-to on making printables.

Did I mention I have a one track mind? She tried to explain, but I was way more interested in the cookies I was working on than label designing. I zoned out pretty QUICKLY…

Luckily, I have GOOD understanding friends. Instead of letting me worry about it on my own, she designed some labels and posted them along with step-by-step instructions on her blog. {In other words she did the part I didn’t want to do and gave me written instructions so I could construct them}

*THANKS GLORY-BEE =)*

Yay for me, because with little effort on my part, I made these little cuties, and yay for you, because you can do the same! {click on the photo to get your FREE PRINTABLES from Glorious Treats}

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.

Before I go, I also wanted to show you one more set of cookies.

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}

  http://sweetsugarbelle.com/2011/01/glorious-friends/

To make the owls, I modified a tulip cutter by trimming off the middle petal. It made a perfect little owl. I hope this week gave everyone tons of ideas and inspired a weekend of fun baking with the kids!

By the way, I just noticed Glory posted a heavenly looking Cranberry White Chocolate Bar Recipe on her blog . Check it out. It looks like a good option for filling GROWNUP Valentine bags. While you’re there, tell her thanks for helping me with the technical part of this project. She deserves a medal for being patient with me =)