Handmade & Homemade Just for You

This month, the Papertrey Ink is focusing on creating homemade gift items for our family and friends.  Homemade goodies are always a wonderful wat to say thank you, happy birthday, or just that you are thinking of someone.  One of my favorite homemade goodies to create is cookies.  Cooking is not really my thing, but I love to bake!  I decided to whip up a batch of one of my favorite kinds of cookies.

Have you used the bags that Papertrey Ink carries?  They are perfect for packaging up some homemade goodies.  I stamped one of Papertrey Ink's large kraft bags and filled it with some of my frosted molasses cookies.  Lisa's new Just for You stamp set (releasing May 15th) is perfect for creating quick and easy labels, tags, and cards that we can use to package up our homemade goodies.

I used Background Basics: Botanicals to create the stamped patterns on my bag and card base using hawaiian shores and terracotta tile ink.  Then, I created my label for my bag and my sentiment using the Just for You stamp set.  I stamped my sentiments and punched them out with a scalloped circle punch.  Then, I cut the hawaiian shores cardstock layer using the mat stack1 die and the terracotta tile cardstock layer using the mat stack 2 die (releasing May 15th).  I layered my pieces and stitching some buttons on each side of my sentiment before adhering them to my bag and card.  Last, I tied some terracotta tile stitched ribbon around the top of my bag and around the top of my card and stitching buttons in the centers of my bows.

If you would like to try some of these yummy molasses cookies, here's the recipe:

Frosted Molasses Cookies
1 1/2 c sugar
1 c shortening
2 eggs
1/2 c molasses
3 t baking soda
1/2 c water
5 1/2 c flour
1 1/2 t cinnamon
1 t ginger
1 t cloves
3/4 t salt

Mix sugar, shortening, eggs, and molasses in a large bowl.  Dissolve baking soda in water; stir into molasses mixture. Stir in remaining ingredients.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Roll dough 1/4 inch thick on floured surface.  Cut into desired shapes.  Bake 8-10 minutes or until light brown. Once cool, frost cookies with frosting.  Let stand 2 to 3 hours before storing to allow frosting to dry.  Makes about 6 dozen cookies.

Frosting
1 envelope plus 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin (ends up being 2 packages of the brand I use)
1 c cold water
1 c granulated sugar
2 1/4 c powdered sugar
1 t baking powder
1 1/2 t vanilla
1/8 t salt

Sprinkle gelatin on cold water in 2 quart saucepan to soften.  Stir in granulated sugar.  Heat to a rolling boil; reduce heat.  Simmer uncovered 10 minutes.  Pour hot mixture over powdered sugar in large bowl; beat 2 minutes or until foamy.  Beat in baking powder, vanilla, and salt on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes or until soft peaks form.

If you decide to double the recipe, there is no need to double the recipe on the frosting because it makes quite a bit more than you will need.

Lots more amazing inspiration from the other design team ladies so be sure to check out what they created to share with you: Nichole, Betsy, Dawn, Debbie, Erin, Heather, Kim, Lisa, Maile, Melissa, and Michelle.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Niki

Recipe
Stamps: Just for You - available May 15th, Background Basics: Botanicals (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: white, kraft, hawaiian shores, terracotta tile (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: terracotta tile, hawaiian shores, true black (Papertrey Ink)
Accents: terracotta tile stitched ribbon, hawaiian shores buttons (Papertrey Ink)
Tools: mat stack 1 die, mat stack 2 die - available May 15th (Papertrey Ink), scalloped circle punch
Packaging: large kraft bag (Papertrey Ink)