Tuesday, May 11, 2010

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)

22 comments:

Melissa said...

Cute Niki...so completely cute, cute, cute!
Melis

Beverly BL said...

Those are the cutest bags and I can't wait to try the cookies. I love Molasses cookies. I like how your labels add so much to the look of the bag. Great colors.

Lisa Johnson said...

Um, Niki? How did you know that these were my favorite cookies! LOVE IT! Thanks for making such a great ensemble.

Pamela~ said...

Love the color combination! I don't know whether to go play with paper or flour now though... thanks!

Denise (peanutbee) said...

These are GORGEOUS!!

Michele said...

Beautiful color combo....love this gifty idea!

Velta said...

Tooo stinkin cute Niki!! I adore the colors and this gift set...and a big thank you for that recipie..gotta try that one. I am SOO looking forward to the 15th...let me go see if I can find that money tree in the back yard!!!

Melissa Bickford said...

Absolutely gorgeous, Niki!!

Diane Jaquay said...

AWESOME Niki!! I LOVE the pattern you stamped on your bag and card, and the colors just SING!!! Great job :)

Lorie Straley said...

I love the pattern you stamped on the bags and the color combination is wonderful!

Donelda said...

a great gift set! I love the HS and TT color combo together!

Lynne Osborn said...

what a great set. for those of us that give a lot of homemade gifts, this set is perfect

Amy Kolling said...

Niki--first of all LOVE the color combo! Second, I really like how you layered the two mat stack dies! Cool idea!!

Kimberly O'Rosky said...

Fabulous colors - especially paired with the Kraft. Love the new labels too!

Sara Mac said...

Wonderful gift set Niki. Once again, you've used that awesome color combo. Those cookies looks so delicious.

Carol R said...

How sweet your gift ensemble is! Literally! Love the matching bag and card. Thanks for the recipe too!

Vicki B said...

I love the matching of the bag and card! I so love molasses cookies but have never had them frosted. I will try this for sure! This set is becoming a must have for me!

Elizabeth S. said...

Wonderful, Niki!! I love your color combination!!
Thanks for the recipe!!

Stephanie Perry said...

What a fun gift set! I love decorating and using bags for gifts and I really love how you decorated both the card and the bag. And those cookies? MMM, my favs!

Maile Belles said...

Mmmmmm! What gorgeous packaging for some yummy treats!

Alice W. said...

beautiful vibrant colors and amazing stamping! love this!!

Mich said...

I really love these little goodies bags. They are so beautiful. The paper that you use, makes them look perfectly old-fashioned, just like you bought the bags in grandma's shop in 1930. Really great !!!