an evening of percussion

the annual all-percussion concert was last night and little sister played in two songs. 

waves

jamaican me crazy, mon!

v wildcats

another tough loss to watch tonight for little sister's jv squad.  they were down 0-1 at the half but then their opponent got the wind advantage in the second half and they scored quite a few more times, ending the match 0-5.  

cactus cookies

i was super excited to get a request for 2 dozen cactus birthday cookies.   i've seen this theme around and thought it was so cute.  with little to go on other than cactus, 9th birthday, and the girl's name.....i came up with a colorful fiesta-like design.  i loved using nonpareils for the cactus stickers.  but my more favorite, and successful part of the design was using a silkscreen for the name.  

game. changer.   i don't think i will ever hand-pipe any words again!!!

i started out doing a pink gingham on the "9" - but that quickly morphed into a 3-color plaid.  kinda a water-color messy vibe, but it works.  i am still fighting getting into airbrush techniques.....

star tips were so easy to use for the flowers and streamers.

happy heart day!

i lost track of time this year with the girls' busy schedules....so i decided to do a recreation photo-type card this year to send our love to friends and family for heart day.  every few years, we've been recreating this photo on a swing at the lake cabin - which started when the girls were just 3 & 5.  seeing them again at 8 & 10, 13 & 15, and now 16 & 18 - don't ask me to choose a favorite!!  they are just as cute as ever!!

superbowl cookies

i got a great deal on some clearance cookie cutters, post-thanksgiving.  i thought it would be a cute turkey platter to make around the holidays.

unable to wait that long to try them out....i instead used the outer triangle shapes to create a mighty football stadium - complete with screaming colorful fans.  i love making sprinkles-covered cookies: it is sooo easy.  and the football in the center was a nice centerpiece for this year's logo.

valentine's cookies

 my sister decided to gift her coworkers some sweet treat for valentine's - so what better gift than custom sugar cookies?!  give me any excuse to design a fun set like this.....

envelope cookie: i tried a new technique (royal icing transfer) and learned a lot.  like i think i will stick to just icing designs straight onto the cookies.

XO cookie: made by combining separate letter cutters into one cookie.  first time doing a wet-on-wet lips shape.

chocolate-dipped strawberry: i cobbled together parts of 3 cutters to make this one (acorn, rocket, and pineapple)

rainbow: super simple and one of my favorites

ruffled heart: i love the way the brushed embroidery edges turned out, and i kept the center super simple with sprinkles

box of chocolates: this is maybe my favorite.  i found this design looking at examples others share.  it was very fun although intricate to recreate.

i even packaged & tagged the cookies individually for easy giving.

ice again

tuesday, little sister went to school as usual, but with a storm approaching full of freezing temps and precipitation, she got released for the day around 10am.  and then things just stayed bad and school got cancelled, one day at a time, for the rest of the week.

big sister's school pretty much followed the same pattern.  i was able to work from home the whole week (kinda stinky when everyone else in on a "snow/ice day!!")  daddy's office hardly ever closes, but he was able to stay the worst day at home and just had late start the other days.

gotta love crazy winter weather in texas!!