Xyron and StencilGirl Blog Hop - Cookies and Cupcakes

Me:  Sweetie, what do you want to be when you grow up?

C:  A baker.

Me:  What should I be when I grow up?

C:  A baker too.  You can help me.  I'm going to have a bakery.  I will make the cakes.  You will make the muffins.  Pink muffins.

Me:  Really?  And what is the bakery going to be called?

C:  Open and Close.

Me:  That's a good name.

C:  I know.  It's a good bakery too.

My daughter never ceases to amaze me.  And she has stuck by her Open and Close Bakery story for a few months now so maybe she really will grow up to be a baker one day.  So you can imagine how excited she...um, I mean, how excited I was to see that I would be working with this awesome StencilGirl stencil for our blog hop with Xyron.  

The circle images in this Cupcake and Sprinkles Stencil reminded me of sprinkles on top of a frosted cookie.  So, running with that inspiration, I made these play cookies for my little baker.  

OPEN AND CLOSE SANDWICH COOKIES

Supplies: StencilGirl Stencil (Cupcakes and Sprinkles); Adhesive (Xyron 2.5" Create-a-Sticker, Xyron 1.5" Create-a-Sticker); Cardstock (Core'dinations, American Crafts), American Crafts Ribbon, American Crafts Stamp Markers; Lifestyle Crafts Embossing Folders; Core'dinations Sanding Block.

And here is how I made them...

1.  Gather Ribbon Spools.  For the base of the sandwich cookies, I collected a couple of American Crafts Ribbon Spools.  They are sturdy and perfectly sized for toddler hands.

2.  Cover the Ribbon Spools with Paper.  Trace the circle shapes on cardstock.  Plan on tracing two circles for each cookie.  I used some deliciously textured and thick Core'dinations cardstock for my project.

Cut out the circle shapes using your favorite scissors.

Emboss half of the circles with a smaller format pattern.  I used a hearts embossing folder by Lifestyle Crafts.

To create dimension to the embossed circles, sand the little embossed images with a sanding block. Here's an image of the before and after sanding.

Run all of the circle shapes (embossed and not embossed) through the Xyron 2.5" Create-a-Sticker. Since these cookies are meant for play, having edge to edge adhesive is very important and the perfect project for your Xyron sticker maker.

Then, adhere the circle pieces onto the ribbon stools (there should be a side that is covered in plain cardstock and another side covered in embossed cardstock) and sand down the edges.

3.  Create Frosting and Sprinkle Layers.  For this step, I create "sprinkles" by coloring inside the StencilGirl Cupcake and Sprinkles stencil on white cardstock.  I used American Crafts stamp markers to color inside the sprinkles.

Using a circle punch, punch out the circle image to create a perfect layer of "frosting" around the edge. Just like with the cardstock layers, run the frosting layers through the Xyron 2.5" Create-a-Sticker and adhere onto the side of the cookie which is covered in plain cardstock.

4.  Create the Cookie Filling.  Since the ribbon spools have a middle, I thought it would be perfect area to create a cookie filling.  To make the filling, measure out just enough ribbon to wrap around the ribbon spool.

Run the ribbon through the Xyron 1.5" Create-a-Sticker.

Then simply adhere onto the ribbon spool.  And just like that, you've now created some delicious looking cookies perfect for some pretend play.  In my daughter's case, they were ready for their debut at the Open and Close Bakery.  :)

And here she is putting them up for display.

CUPCAKE TO CELEBRATE CARD.  Since I HAD to do something with that awesome cupcake stencil, here is a card made using the Cupcake and Sprinkles Stencil and some ink daubed onto cardstock with some foam makeup sponges.

Supplies: StencilGirl Stencil (Cupcakes and Sprinkles); Adhesive (Xyron Mega Runner, DIY Foam Tape); Cardstock (Neena Paper, My Favorite Things); My Mind's Eye Patterned Paper; My Favorite Things ColorBox Ink; American Crafts Ribbon; WRMK Corner Rounder.

Make sure you check out the Xyron blog all this week for some awesome inspiration and giveaways!

As always, thanks for stopping by!