Earlier this week I introduced you to one of my talented friends, Maryann.  I’m back today to introduce you to another AMAZINGLY talented cookie artist and friend, Callye, a.k.a. Sweet Sugar Belle.  Not only is Callye creative and talented beyond words, but she has been know to produce dozens and dozens of custom decorated cookies in a single week.  The number of cookies Callye can bake and decorate in a week is often mind boggling.  And no detail is ever spared… these are not “cookie cutter” style cookies… Callye’s cookies are custom in every sense of the word!  If you can dream it, Callye has (or can) make it into a cookie!

A few weeks ago Callye offered to create a special set of cookies, and all the step-by-step directions just for Glorious Treats readers… how could I pass that up?!!  I couldn’t!  So Callye got to work on a custom set of cookies just for us, and took such care to photograph each and every step.  In fact, she is sharing such a wealth of information I’m breaking it into two posts.  Today will be Part 1, the design, and cutting out the cookies.  I’ll be back later this week with (Part 2) all of the detailed decorating photos. 

Callye wanted to show how a decorator can draw inspiration from most anywhere…

Her inspiration for this set of cookies came from a shirt… from Wal-Mart!  (shown below)

And here are the finished cookies….

Aren’t they fun?!  And an amazing match to the shirt!

Callye created these custom cookies using easy to find cookie cutters.  The only true Halloween cutters she used were for the bats.

Long before I even knew what a blog was, let alone had one, I spent time on a photo sharing site called Flickr.  I discovered a community of some of the most talented people… artists whose medium is sugar!  It was through Flickr that my baking skills really flourished.  I know that my skills as a baker have grown by leaps and bounds as a direct result of the inspiration and encouragement I found on Flickr! 

One of the most talented sugar artists I’ve ever seen is a cookie decorator named Maryann Rollins, or as we know her on Flickr, “Cookie Artisan“.  Take a look at her gorgeous cookies HERE.  If you don’t have time to see them all now, take some time soon to come back and really marvel at her incredible skills!  I have  marveled at and studied every photo she has posted over the last 2 years and I get excited ever time she posts a new one! 

Today I want to do a little show-and-tell of another side of this talented woman… her home decorating skills.  Maryann and her family love Halloween and have lots of fun together each year creating an array of beautiful Jack-o-lanterns.  Maryann has been gracious enough to let me share some of her beautiful outdoor displays.  The photo at the top of the post, and next three (below) are from a previous home on the east coast.  The bottom photo is from her current home, in Oklahoma.

Enjoy these gorgeous, welcoming displays….

Thank you Maryann! 

Happy fall decorating everyone!

Over the years I’ve developed quite a love for cupcake liners.  I’ve collected liners in a wide variety of sizes, colors and designs.  And although I still pick up new ones from time to time, I find I usually bake with the same ones over and over.  For “everyday” baking I usually use brown or white liners, but for special occasions I love to use colored ones.  I’ve tried several brands of liners… you know I bake a lot of cupcakes!   My favorite solid color liners are from Confectionery House.  The Confectionery House liners are the only colored liners I’ve found that really hold their color well after the cupcakes are baked… even with chocolate cupcakes.  Confectionery House liners add the perfect touch of color that can really dress up a cupcake display. 

Above are a few examples of the Confectionery House colored liners in action.

Top left- Easter Cupcakes.

Top right- Birthday cupcakes (pre-blog)

Bottom left- Luau Party cupcakes.

Bottom right- Rainbows and Race Cars Birthday cupcakes.

Ready to get your hands… or baking mitts… on some of these pretty liners?

Perfect, because Confectionery House is sponsoring an awesome giveaway just for Glorious Treats lovely readers! 

3 lucky readers will each win one pack of solid color liners AND…

 …one pack of fun polka-dot liners!

That’s over 350 liners total!!  That should keep you busy for a while!

But wait there’s more… One of the three winners will get a fun bonus… a $25.00 gift certificate to Confectionery House!  

It wont be hard to find some fun things to spend the gift certificate on, Confectionery House has an amazing selection of sprinkles, cookie cutters, baking pans, candy molds and baking tools. 

Ready to win some beautiful liners and a bit of shopping money too?

~ How to enter ~

For one entry- Head on over to Confectionery House and have a look at their gorgeous selection of cupcake liners, sprinkles, baking pans, cookie cutters, and baking supplies. Come back here and leave a comment telling me one of your favorite items from their site.

For a second entry- Sign up as a follower of Glorious Treats, and/or “like” Glorious Treats on Facebook (then leave a comment here telling me you are a follower and/or fan).

I’m home tonight from a five day visit to San Francisco.  I’m a native Californian, so I’ve been to San Francisco several times before, but this trip was extra special!  The five days were spent shopping, eating, chatting, and then a bit more shopping and eating!  I shared this wonderful week with Sharnel of My life my loves, a beautiful friend whom I met (on the internet) several years ago through our mutual love of cupcakes and pretty things.  Although I’ve considered Sharnel a true friend (much more than just an internt acquaintance) for quite a while, we’ve never met in person.  Sharnel flew from her home in Australia this past week and we enjoyed a whirlwind tour of San Francisco.  I have LOTS of fun photos to share (that I’ll include in a few future posts), but I’ll start with a little overview…. 

Here is Sharnel (on the left) and I just hours after first meeting in person.  We enjoyed a lunch down on Fisherman’s Wharf.  Sharnel enjoyed the traditional sea side lunch, clam chowder in a fresh sourdough bread bowl. 

Throughout our visit we enjoyed the beautiful and unique architecture and scenery of San Francisco….

We also enjoyed a few sweets along the way…

And rounded out the sweets with a few other yummy foods…

We also did LOTS of fun shopping…

(Above) We enjoyed a stop at Paper Source after sharing a beautiful lunch with Becca of Birthday Girl, and Michelle of Cakewalk (more photos of our visit with these lovely ladies in a future post).

(Below)  One of the stops on our “must see” list included a gorgeous ribbon store… Sharnel and I went nuts in this store ohh-ing and ahh-ing.

That’s all from our trip for tonight.  I’ll be sharing more photos in future posts.  We found a few really special places I’ll look forward to sharing!  I had such a wonderful time with Sharnel, a beautiful person inside and out.  Not to mention, incredibly talented, kind, genuine and down right hysterical… this girl has an amazing sense of humor!  But I am also glad to be home… somehow my town feels more like “home” than ever, my husband looks cuter than ever (I wanted to say sexier than ever, can I say that?) and my children seem extra angelic. 

Home sweet home. 

Happy Baking!