My friend Diane has an annual cookie exchange. Every year I’m like, “UGH, I don’t bake, I’m just going to come and not make cookies.” And every year Diane and my other friends don’t stand for that, and have brutally forced me to make cookies. This year was the first year I didn’t complain about making cookies – Mike’s little kitchen dare has made me much more comfortable baking. But shhh, don’t tell him that.
For the cookie exchange I had to make cookies for eleven people, and include recipe cards. Every year in the past my recipe cards have looked awful…like, hand scribbled, illegible. But not this year! I was looking at the HP Handmade pamphlet (SO MANY RIDICULOUSLY CUTE IDEAS) and I saw a link to a recipe card template. My love of templates is well-established. The thing I liked the most about these templates is they included a place for a picture. So, armed with my marshmallow recipe and my food photography tutorials (here and here), I got to work.
First, I took pictures of my marshmallows. I made two kinds: vanilla with candy cane pieces, and s’mores. I put my mini Christmas trees in the background to make things more festive, and turned on every single light in my kitchen since it doesn’t receive any natural light.
Next, I picked my template and typed in my recipe.
I look really short in that picture.
The template was really easy to use -I was able to adjust colors, fonts, sizes, and uploading an image was a cinch. To put the picture in the template, I just dragged and dropped. SO EASY.
When I was ready to print I made sure to put my settings on 4×6 photo paper.
My finished cards look great. I decided to print them on 4×6 matte photo paper with a tab.
I punched a hole in each recipe card so I could tie them to the boxes my marshmallows were in.
This is why I used tab paper – the hole is punched in the tab, and then the recipients of the cookies can just pull the recipe off the tab!
The finished product! I am super-happy with how they turned out, and all my friends were impressed with how they looked. They were NOT expecting something so nice-looking from me!
By popular demand, next week I’m posting my holiday photo checklist. Just in time for Hanukkah and Christmas!
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
You did soon well Heather!!!! WOW!!! I am so impressed!!!
I’m impressed!
Those s’mores marshmallows sound super yummy!
Annie @ Annie’s Cooking Lab´s last [type] ..Alma’s Rolls
So professional looking and impressive. It makes me rethink the slice and bake plan I had for our neighborhood cookie exchange. Take care.
Lanie´s last [type] ..Perspective (part 2)
You make me sick! You’re all, “noooo!!” because of the whole making something from scratch, and then instead of just writing out and photocopying the recipes, or typing them out, you pull that Martha Stewart stuff?! Are you kidding me? What the heck, woman?
I am assuming that you’re going to be putting everyone elses’ recipe cards to shame. Up until now, I was like, “Heather’s cool. I could hang out with her.” Now that I’ve seen those cards, I’m thinking, “Heather’s a freaking Martha Stewart.” I’m not sure what I think about this development in our “relationship” (that simply consists of me following your blog).
Aaand… just ’cause the sarcasm/dry humor font has not yet been universalized (or, for that matter, created), please just imagine the first paragraph in such a font.
Jennifer´s last [type] ..Positives
Once a year I do something totally creative and out of character…and everyone loses their minds. It really helps to set the bar LOW. hee hee
Evil woman.
I like!
Jennifer´s last [type] ..Positives
Love the idea of including the recipe with the goodies you share at cookie exchanges. How many times do I try something delicious, have no clue what it is and then have to hunt down the person who contributed? That would eliminate all the chaos!
Meg´s last [type] ..Book review: ‘The Chicktionary’ by Anna Lefler
Where did you get those gorgeous boxes?
Please tell, must steal for my own Christmas this year.
Party City! Mine were on sale. Here is the link: http://www.partycity.com/product/ornament+style+treat+box+3ct.do?sortby=ourPicks&pp=60&size=all&navSet=198405
Love the gadgets in your work place and the cards are absolutely adorable! The marshmallows looks yummy
You are so amazing and creative and I really want to be your BFF.
Rebecca´s last [type] ..All I Wanted For Christmas
Where did you get those cute boxes to put them in?
Your hair looks gorgeous!
Skye´s last [type] ..Love, Up and Down the East Coast
Thank you! I got them at Party City (they were on sale in the store) http://www.partycity.com/product/ornament+style+treat+box+3ct.do?sortby=ourPicks&pp=60&size=all&navSet=198405
The picture where you are punching the hole in the card… you totally have an Annie mouth… when she is concentrating. Well done.