Saying "Thank You" is like a breath of fresh air with these Succulent Cookie Stencils and Matching Cookie Cutters from Confection Couture!
Here's what you'll need:
- Succulents Cookie Stencils with Matching Cookie Cutters
- Madrid 2 Plaque Cookie Cutter
- Thank You Messages Cookie Stencil
- AirGenie Airbrush Tool
- Gyro-Cut Craft and Hobby Cutting Tool
- Cookie Magnets
- Plastic Bottle with Dropper Tip
- Quadrant Masking Tool (x2)
- Stencil Genie
- Screen Genie
- DecoPac Airbrush Food Coloring
- Lime Green
- Emerald
- Gold Shimmer
- Bronze Shimmer
- Green Luster Dust (edible)
- Sugar Cookie ingredients
- Royal Icing ingredients
- Glad Press'n Seal
- Paper Towels
The first step, of course, is to bake and ice your sugar cookies.
Shading
Thoroughly shake your bottle of Gold Shimmer DecoPac airbrush food coloring prior to pouring out 5-6 drops into the reservoir of your AirGenie airbrush tool.
Always test out the spray on a stack of paper towels before airbrushing each cookie and color. Adjust the flow as needed by turning the knob on top of the unit.
Add the color by spaying at a 45° angle towards the edge of the cookie in a back and forth motion. Rotate the cookie until the entire edge is evenly shaded.
Repeat for all cookies.
Preparing to Stencil
Take the Madrid 2 cookie and place the thicker portion of the Stencil Genie around it (you'll need to rotate it 45° to make it fit). Next, position the "Thank You!" stencil so that the text is centered over the cookie icing.
Next, lay the Screen Genie over the top and lock everything together using the other piece of the Stencil Genie. To further help press the stencil flat against the curved cookie surface, place some cookie magnets, in stacks of three or four, on either side of the stencil.
Stenciling
Load some Bronze Shimmer into the airbrush tool. Use a chopstick or long needle to press down any areas of the stencil that are still tending to lift away from the cookie surface.
Airbrush the color in light coats using small circular motions.
Once complete, lift away the entire tool assembly and place the cookie aside.
Cleaning the Stencils and Tools
To clean the stencils and masking tools, simply rinse them with clean water. Dry them completely using paper towels or a lint-free dish towel.
Masking
For masking intricate stencil elements, try using Glad Press'n Seal. Cut a piece the width of the stencil and cover it, flattening it with your fingers to remove any bubbles or wrinkles.
Next, use the Gyro-Cut craft and hobby cutting tool to trim around the desired stencil elements, in this case every other plant design. Turn the blade sideways and use it to lift up one corner of the trimmed plastic. Peel away each piece, leaving the masked elements covered.
Using the Border Stencil
Line up the border stencil along the edge of the cookie so it shows well but doesn't cover up the words already on the cookie. Since the edge of the cookies tend to be more curved, you might want to skip the Screen Genie which holds the stencil more straight.
Airbrush as you did earlier, making sure to use the chopstick to hold down each section of the stencil as you move across the design.
Next, rotate the stencil assembly 180° and place over the top edge of the cookie. Switch to Emerald colorant and airbrush the same pattern with the new color.
Now, peel off the Press'n Seal and add a new piece. Mask off the design elements opposite the ones you've already airbrushed.
Use the emerald color you already have loaded to complete the lower border design.
Now, switch back to Lime Green, rotate the assembly, and complete the top design.
Luster Dust
For added flair, take a small culinary brush and brush on green luster dust onto the plant elements. Then, use a tissue and lightly remove the lose dust. If so desired, remove the green particles from the white areas using a clean brush.
Stenciling with Royal Icing
For the succulent cookies, try stenciling with royal icing instead of airbrushing!
First, add a few drops of Lime Green to some white icing and mix thoroughly. Add more coloring if necessary until you've matched the color of the airbrushing on the large cookie.
Hold the stencil steadily over the corresponding cookie and add on the icing liberally until the icing itself holds the stencil in place. While still holding the stencil, scrape off the excess icing just until the entire design begins to show through.
Carefully lift away the stencil to reveal the design.
Next, add some drops of Emerald Green to the icing and mix until you match the shade of the darker airbrushed succulent elements.
Your new cookies are finished and ready to show your gratitude to that special person in your life!
