Before we get back to Bali, I thought it was time to interject a little bit of holiday spirit here. I know, I know, its not even Thanksgiving yet but I swear these are time appropriate.
My friend holds a cookie exchange party every year so I offered to help with the invitations. You know how I love to make things a little bit fancy, right? But with homemade cookies being the basic gist, I didn't want to make it too refined. It had to have some homemade charm.
So instead of your regular flat invitation in an envelope, these come with a little gift to the invitees: A small cookie spatula!
I only own a silicone spatula but these have a little beveled edge that really help "lift" the cookie from the sheet quite nicely.
The invitation itself is 3 tags. You see the first one. The second has the details about where the party is and when to rsvp, etc. And the third tag has the cookie exchange rules.
To mail, I wrapped the whole thing up in brown paper. I would have loved to add some pretty string but I don't think the post office would have been cool with that.
So why am I sharing this with you? Well, aside from liking them - I know some of you host your own holiday parties and this was a very simple idea to borrow should you want to gussy up your own versions. I promise you, these didn't take very long to make. You could easily use hand written tags if you want to make it even easier. These spatulas were purchased for $1 each but if you could swap them with a wooden spoon or whisk or cookie cutter. All in plentiful supply at your dollar store. Wouldn't finding this in your mailbox put you in the holiday spirit?
For the record, I can't bake a cookie to save my life. I'm not being modest - I honestly can't seem to accomplish a decent chocolate chip cookie. I can make bread and cakes and other dishes that seem far more complicated - why does the cookie allude me? So Ive been furiously trying out a few different cookie recipes in search of "the one". I think I've found it. Its the one in the backgroung below.
Tasty and I hope it’s a fun twist on a holiday idea. Don't expect Martha Stewart here - I know my limits. So I'm going to keep practicing and work on a pretty package. Don't you find things taste better if they are presented nicely? That's my philosophy on life I suppose. I'll share the final product and recipe if you are interested.
Am I the only one singing Christmas carols in my head?
WAY too cute. And no, I keep catching myself singing carols...
ReplyDeleteOk seriously..I thought the Halloween invites were awesome, but these make me need to somehow finagle (sp?) my way onto your invite list :) Love em. Oh and can you show us how you wrapped them in the paper? I'm always curious as to what we can get away with sending via USPS. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteShannon - These aren't for my party so being on my invite list wouldn't help much. I was just helping a friend with her invites. I wrapped them in brown paper like you would a gift. I did it as neatly as possible and then covered the edges with kraft tape to keep it neat. You can see the wrapped ones in the 3rd photo.
These are so cool! The spatulas are fantastic - as are the paper bag envelopes. And yes, good presentation (or bad) can definitely make or break a design. You really did a great job with these!
ReplyDeleteOh how I love these! Where do you do all of your printing? Because I don't know of or can't even find a place that will print white on color. OR did you print the red on regular white? Love them, and I want to be added to your invite list and your friends invite list! :) thanks for sharing another of your amazing creations!
ReplyDeleteadorable!! Love it.
ReplyDeleteIt's all super awesome - you should sell these for the creatively challenged (me)! And where did you get the spatulas for only a buck?
ReplyDeleteLove the invitations, makes me want to have a cookie party myself! But... never had this kind of party before, wondering how to do it. What are the rules for this event?
ReplyDeleteLindsay - These are just red printed on white paper on my plain old inkjet. Ive mentioned this before but when I do a job for a client, I have it professionally printed (it really is much better) but when I do a small job for myself, the inkjet does just fine.
ReplyDeletemodernmama - I don't sell these but I do do client work via www.sonicstefdesign.com You can buy little spatulas (or whisks or cookie cutters or whatever suits you) at the dollar store.
LauraJ - Ive never hosted or been to one before either so I dont have any tips. But the rules are each guest has to make a little pacakage of cookies for each other guest to take home. So you make a bunch of your own variety and end up going home with a few cookies of different kinds. The only real rule is that they have to be homemade - no store bought or mixes allowed.
Thank you for sharing this. I love everything about it!
ReplyDeleteThose are so cute! you have the best fonts and ideas ever. you are really very creative and should consider a career change. Such a wonderful idea, a cookie exchange, very clever and yummy at the same time!
ReplyDeletei love this!
ReplyDeleteYour creativity is fantastic! I love the invitations -- as I am sure anyone who recieves them will too.
ReplyDeleteThese are so cute! I love seeing all of your wonderful creations! Did you use a paper punch in the shape of a tag to cut these out? Also, what program do you use?...love the font! Great job! I'm sure your friend was so pleased.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Would love to see your final cookie packages and recipe too! :-)
i LOVE these!!! i remember seeing other incredibly fantabulous (and i'm ridiculously picky about paper products) invitations that you whipped up a while ago -- do you do graphic design or something for a living?
ReplyDeletei'm actually inspired to host a little cookie party meself now, even though i, too, am challenged in the baked goods department.
if you don't already, you should sell your invitations somewhere. if you do, and it went over my head, please shoot me the link...
kelly
I have a cookie exchange every year...and I'm a little jealous if I'm honest. ;-)
ReplyDeleteKelly - Yes, I do graphic design on a freelance basis but I dont sell premade invites. I never show paid for client work. I feel like that doesn't belong here, you know?
ReplyDeleteSarah Marie - I cut out the rectangle shape and then used a decorative corner punch for the top. I used Adobe Illustrator to do the design but this is such a simple layout, it could easily be done in MS Word.
Love, Love, LOVE these!! You are so creative, Mrs. Limestone!
ReplyDeleteLOVE them- such a great job!
ReplyDeleteThese are the cutest things I have ever seen. I may be stealing your idea (but i'll give you full credit!).
ReplyDeleteIS there no end to your awesomeness?!! LOVE THEM.
ReplyDeleteI would love to get one of those invites in the mail! Also, a really good tip for baking cookies is that you have to take them out of the oven before they're perfectly baked. They continue to bake for a few more minutes after they're out of the oven, so if you take them out of the oven when they're just right, they'll actually end up overbaked. Hope it helps!
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing! Please post them (plus recipe), the cookies look delicious also.
ReplyDeleteYou just made me want to host a cookie exchange party. Thanks for the idea! They turned out great.
ReplyDeleteUm...yes...DEFINITELY INTERESTED in seeing the finished product. What a lovely invite.
ReplyDeleteExcellent. I love the idea of putting the tags on a cookie cutter.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Very cool. Have you thought about becomming a party planner?
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT!!! Really, really, awesome!
ReplyDeleteKris
You are killing me here! My girlfriends and I were just planning the where/when of our exchange and then I see these! I feel compelled to ask for a pic of your 'rules' and to ask what type of printer you use for your invitations? They look fantastic and I love the clever idea of adding the spatula.
ReplyDeleteI am so with you on that philosophy...fantastic invitations, xv.
ReplyDeleteI just may need to borrow this idea!
ReplyDeletepve
Such a fantastic idea!
ReplyDeleteSuch a cute idea! We're having a family get together and cookie bake/swap this year and I might have to do something similar as a little favor! They're just too cute!
ReplyDeleteYour so creative! I love your ideas
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this idea. So sweet and cute and adorable:) I love to bake and I have a great cookie recipe if you want it. It is the best chocolate chip cookie I have ever tasted.
ReplyDeleteI would've never guessed the dollar store for the spatula! Great find;o) I hate the baking part too! I love the decorating part though!!! I made some cookies yesterday, and thought of you;o) lol... Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeletemrs limestone i have to ask (again) why do you not do event planning or design for others? you are SO good at it!
ReplyDeleteOhhh... those look like Thumbprint cookies! My favorite, and the ones we made last year at our cookie party for family- great choice! I also love the invitation!
ReplyDeleteSuch a GREAT idea, I LOVE the little tags with the lift theme, so so cute!
ReplyDeleteKay - I do design for others. I don't post client work on here but I have a link to my site at the right.
ReplyDeleteThese are SUCH a great idea. Seriously. GREAT! Love the font, design, everything!
ReplyDeleteLove these invites. I shared them on my blog little ant design. You can check out the post here
ReplyDeletehttp://littleantdesign.blogspot.com/2009/11/cookie-exchange.html
So creative but I would expect nothing else from the talented Mrs. Limestone.
ReplyDeleteTwo radio stations have had round the clock Christmas music for over a week now. It's no wonder that I too have music songs in my head.
Those are the cutest invites ever! I'm borrowing the idea...thank you so much for sharing it and having such an awesome blog in general.
ReplyDeleteYou're a genius! I love them! oh... think of the things we could make together!
ReplyDeleteDear Mrs. Limestone, let me count the ways........ YOU ROCK! Love them as I do all the other FABULOUS invites, decorating, party decor, photography, you share with us! Would you mind sharing with me the name of the font used for LIFT and the date? I love that font and can't seem to find the name or where to get it. Hugs from Conroe, TX!
ReplyDeleteThe cutest ever and you are motivating me to have a cookie party this year just so I can send out cute invitations:)
ReplyDeleteJoyce
Such a fantastic idea! :) Do you mind sharing the name of the font that you used for "lift"? Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteSuch cute favors! Love the idea of a cookie exchange party - sounds like so much fun :)
ReplyDeleteThe font is called Zebrawood. You can buy it here: http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/adobe/zebrawood/
ReplyDeleteI have to say, every time I visit your blog I see that you've created another amazing project! I am so inspired when I come over here. These are so lovely.
ReplyDeleteDid I totally miss the recipe for your cookies?
These are very cute!
ReplyDeleteBut the real reason I'm commenting - no, you are not the only one with Christmas music in their head!! I actually pulled out my Christmas mix this week once or twice.... ;-)
A fellow NYer and cookies?! So glad I found your blog. Umm, best cookie swap invitation ever. Hope it's fun and can't wait to hear more!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this idea! And all your work for that matter. Seriously, what an inspiration you are. I host a cookie party every year and I'm thrilled to send out these little cuties. I'm totally doing this. Do tell--did you individually cut the tags out or get one of those tag-cutter devices from a Paper-Source type place?
ReplyDeleteThanks again for sharing all your good work!
XOXO
Thanks sunya - I cut the tags out (they are just rectangles that have two of the corners clipped with a fancy cutter and a hole punched). I don't think I've seen a tag cutter that makes big tags (these are about 3.5 inches high) but if you can find one, that makes it all the easier.
ReplyDeleteYou are insane. I wish you lived in CA, right next door to me, so we could have parties all the time.
ReplyDeleteThese tags are sooo cute! Love them.
ReplyDeleteCan you show us all the tags in the group please?
ReplyDeleteHow did you print white on red paper?
ReplyDeleteAnon: Its red ink on white paper.
ReplyDeleteKathy: The other tags showed personal information like the hosts address and phone number so I didn't photograph them.
I LOVE this idea! You are so creative with the invitations and decor! It's always nice to see a refreshing way of doing something simple. Amazing blog! I'm definitely following =D
ReplyDeleteXOXO
www.allabouttwenties.blogspot.com
Cute idea for an invitation....I am using your idea for my 8th Annual Holiday Cookie Exchange this year. I did find them at my local dollar store as well. I do have a question regarding the tags. Did you make and cut the tags yourself or did you use some type of perforated tag on a sheet? Thanks for the great ideas!
ReplyDeleteI cut the tags myself - they were a simple shape so it wasn't too difficult.
ReplyDeleteAwesome!!! What are the 'cookie exchange rules' that you included on the invitation?
ReplyDeleteAWESOME! I'm going to use this idea for my cookie exchange
ReplyDeletethese are absolutely adorable. it makes me want to attend the party!
ReplyDeleteTHANK you for the great idea / inspiration! I finally made these (November 2011) after seeing this blog ages ago! Designed the tags in Illustrator, printed on card stock, cut and clipped the tags with punches, tied with ribbon, dollar store spatulas, wrapped in brown paper and tied with ribbon - DONE! I think I even downloaded the same font! :-) THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteIs there a downloadable templet for this invitation? I would really like to use it for my cookie sway/holiday party. ashley-marie24@live.com
ReplyDeleteNo, this one is not a free download.
ReplyDeleteDo you happen to know where I could get ahold of those cards?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you about being able to bake bread and cakes and then having sub-par results when it comes to cookies!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this! host a cookie exchange every year and this is an awesome idea to try!
ReplyDeleteI thought you might like to know that someone is selling your design: http://www.etsy.com/listing/86854416/personalized-christmas-stickers-for
ReplyDeletecan you provide the instructions on the ivitations you have shown? TY :)
ReplyDeleteI love your "A Good Cookie can Lift your Spirits" tag! I would love to use these for my Cookie Exchange this month as my party favor with the cookie lifter:-) Is there a way that I can purchase them? Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteHow do you wrap in the brown paper without the spatula getting bent?
ReplyDeleteThe spatula is much harder than the paper.
ReplyDeleteIs this something I can download, edit, and print? This is such a cut idea for an invitation. Thank you.
ReplyDelete