It was an . . .

...itsy bitsy, teenie weenie, yellow polka dot bikini!

I thought we'd finish off Desserts for Dudes month by giving the guys a little eye candy cookie.

As Mr. E probably has guessed, this is as close to a bikini as I'm getting in this lifetime (or the next).  Enjoy, honey.

The bikini cookies are really simple  I outlined and filled in yellow royal icing; I used a combination of AmeriColor Lemon Yellow & Egg Yellow for this color.  The dots were dropped on while the yellow icing was still wet.  (A video of this technique is available here.)

To make the palm trees:

• Using #2 tips, outline the branches in green and the trunk in brown royal icing (AmeriColor Avocado and Leaf Green mixed, AmeriColor Chocolate Brown). 
• Thin the royal icing with water to the consistency of thick syrup.  Cover with a damp dish towel and let sit several minutes.
• Stir gently with a rubber spatula to break any air bubbles that have risen to the surface.  Transfer to squeeze bottles.

• Fill in the trunk of the tree in brown.
• Fill in the leaves in green.

• After 1 hour or so, add the details to the truck in piping consistency royal icing, using a #2 tip.
• Let dry overnight.

• Prepare a "sanding sugar station."  You'll need:

1. meringue powder mixed with an equal amount water
2. sanding sugar
3. small paint brush
4. coffee filter

• Paint the meringue powder/water mixture over the edge of the cookie.
• Holding the cookie over the coffee filter, sprinkle on the sanding sugar. Shake off excess onto the filter.  
• Use the filter as a funnel to refill container of sanding sugar.

So, what did you guys think of Desserts for Dudes month?  I'll tell you our favorites:

• beer and hot dog cookies
• mocha toffee-crunch terrine
• Darth Vader cookies
• zucchini spice cupcakes

Alrighty...Desserts for Dudes month is officially over.  Bring on the pink and sprinkles!

Yes, Even More Vegas Layouts

I am still scrapping away on the Vegas/Grand Canyon trip.  I am not sure if I am even halfway finished yet.  I did order close to 300 photos for the digital photos.  What was I thinking????  Oh yes, that my memory is failing and my scrapbooks will capture my memories for me.

I only had enough photos of the New York, New York casino to justify a single page layout.  Fortunately MFK reminded me that I had this map and I WOULD want to scrap the map.  Great idea Kathy!  Plus it gave me a matching page. 

I used Destinations cartridge for the Statue of Liberty cut on the NY, NY page.  I am soooo please that I purchased that cartridge. It has a lot of useful cuts. 

The Welcome to Las Vegas cut is from SCRAP YOUR TRIP, one of my favorite online scrap stores.  Julie always has the best custom made die cuts and the best papers for any travel of special interest.

Don't forget to leave a comment under the previous post if you are interested in being in the drawing for a $25 Custom Crops Gift Voucher!  The drawing will be held on Thursday!