I have a special place in my heart for clear packaging.

Clear boxes are a food crafter's way of showing off letting their food take center stage!


We are dedicated to the details of our edible creations, (mixing the perfect shade of icing, getting the right consistency, adding some sparkly luster dust for "cheeks," and cleaning out the tiny #1 tips, etc.)


So why not show them off?
Why should the lucky recipient of these happy heart cookies* have to open their gift to smile!?


I think they will already be smiling the second you hand them this cute little clear box!


Or how about putting them in a simple clear CD sized envelope?
{A little twist on my usual cellophane bag routine.}


I do enjoy packing my treats about as much as I enjoy making them.  I love specialty boxes, unique favor bags, colorful gable boxes, and everything in between.

But lately I'm just obsessed with the understated simplicity of clear packaging.

Because the second someone sees you walking down the hall holding this box, the cupcakes will scream, "Hi!  Look at my handmade Valentine garnishes**!" Yep, these babies TURN HEADS!  People start striking up conversations with you in an effort to become instant friends and possibly gain a cupcake out of the deal.  Then when they realize you aren't giving them one, they request to purchase them.  Then when you decline to sell, they will start salivating.  {True Story}


Because this box is CLOSED!  But look at how rad the cupcakes still look!  Try being trapped in an elevator holding these.  You will fear an impending attack.  {Also a true story}  But it will all be worth it when you hand over a special edible gift and eyes light up.


Am I making a big deal about this?  YES!  But apparently I'm not the only one who is enamored with clear boxes.  Ever since this post, I've had several emails asking where I got my clear cupcake box.  The answer is that I bought the single square box at my local cake store, which doesn't help you all.  But then came a revelation as I discovered clearbags.com.  Yes, a whole company dedicated to clear packaging!  And they have a whole section of food safe clear packaging (including single cupcake boxes like the one I used)!

That is where I purchased these half dozen boxes.  I was really happy with the quality.  They were strong enough to stack and hold the cupcakes pretty stable for safe transport.  I liked them so much, I just placed another order.  I wish I could buy a million of every size clear bag and box.  One can dream.


So consider being anti-opaque, when packaging all of your adorable Valentine creations!

Let them shine, let them be seen!
Let them be drooled over from across the room!

*The happy heart cookies were made with these tips and recipes.
**The cupcake garnishes were made with the same royal icing, piped onto parchment paper, instead of a cookie.  After the icing dries, it will pop right off the parchment for you to use on your cupcake.
The designs were inspired by these cupcake garnishes by Sweetopia.

I'm trying not to poop out as I parent number six. Even though I mostly just want to sit on the couch and read, I have to stay strong, I've got years of parenting in me still. So, the baby just turned two. Sniff. And it's time to start teaching him his letters. I made an ABC book in 1997 for my kids that are now teenagers. It's looking a little dated, I'm wearing tie-dye. Yikes! Time for a new one.

I love this song that the kids have sung at school over the years called 'A' You're Adorable originally recorded by Perry Como but it has been redone by many, including Sesame Street, listen here for a trip down memory lane.



I cut these letters out of cardstock and did a photo shoot against a black sheet.



It was a good idea until little monkey wouldn't hold the letters and I resorted to taping them to his shirt.



And then he thought it was fun to crinkle up or tear the letters. And I'm chanting to myself "Don't poop out, stay strong!"



He was not enjoying the photo shoot and by now I was thinking he wasn't so adorable. So, the new plan was props.



Ashleigh called during this fine mothering moment and told me that I could get like twelve apps for 99 cents each that will help kids learn letters.

That might have been a better idea.

But, I'm not pooping out. And I will not be defeated by a two year old so I gave him a nap and persisted through the alphabet.

After adding the words in photoshop and developing the pictures, the laminating was the easiest part thanks to laminator love from Ash which we gushed over in this post.

I'd like to say he loves his book and goes to sleep with it every night. He doesn't.

But, if only to prove to myself that I'm still trying to be a good mom, it was worth it.

....but then again, 99 cent app sounds like a really good mom to me.

The last time I was grocery shopping I passed by the bulk-food bins and decide to multi task and buy some Valentines! I didn't have a plan, but I'm a make-it-work kinda gal so I buy first, plan later.

First I saw these candy necklaces. I knew my 6 and 8 year old girls would think these were the bomb dot com! They are already wrapped and they were 15 cents each! You can't even get a store bought My Little Pony Valentine for 15 cents. Score!

Then I tried to think of a clever little saying to go with it and every combination of sweet, neck, around, love sounded creepy, so I went with a classic, "Happy Valentine's Day. First graders don't read clever sayings anyway, right?



Then I happened upon a bin of fairly giant jawbreakers. Individually wrapped. They were more like 90 cents. But, they're so cool. And when you are a fifth grade boy, you've got to be cool. And, he's my middle child...and we moved to a new school this year...and I may have some guilt issues...and I'll stop now. Let's just say, I bought the jawbreakers. Here is the front and back of the tag.



I bought a huge bag of Hot Tamales to see if my teenagers wanted to give out candy. My fourteen year old boy took me up on it. Surprising...Maybe he figures until he hits his growth spurt he can impress the ladies with candy. He he.

Once again, I had a little trouble coming up with a cool and clever tag. Hope you have a "Hot" Valentine's Day..I think you're "hot"....Have a "fiery" Valentine's Day. These might land him in the principals office. So I played on the fact that his favorite color is red and he thinks it's sweet that his name has the word red in it. And, he's easy to please.



The moral of the story is...stop and browse that bulk-food section. You never know what Valentine treasures you'll find.

I'm guest posting over on somewhat simple today!

For all of you who have told me "I don't have a steady enough hand to pipe out detailed cookies" or
"I'd rather scratch my eyes out than spend 30 minutes decorating something my kids were about to eat..."

Well, this post is for you!  You are going to have to ice a base layer first.  But after that, you will only need your stamping and spray painting skills.  No piping detail here...


Go take a look!

Here's a look inside the cookie jar.

There's lots you can do with just pink, red and white frosting.


For the sugar cookie recipe and royal icing recipe, refer to this post.


I outlined and immediately filled for nice clean frosting edges.


I think my favorite one was my sassiest cookie yet.  I'm really walking on the wild side with this one.
This cookie is "sealed with a kiss."


I used my trusty alphabet cutter set to make hugs and kisses.


I used "wet on wet" techniques for a flat cookie.


And some were done with a "wet on dry" technique which results in a dimensional/textured cookie.


I made these little lace darlings without a projector.  {Cue applause}


These were just simple scalloped edge hearts and I attempted to make them look like they had a lace edge.  You might have to look close...


After the red was dry, I made a white edge.  After that was dry, I put a little more icing on and used my paint brush for a little "brush embroidery" style edge.  This one is only done on one side.
Can you tell the difference?


And I also made some big cookies (that weren't made to fit in the jar).
But I do love a basic rectangle cookie that is open to all possibilities.
I busted out my projector for this little phrase.


And then I broke down and tinted some icing a really light turquoise.


So we will end on that sentimental note:  Love is... going out on a limb.
How do you like my cookie equivalent to a greeting card?
Hallmark, if you need me to write for you, let me know.  hehehe.

Linking up to The Girl Creative!