The Homemade Cookie Bouquet

This past weekend was our niece Katelin's high school graduation. For her graduation party, Katelin decided to not go the typical graduation cake approach and instead have various cookies and bars available for the party attendees. I thought this was a pretty cool idea, and it also made me think, "You know, a cookie bouqet would be awesome!" However, I am cheap. The cookie bouquets I'm familiar with tend to be a bit expensive.

I'm not a crafty type, but I decided that it would be cool to see if I could make some cookie bouquets for Katelin's graduation. I didn't ask her if that would be OK -- I just went ahead three days before her party and just bought the stuff and started in on this project. Glad she is laid back and didn't mind that I decided these bouquets needed to be the centerpieces for her tables.

I really didn't know what I was doing and was fully expecting this entire project to not turn out, but it wasn't too bad! There was a lot of help and input on this project, and I'd like thank the following (it's like the Oscars!):

• Mom for designing the "Pat Pipho Open Heart Surgery Zipper Method" for keeping the dowels in the cookies while they baked, and also providing the double ovens and manning them to ensure the cookies were baking appropriately (we only burned one pan's worth).
• My niece Brittney for cluing me into buying frosting in bulk at the grocery store bakery to save time on the whole frosting situation, as well as helping me frost.
• My friend Staci for coming over and helping frost cookies.
• Deb (another of Katelin's aunts) for helping me put the bouquets together the day of the party.
• My loving husband Gabe for buying the frosting and wrapping several cookie sticks with floral tape to make them look like real stems.

This was definitely a family affair, and something that probably won't ever need to be recreated unless someone asks me for it specifically. Then I will do it. Probably.

Over 100 cookies with sticks in them later, and we were done. A few photos for your enjoyment. That one that turned into a word jumble says "Congrats, Katelin!" That layout isn't my best work, but hey -- if you stare at it long enough, you might be able to read it. :)