ok so i am totally new to cookies!!! i have been making custom cakes for almost 1 year now, and completely self taught! I bought the most adorable princess taira cookie cutter to use to make my daughter's 2nd birthday "treat" bags... my question is how do i make sure my cookie dough stays in the desired shape whil baking??? i made 1 batch of them and it looks like a fist giving the middle finger!!!! Someone please help!!!!!!!! TIA

Try the "No Fail Sugar Cookie" recipe, it's posted in the Recipes section. (You'll find a lot of people on here use it and call it NFSC for short.)

For other tips (like chilling the shapes beforehand on Silpats, etc) look in my cookie how-to link below....

Most roll out cookies are fine; just reduce the amount of baking powder and don't add it in at all.