I just posted my Hello Kitty cookie. A large, national dept store ordered 50 of them for a special event. They had a very small budget (don't they all!) so I originally said I'd do a 2" round cookie and would draw Hello Kitty on it. 50 cookies for $100..... at $1/inch, that's in the price range ok.
Then I saw this really cool Hello Kitty cookie cutter on ebay. What the heck.....that would be impressive, so I ordered it. Holy crap, that thing arrives (from ASIA!) and it's one big honkin' cutter!!! But .... I rationalize it with the value of being able to say "As ordered by (nat'l dept store)". It's an advertising thing.
When baked up, these cookies are more than 4" across and between 3-4" tall! 
Ok, they're way bigger than originally planned, but it's an exposure thing. I'll consider it the prototype deal.
Then I start to decorate 'em. Now, I had just done 100 dog-bone shaped cookies for a wedding a week or two ago. It took me less than 2 hours to decorate the dog bones, so I figured these would take about the same time ... a little bigger, but only half the cookies.
What an idiot I am!!! There is a LOT of space to cover on these freakin' things!! I spent over 5 hours decorating these suckers!! I was tired, my back hurt, and I was cursing myself out over and over, reminding myself that when I post this story on CC, everyone will confirm what an idiot I am!
These cookies are officially $5 each from this day forward!!
So laugh away, gang! I deserve it!!!
That's so funny and true! Some cookies that I've never made before turn out to be larger than expected or more work than expected and I end up doing the same thing..."from this day forward, the price is higher on these things!" That's how I got into making a lot of my cutters so I get just the right size for the price I'm charging.
I hope you get lots of good exposure for all the work you did!!
Ya know, I love cookies but honestly, I'd rather make a cake any day. It takes me so freak'n long to decorate them - and consistency - well, we'll just leave that one untouched. I've never tried the bake, freeze and decorate later method so I may try that one day but kudos to you for seeing it thru. I can only imagine how your hands felt!
I have soooo been there. When I was straight out of culinary school, a friend of a friend wanted all cookies for their wedding. 300 sugar cookies decorated with a lace pattern. But they couldn't find them for under a dollar. Well, what did I know, I could surely do them for 85 cents a piece, right???? I call the experience "death by cookie". I will never do a cookie wedding again unless it pays very well. Yikes.
I'm glad to see IndyDebi is human. When I first saw the post was from her, I was about to chide her because she's always the one telling us "no deals, not even for family/friends". Then I saw what it was about and I just had to say I'm grateful even she makes mistakes. We love you IndyDebi!!!
Then I saw this really cool Hello Kitty cookie cutter on ebay. What the heck.....that would be impressive, so I ordered it.
I do this ALL the time! 
"OHHHH! It's soo coool! I gotta have it for so and so's cake!"
It's an advertising thing.
And then I do this to justify the purchase to hubby! 
I was tired, my back hurt, and I was cursing myself out over and over, reminding myself that when I post this story on CC, everyone will confirm what an idiot I am!
And then I do this when the dang-flabbed gadget doesn't work like I want it to! 
So laugh away, gang! I deserve it!!!
We would never laugh at you Debi! We love you! 
Forgot to ask...what did you use to decorate your cookies? They are so smooth...is that fondant or your famous recipe?
Long before I found CC, my daughter found this recipe somewhere on the 'net. I just keep adding water to get a good flowing consistency (you know ... the 'ole "until it looks right!" method! 
) I add some vanilla to it, too.
Royal Icing from Sugarbaker's
Makes 3 cups of base consistency icing
3 3/4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
3 T meringue powder
6 T warm water
Beat 4 to 5 minutes
I call the experience "death by cookie".
LOVE this as it is so-o-o true! And it's nice to know that even seasoned decorators like indydebi have stepped in it like me! You aren't an idiot...just human...and still a role model for all of us.
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