Pattern Power

I'd say 99% of my cookie decorating involves creating a paper pattern first. (I know it's old school, but I don't have the space and am too cheap for a Kopy Kake projector. It works for me.) Here's an example of pattern making. Take this Jackie O Lantern cookie here (inspired by a funny line from a convo with Trinnette of TLC (Trinnie Loves Cookies).  I surfed the web to find some clip art or coloring pages of the former First Lady to see if I could find a simple line drawing to work from.  Here are the images I mashed together to come up with my pattern:

I took most of the left image, plus the cheekbones and hair line work from the center image and the mouth from the third image to come up with this Frankenstein Jackie O:

Slap some pearls and a pillbox hat on her and I was ready to call her good to go. That is until Mr. Sugar breezed in and casually asked, "Flo from Progressive Insurance?" Ugh. Men! I thought maybe she needed those signature oversized Jackie O glasses.  Here's a side by side to compare:

I held an informal poll with some cookie friends and the consensus was my husband's crazy, go without the glasses. So I did. Here she is again:

So if you're nervous about diving in on that blank cookie canvas like I always am, and are too cheap to invest in a Kopy Kake like me, try making a paper pattern first.  Happy cookie-ing!