Hello, cookie competitors! If you haven’t already seen the news on social media or my site Cookie Connection, I wanted to alert you that, earlier today, the rules and registration link for the 2026 Julia M. Usher’s Cookie Art Competition™ officially posted to Cookie Connection, the competition’s home base! All of these very important details can be found under the Competition Overview post on that site.
If you’re a veteran to my competition, a few things are new this year. Some rules have changed to put more emphasis on the originality of entries and to relax some of the requirements for the Advanced/Master skill level classification, but all of these changes are better reviewed in the Competition Overview, where you’ll find them highlighted in blue. The bigger change is that, for the first time ever, I’ve brought on an exclusive media partner who is offering a host of benefits for all entrants and winners. That media partner is the one and only Kelly Jane of D’licious Magazine, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome her to my competition “team”.
Have I piqued your interest?! If so, please jump on over to the Competition Overview to read every rule, and to make sure you understand the various submission requirements for your entry. Once you’ve done that, simply click on any of the pink “REGISTER” links in the Competition Overview to be taken to Eventbrite, my registration platform, to pay your reg fee(s). Please also remember to register early, even now, before you start your entry. Having an early read on the number of potential entrants helps me immensely with the planning process and in assuring that the competition will be the best possible experience for you and the other entrants. Plus, and possibly most important, you’ll gain full access to the entry databases only after you’ve registered. Those databases reside on Cookie Connection and are where you’ll eventually upload your entry or entries when they’re done. I highly recommend reviewing them before you begin designing because they itemize all you’ll need to upload (including work-in-process photos) to complete your entry.
Last but not least, if you’re a newbie to competing, don’t be intimidated by the rules, the challenge of creating an entry, what you think other entrants might be making, or anything else. Competing isn’t about winning or losing; it’s about enjoying the process and learning as much as you can along the way. Please relax and have fun with this competition. I truly believe that all entrants end up winners for having made this investment in themselves.
P.S. Don’t forget to spread the word of this competition on social media via this post’s “SHARE” links. My hope is to make this fifth (and final) edition of my competition the best ever – with both the biggest prizes and the most widespread participation! 😀
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Live sweetly, Julia