Blog: Vertical

Need one of Julia’s foolproof recipes? Some stunning cookie decorating ideas? Or a quick fix on Julia’s latest news and events? Well then, you’re in the right place! Here, you can stay up-to-the-minute current on everything that’s happening in Julia’s kitchen and studio – and in that always-churning mind of hers! IMPORTANT: Julia is still formatting blog entries prior to 2021 to conform to the new site layout. Please don’t be surprised if some back entries look a little wacky, and please be patient as she edits them over time.
Julia M. Usher

Mother’s Day Cookie Box

Any mom would feel like a queen if given one of these gorgeous – and completely edible – cookie boxes on Mother’s Day (or any day, for that matter)! These stunners make use of several decorating techniques, including airbrushing and

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Julia M. Usher

Simpler Solo

As is Julia’s MO, she made more than one version of her Mother’s Day cookie box. This silver and lavender one is a wee bit simpler than the tan and gold one shown elsewhere in this gallery, insofar as it

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Julia M. Usher

Deluxe Details

There are so many special details on Julia’s Mother’s Day cookie boxes! First, the multicolor stenciling; next, the two-tone piped roses; then, the recessed contoured cookie “corners” and franken-cookied “feet”; and then, let’s not overlook that precisely stenciled royal icing

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Julia M. Usher

Luxe Lid

Heck, even the lids on Julia’s Mother’s Day cookie box are elegant! Just take a look at the graceful curves and piping on this franken-cookied handle! For the complete how-to, check out Julia’s instructional video. And, for all of Julia’s stencils

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Julia M. Usher

Birthday Wishes Redux

It’s hard to go wrong with this stencil set from Julia’s original Prettier Plaques™ cookie stencil series! She’s tried it in countless color combinations, and it always looks great! Here, it’s bold and beautiful, but soft and sophisticated works too! To

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Julia M. Usher

Conscious Color Commingling

People often fret when airbrushing multiple colors over a single stencil. In fact, it’s not uncommon for Julia to be asked, “But how do I keep the colors from blending into each other?” That’s a good question with a definite

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Julia M. Usher

Stylish Stencils

Other surprises on Julia’s springtime table were the stylish stenciled place cards and menus. Julia used airbrush food coloring and a stencil from her own line (her To Mom Prettier Plaques™ set) to make the background bird-and-blossom pattern. (Yes, you

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Julia M. Usher

Springtime Setting – Hers

Julia created lots of interest on her springtime table by combining multiple patterns in the découpaged plates and stenciled menus. However, too much pattern risks being busy without a clear and consistent color palette. Here, Julia used soft, feminine pinks

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Julia M. Usher

Springtime Setting – His

Yes, the same découpage tricks and stencils that Julia used for the companion “hers” place setting were used here. She just changed up the colors to create a completely different look. Despite the plethora of flowers on the place card,

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Julia M. Usher

Surprising Stencil

Here again is that element of surprise that Julia likes to have in all of her place settings. In this case, the place card is made with food coloring and the background stencil in Julia’s To Mom Prettier Plaques™ set.

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Julia M. Usher

Vintage Vases Redux

This vertical view of Julia’s vintage vase cookies shows just how stately they look from all angles. To understand how Julia created this magical project, check out her YouTube video tutorial.

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Julia M. Usher

Beautiful in Blue

Here’s another rendition of Julia’s vintage vase cookie project – this time in blue with peachy-pink flowers. As always, once you understand the basic method for making any of Julia’s 3-D projects, it’s super easy to apply color and minor

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Julia M. Usher

Déjà Vu Blue

Julia’s vintage vase cookie project reappears in blue, but with creamier flowers. Isn’t this version beautiful too?! For all of the details behind this project, check out Julia’s YouTube video tutorial.

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Julia M. Usher

Tantalizing in Tan

Let’s zoom in now on this tantalizing tan version of Julia’s vintage cookie vase. You’ll see so many lovely details: piped and gilded royal icing roses, an embossed cookie medallion framed by those roses, and stately molded cookie handles, suspended

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Julia M. Usher

Suspend All Doubt

Skeptical that the handles on these vintage vase cookies are also cookies?! Well, be skeptical no more! They are, in fact, molded cookies, gracefully suspended without any evident supports. (Also note how tidy these vases look along their side seams.

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Julia M. Usher

Rosy Reveal

Royal icing roses are wonderful cookie embellishments. Not only can they be made well in advance, but they also lend an air of elegance to any cookie project. This vintage cookie vase with its rosy center medallion is a clear

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