Home » So Crafty

How to Make your own Cookie Cutters

jkvkdailey by jkvkdailey

The possibilities are endless.

If you are a cookie cutter lover, chances are you've toyed around with the idea of making your own cutters. It's not actually as hard as it might seem at first. And it's really fun because you can design cutters in shapes that you might not otherwise find and have your very own custom design cookies!

Below is a beginner's guide to cookie cutter making.

Where to Start

Start off with a trip to the hardware store. You're going to need a few things that can only be found there. Ask the clerk for aluminum or copper flashing. Copper is better, but they may not carry it. Tell the clerk what you're going to use it for and ask if it's safe for food use. Flashing is nothing more than a flat sheet of metal. You'll want to buy a roll, or at least enough to make your first one or two cookie cutters. You can always go back for more.

Next, you'll need a pair of tin snips. These are scissors designed to cut metal. Don't try to use household scissors as they won't do the job right and you'll end up ruining your scissors. You'll also need a good knife to score the cutter. If you have a paring knife at home, that will work fine.

More Supplies

Your last two purchases from the hardware store will be a glue and some clips. The glue should be food safe (meaning non-toxic) like an epoxy. If you are at all unsure if it's food safe, don't use it. You can always do some research and call a few companies or visit their web sites to find out which glues are food safe. It may take a little work, but it will be worth the effort.

The clips can be just those orange and black clamps you see at hardware stores. They cost just a few cents each, so pick up several. You'll need these to hold the glue until it sets.

The only thing you'll really need from home is a ruler and pencil.

Supplies you will need.

Loading

Come up with your design.

Flickr Photo Credit: John C AbellOnce you get all your supplies home, decide which shapes you'd like to make. You might start simple with a dog or a pumpkin. Next, draw or download a piece of artwork that has bold outlines of your desired shape. Don't worry about details as you won't use any of them. The outline is all you need.

Lay the flashing down on a table and start cutting strips the width of your ruler. You'll want to mark the length of the ruler along the flashing with a pencil mark, and then use the snips to cut the straight line. You'll only be able to make a cutter the length of the aluminum sheet. So if you're using a roll, you're in luck. Shorter sheets of aluminum will require smaller cookie cutters.

An easy way to measure how much flashing you will need is with a pipe cleaner. Use the pipe cleaner to copy the shape of your desired design, then straighten it out and and 1" (for overlap) for the amount of flashing to cut.

Cookie Cutters from Amazon

Loading

Creating Your Shape

Flickr Photo Credit: John C AbellNext, take a cut strip, being very careful not to cut yourself on the edges, and bend it gently around the shape on the paper. You may want to use your clamps to keep edges or corners in place. You can also score any corners in the design with your knife so they stay bent. You can bend the aluminum around glasses or any other objects at home to get rounded edges.

Glue the ends in place. Overlap the metal and then put on a drop of glue. Clamp the edges so the glue can set.

When you're done, wash your cutter and use!

Other Cookie Cutter Creation Techniques

How to Make Christmas Cookie Cutters
by Howcast | video info

30 ratings | 13,018 views
curated content from YouTube

Happy Baking!

  • ohcaroline Jan 21, 2011 @ 5:16 pm | delete
    Great instruction and ideas. Thanks.
  • Ladymermaid Dec 30, 2010 @ 9:00 pm | delete
    I had no idea it could be so easy. Great lens idea. Best wishes for a wonderful 2011.
  • janices7 Dec 30, 2010 @ 1:40 pm | delete
    Never really thought about making my own cutters, but why not....you could make so many cool designs to fit any theme AND you could make them any size you want.
  • Pinkchic18 Dec 28, 2010 @ 2:17 pm | delete
    This is a great idea. Luckily I received some cookie cutters for Christmas this year or I would have been making my own ;) This seems pretty simple to do though, so I might have to try it next year (or else make them as gifts too!)
  • kimmer14 Dec 28, 2010 @ 1:45 pm | delete
    Awesome! I may have to try this because it's nearly impossible to find a tractor cookie cutter :-) Thanks for the helpful information!
Show All

Check out my cookie lenses!

Loading

More Articles about Everything Cookie!

How To Clean Your Cookie Sheets
If you love to bake, you probably use your cookie sheets quite often. And if you are an avid cook, you probably use them for more than just cookies. One day you'll look and find that the sheets that were so shiny when brand new are now marred in black or stick gook. Do you have to throw them out? No way! You can clean them with a little ingenuity.
How to Find Rare Cookie Jars
Cookie jars have been around a long time. You can find some that are over 100 years old and still in good condition.

If you'd like to start collecting these charming antiques instead of putting cookies in them, here are some ways you can get started.
The History of Cookie Decorating
We can thank the Swiss for bringing the cookie decorating tradition to life. Their now famous springerle cookies were the very first decorated cookies. These sweet, but hard, cookies are pressed into molds and pop out featuring the most intricately designed cookies you have ever seen. The first molds were discovered from the 14th century and are now considered national treasures and held in Swiss museums.
Tips for Buying Cookie Sheets
A baker is only as good as his or her tools. If you have rusty old bent-up cookie sheets, then perhaps it's time to go out shopping for some new ones.
Girl Scout Cookie Fun Facts
Girl Scout cookies a delicious and much beloved part of American history. These tasty treats are anticipated all year long. They are only on sale once a year and then they are gone. Office staff gather around the mom who brings in the cookie order sheet for her daughter.

This So Crafty page written by

jkvkdailey

I am a married mother of 2 young and active boys. I love reading, baking, party planning and each and every Holiday!
LensMasterWorld
Isle of Squid... more »

Create something new! Show off your work! Time to get So Crafty!

Connect with So Crafty

This author recommends...