DIY "Origami" Wafer Cookies

Hello friends!  I have to say that I have really, really missed blogging, but we have had a pretty crazy year.  My husband lost his job almost exactly a year ago, and it has been quite the roller coaster ride ever since!  He took a job in Lexington, KY, and we lived apart for several months while we sold the house and had my daughter finish the semester in Indiana.  Now we are living out of boxes while we're looking for a house in this crazy Lexington market!  Although I wouldn't wish a job loss on anyone, it was exactly the kick-in-the-pants I needed for motivation to dig into the "party things" I have been dreaming about for the past couple of years.  I am not sure exactly what that will look like...maybe working towards blogging with sponsors...maybe party styling for the Lexington area...maybe selling my creations...maybe all of the above?  I am excited about this next chapter in our lives, and the next chapter for this BLOG!  Anyway, enough about that...

So, I can't seem to kick my swan / flamingo obsession!  Unicorns may be next, but apparently I don't have swans out of my system yet.  I did buy the cutest white unicorn salt and pepper shakers the other day, with gold horns...and my husband told me I am getting weirder in my "old age".  He says they'll end up in the next garage sale, but I LOVE them...today!  So now, for one last (maybe?) swan tutorial...

These cookies are so easy to make, it's ridiculous!  You can get really creative, and make any shape you would like...just Google "tangram patterns" to find a template!

Supplies:

sharp knife

wafer cookies (mine were on sale at Target for $1.12 per package!)

1 can frosting (I used Betty Crocker's strawberry mist)

Using the above photo for reference, let's call the beak #1, and move clockwise.

1.  Starting in one corner of the wafer, cut at a 35 degree angle, parallel to the "grid lines", so you have a little triangle piece.  Then cut one row of grid lines off one side of the triangle to make it a wee bit smaller, so it will match up to the head piece.

2.  To make the neck, cut the same above triangle off both ends of your wafer, making sure your cuts are parallel to each other.  Next, cut two rows of grid lines off the long side of your parallelogram.

3.  For the first piece of the body, make a cut the same length as the end of your wafer to make a square.

4.  For the triangular piece of the body, make the same triangle piece you made in step 1, only don't cut off the extra row of grid lines. 

5.  To make the first wing, you will need two larger triangles.  Begin by cutting off the same end triangles you cut to make the neck.  This time, cut the middle piece in half, making two large triangle pieces. (see photo) 

6.   For the second wing, you only need to cut a small triangle off one end, then starting at the  bottom of the angled piece, cut to create a triangle with a 90 degree angle.  (see photo above)

7.  Finally, to create the head, cut a square off one end of your wafer.

8.  Starting with the head and beak, use the frosting of your choice to "glue" each piece together.  The frosting will harden as it dries, and will hold your swan in place.  The cookies are pretty delicate, but they actually do stay together!  You may want to use a toothpick to clean up any clumps of frosting.

To turn your pink swans into flamingos, cut pink sour strip candy in half, and add to the bottom for

legs.  I spread a bit of frosting on the bottom of the pink swans, and added sprinkles to fancy them up a bit.  Put them in little bags, and tie the top with washi tape, and you have an adorable treat display or favor!