Thanksgiving cookie platter

Thanksgiving will be here next. It's my favorite Holiday. Who doesn't love spending time with family and just eating GREAT food. 

Oh, wait... For those who know my family, my mother cooks like it's Thanksgiving every time she has us over for Sunday dinner... LOL! But there's something so special about watching the Parade on TV and then spending the afternoon laughing and reminiscing.

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Anyway.... I was recently asked by a dear friend, N, if I was interested in donating some cookies for her church's fundraiser and silent auction. I immediately said, YES!!!!!! and started to think about what to make. 

Luck has it, that I was attending CookieCon in Salt Lake City, UT, (I will talk more about this event in another post) the week prior to this platter being due. And I KNEW I would learn sooooo much while at CookieCon and I would be able to apply it to the new cookies I would make. 

The amazingly talented MaryAnn Rollins: AKA The Cookie Artisan gave a WONDERFUL presentation about platters and the How-to's when it came to arranging cookies on a platter. I vigorously took notes and was excited to come home and try it for the first time on this particular platter idea.

After much research and sketching, this is what I came up with: 

Not bad for a first attempt?!?!?

Since I always give credit for my designs and inspirations, here it goes: 

Turkey cookie: Pixie's Treats
Leaves: Lizy B Bakes (she even has a tutorial online) 
Tree with dot leaves: LilaLoa 

My friend loved it and I hope it was able to raise some money for her church. 

I say Thank You to her for thinking of me and allowing me to make something special to share with others. I was honored to be a part of such a wonderful event. 

I also want to say Thank You to Maryann for offering all of us at CookieCon information and her expertise in the area. It was so kind of her to share her 'secrets' with others and I will be forever grateful!!!