the journey of Mr. Melty and a very small me

Warning. This is a long story. Back in '08 I made this guy. I call him Mr. Melty. I was brainstorming some cookie ideas, wanted to do a snowman, but an untraditional one, and this melting thing just came to me. Well, Mr. Melty struck a chord. He was posted on the front page of flickr, got thousands and thousands of hits, and is still favorited two years later. Total surprise to me.

As tends to happen, fame was not kind to Mr. Melty. Others used Mr. Melty as inspiration, which I get and encourage. That's why I have tutorials, and I get so much inspiration from other bloggers, it's how creativity happens. But then things got a little out of hand. At first, I was credited with the idea, but after copies of copies  of melted snowman cookies, I was lost and Mr. Melty's path of destruction began. I started seeing him everywhere. Near exact versions of my original. (I even saw a version in Family Fun magazine--of course I recognize the same idea could've come to others coincidentally, I just wonder.) And everywhere, he gets raves and praises for the brilliant idea. Mr. Melty and I were gone. It is very small of me, but it was and is very surreal and sad to see a melted snowman cookie and then see others getting the accolades. I know. Small.

And then my loyal readers started seeing him around the internet and recognized him. A few apparently had some very unpleasant exchanges when they tried to offer the original source. And then I saw Mr. Melty himself, my very photo, entered in a contest. (Read about that here.) I gave up. I thought I would just say good-bye and let him go free. But I still happen upon versions of him and cringe when the comments rave of the clever and brilliant idea. Part of the reason I submitted Mr. Melty to this book is selfish. Now he has my name attached to him in print.

Believe me, I know the image of a jealous, frustrated cookie decorator shouting to her computer screen, "But it was MY idea, not theirs! Please, tell me I'm brilliant, not them!" is not a flattering one. But as I admit to getting inspiration from others, I also always give the source of that inspiration (for example, see here. Or here.). Every time. Neurotically. I find zippo zilch fulfillment in taking praise for another's creativity.

Clearly from the length of this diatribe, I'm way too invested in melting snowman cookies. So I'm trying to embrace the joy of them again with some new ones. And sharing these with you.

People and snowmen, we aren't too different. We all react to things in our own way.

Find the original tutorial HERE. 

Some additional ideas:
Make a hat (Tint fondant black. Roll out and cut out a little circle. Roll a small ball, flatten the top and bottom and attach with a dab of corn syrup. Wrap a thin strip of colored fondant around the ball. Adhere to the top of the snowman head with corn syrup. Let dry overnight.)

Make a scarf (Roll out tinted fondant and cut a curvy scarf shape with a sharp knife. Cut little slices at the ends for fringe. Attach to the snowman with a dab of corn syrup.)

Make mittens (Do the same thing as for the scarf.)

Use sprinkles. I just used confetti sprinkles from the craft store for the buttons.

Candy instead of fondant. Instead of fondant, use candy to decorate. Use Tootsie Rolls for the hat, gum drops, or other candies to decorate, a fruit roll-up for the scarf...