Teapot Cookies for a Piano Recital

A friend of mine, who's an awesome piano instructor (Renditions Music Services), recently asked me to bake and decorate 100 teapot shaped cookies for an upcoming children's recital. I had never done anything like this before but it sounded like it would be a great learning experience so I jumped on the opportunity.  

The following three photos show work in progress cookies and were taken prior to the event.

 

Next, I made the notes using a number 2 tip and a pastry bag.

 

On the day of the recital, I delivered the cookies to this nice community building.

 

We were all happy with the way these cookies turned out. I think that the teapot shape was perfect for the event because tea was served before the performances started. I was able to pull this off thanks to the great teapot cookie cutter that my friend loaned me. Regarding the musical notes, I have to admit that, at first, I was a little concerned that piping them would be difficult. But, after making a few of them (and after making some mistakes) I started getting the hang of it. Now it seems easy!

What worked:
1. Made a few test cookies and ran them by my friend before ploughing ahead and making one hundred.
 2. I made a simple sketch of 100 boxes and used felt markers to roughly draw the design and colors. Then, later on, while I was applying the icing, I checked each one off of the sketch as I made them.
3. Having several racks for drying. I borrowed some from a couple of people.
4. Flat airtight containers. These allow you to store the iced cookies in the refrigerator. A flat container isn't as bulky as a tall one and you don't have to stack the cookies.
5. Gave myself one day as a buffer in case something went wrong.
6. I asked my friend to store some of the cookies in her fridge.
7.  Covering the bottom of containers and boxes with crumpled wax paper and taping it onto the surface. This surface kept the cookies from sliding around while being transported.
8. Making the dough on the first day, wrapping it in plastic, and placing it in the refrigerator. The next day, I stamped the cookies out and baked them. 

What didn't work:
1. Not enough space in refrigerator.
2. Didn't bake enough cookies the first day and so had to bake more three days later. 
3. Needed to run to the super market more than once to buy extra flour and sugar.
4. Not enough airtight containers.

Do the next time:
1. Buy more airtight containers in advance.
2. Think about using bubble wrap at the bottom of containers the next time to avoid having the cookies slip around while in transport. 
3. Maybe paint the notes with royal icing or food coloring plus alcohol.

 
SI