Personalised cookies are always a big hit at special events like baby showers and weddings. But getting custom-made cookies aren't exactly a budget-friendly option, and sometimes it's nicer to make homemade sweets and treats. One solution is to make your own custom-design cookie cutter. It only takes a little time and a tiny sheet of metal. Sweet!

Supplies

• 24, 25, or 26 gauge aluminum sheet metal.
• Metal hole punch.
• Two eyelets.
• Eyelet setter.
• Paper and pencil or a picture of the shape you want.
• Hammer.
• Scissors.
• Needle-nose pliers.
• Sandpaper.
• Pipe cleaner(s).
• Little clamp or tape.
• Cutting mat.
• Ruler.
• Triangle (optional).

36 gauge aluminum works as well, but I would recommend folding a strip in half length-wise to get the right thickness for a cookie cutter. Copper and stainless steel are also great to use.

Please be sure to purchase non-toxic metal for this project. It needs to be safe for food contact. The Whimsie Studio, Speedy Metals, and Streuter Tech are three sheet metal suppliers I have found.

1. Find a Shape

Step 1

Think of what shape you want your cookie cutter to be.

Do you want it to be geometric? What about a banner or bunting? Or a favourite animal? Keep in mind that you are making a cookie cutter, so you are making the silhouette or outer edge of the subject. You can always add detail with icing. It's best to keep away from anything with jagged lines or sharp angles.

Step 2

Draw or print out your shape. I'm making chevron arrows for this tutorial.

You can freehand it onto a piece of paper, or trace it from a book (magazines, posters, and coloring books work too!), or even print your shape from the computer.

Make sure your printed shape is the size you want for your cookie cutter because you will be using it as a template.

Step 3

Determine the length of your shape.

You will need to measure the length of your shape to find out how much aluminum you will need. An easy way to do this is to take a pipe cleaner and outline the shape you want for the cutter.

Step 4

Straighten out the pipe cleaner you used and measure it. Add an extra 3cm to the length.

2. Prepare Your Aluminum

Step 1

Measure and mark a 2.5cm wide strip out of the aluminum sheet in the length you measured in Step 2.

Step 2

Cut out the strip.

Be careful not to cut yourself! Aluminum can be sharp. You might also want to wear a pair of safety glasses to protect your eyes from flying pieces of metal.

Step 3

Take the sand paper and gently sand the edges down until dull.

3. Form the Cookie Cutter

Step 1

Using your printed shape as a guide, bend the metal strip with the needle-nose pliers. It’s best to hold your pliers at a 90-degree angle to get a straight bend. Remember that the two ends of your cookie cutter have to overlap to close.

Sometimes it helps to mark where where you want your fold to be. Make a mark with your pencil, so you can get a more accurate shape.

You can also use the pencil or other round objects to make smooth curves.

4. Close the Cookie Cutter

Step 1

Clamp or tape the two overlapping ends together.

Step 2

Trim the excess aluminum.

Step 3

Use the metal hole punch to make two holes side-by-side into the two overlapping ends.

Step 4

Pop the eyelets in.

Step 5

On the corner of a table, place a cutting mat and hammer the eyelets closed with the eyelet setter.

You can also use a pair of pliers to close the eyelets, but it will not look as nice.

5. Wash the Cookie Cutter

Give your cutter a good wash with some dish soap and water.

Bake Away!

Congratulations! Now you have your own cookie cutter. Now it's time to bake some unique cookies. Hand-made cookie cutters also make great gifts!

Have you made cookie cutters before? Can you think of a shape that you'd like to make? Know of any suppliers for food-safe sheet metal? We would love to read any questions or ideas in the comments section below.