Surprise a friend (or your mom) with an easy-to-make cookie bouquet. Use your imagination to create a gift that special someone will really enjoy.

All you need to get started is a basic sugar cookie recipe like this one from our recipe database:

Best Sugar Cookies

2 cups sugar
2 cups margarine
3 eggs
1 tsp. lemon extract
1 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
6 cups flour

Cream together first 4 ingredients. Mix remaining dry ingredients together and mix in with the creamed mixture. Add enough flour to handle dough. Roll cookies out on floured board and cut with your favorite cookie cutters. Bake 350 or 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned on the outside edges.

For a flower bouquet, use flower-shaped cookie cutters to cut out cookies. Roll cookie dough 1/2 inch thick to accommodate popsicle or lollipop sticks. Gently insert stick into cookies before baking. You may need to bake an extra minute or two because of the thicker dough. Watch closely while baking.

After cookies cool, frost with your favorite frosting and/or outline cookies with decorator icing.

Wrap cookies in saran wrap or small cellophane gift bags. Tie a ribbon bow around each cookie. Arrange cookie pops in a terra cotta pot with styrofoam in the bottom to hold cookies.

Cookie bouquets can be made from any kind of refrigerated cookie dough, and are great for any occasion. Experiment with your favorite recipes!

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What's for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, organizing tips, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.