Cookie dough embossing

I do a fair bit of dough embossing, generally either by pressing a silicone mold into the dough or baking in the mold (which creates a cleaner imprint, because the dough cannot spread). The fancy leaf (lower left) and rose (top) were made by baking in silicone molds. Some doughs work better than others; choose a low to no spreading dough.

I also have a video about embossing by pressing molds into the dough, which is the most practical way to go if you don't have a lot of molds and need to bake a lot of embossed pieces. Video here: http://youtu.be/hoVJIJix28c

Classic Cookies by Parr also does a lot of embossing by pressing clean plastic suncatchers into the dough, as shown here: http://cookieconnection.juliau.../frame-andamp-cookie

Thank you Julia!  The suncatcher idea is brilliant!  I'm in a bit of a rush to figure this out.  I've watched this video, but I guess the part I'm having a hard time with is where to get a nice lace pattern stamp/mold (that I can press) in a hurry, that will give good definition.  I was going to use a shortbread recipe...

I tryed with a pair of doughs that not spead and don't lose shape at baking, but they lost the embosed design.    Classic Cookies by Parr gave me a récipe from a magazine that Works with cookie cutters that have embosed figures attached, but my hand didn't work so beautiful like hers. 

Thanks Mily!  Do you still have the recipe?  Or I can check with her...

Can't help you on the "get in a hurry" part. Rubber stamps won't give a great impression (not deep enough). Typically silicone molds (i.e., First Impression Molds) or other cookie molds like those from House on the Hill work best, in my opinion. Fancy Flours may also have some cookie presses designed for this sort of thing. The suncatchers seem to work great, but I have never seen those in stores around here.

Better check with her!     I think is not my place to do that.  She is very good. I will try again the récipe  with my daughter on her summer vacations. 

Have you ever used a textured rolling pin?

Yes, I've used textured pins (like those from House on the Hill) on Springerle dough. They should work on a dough that doesn't spread much. There are also a host of ceramic molds and presses made expressly for use on shortbread. Here's one example: https://www.google.com/search?q=shortbread+molds&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS461US461&espv=2&tbm=isch&imgil=LnIOnjF8493zTM%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcQ3TQzwyzUf64pSKb1eDgfsgORlxZZqPRGdN97WWo75yogixTwT%253B410%253B410%253BlYhZ3UHNTsDCWM%253Bhttp%25

Oh Wow! I am honored to be mentioned and such nice compliments! Thank you All ! 

Devon, let me know if you want to try the recipe I've been using since 1992.

I wanted to update you on what I ended up doing.  I used my shortbread recipe and the Lisa Pavelka Texture Stamp Victorian Lace (Style #038) .  They came out pretty well.  Not super defined but had a nice effect.  =) Thanks for all of your tips!

Thanks for the update! They look nice!