Rereading this thread is a real trip! I have this urge to go make a few dozen Alphie cookies and some diamond petit fours!
Well, maybe tomorrow....
Edited to add:
For those of you who would like to try making petit fours, here's a very good online site:
http://www.sweettechnology.com/cakes/petitfours.htm
I use a different recipe (basically pound cake for the base, then the same type of fondant icing), but this is VERY basic and plain. Bon Appetit!