Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Feeling Inspired!


I think I'm getting a cold. Blah....still in my PJs and will probably stay that way today. However, I've been inspired in several different ways today, so I thought I'd share them! :)

This is the cover photo on the March issue of Real Simple magazine. When I saw these colors all together I knew I'd have to use them on a layout! I have cardstock swatches in red, pink, and turquoise out on my desk to remind me. Gorgeous combo!

I posted my Layout Inspiration Book idea on 2Peas this morning. It's a 4x6 photo album filled with layouts that I loved in magazines (cut out) and on 2Peas along with little notes telling what I liked about each layout. It's a great little book to have with me when I scrapbook. Instant inspiration!

I saw these really COOL pens online today. They are made by Sakura and are called Souffle'
3-D Opaque Gel Ink Pens. Basically you draw, doodle, whatever with them and they look like an opaque gel ink. As they dry, however, they become 3-D, so it's almost like embossing without having to emboss! Too cool! They work on light AND dark backgrounds, so they'd be perfect for all the swirlies and doodles that are so fun to do on layouts right now. Can't wait to use them!



And here is another storage idea. You can put your unmounted acrylic stamps into a CD-wallet! I got this cute one at Target ($6.99) and it has 16 pockets. Perfect!


(stamps shown are Wendi Speciale Designs)


I am going to bake some cookies this week for a meeting at school, so here's the recipe I'll use. I bought several boxes of Andes Mints at Christmas on 75% off, so I'll just pull those out of the freezer. YUM!

Andes Mint Chocolate Cookies
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
12 ounce bag chocolate chips
2 eggs
2 3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
30 Andes Mints - halved

Melt together butter, brown sugar and water. Add chocolate chips and stir until melted. Let mixture stand for 10 minutes to cool. Add remaining ingredients and chill dough at least 1 hour. Roll into balls, approximately 1 inch in size and place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 9 minutes. Remove cookies from oven and place half Andes Mint on top of each cookie. Return cookies to oven for about 10 seconds. Swirl tops of cookies with spoon. Approximately 5 dozen cookies. (Note: You can substitute the Andes Cherry Chocolate candies for the Chocolate Mint, if you like!)
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Thanks for letting me share my inspiration with you today! :)
- Jennifer

"We seldom realize fully that we are sent to fulfill God-given tasks. We act as if we were simply dropped down in creation and have to decide to entertain ourselves until we die. But we were sent into the world by God, just as Jesus was. Once we start living our lives with that conviction, we will soon know what we were sent to do." - Henri J. M. Nouwen



13 comments:

Michelle W. said...

hi Jennifer,

sorry to have to do this to ya. Those souffle pen doens't work at all!!! I've tried it and it as so dissapointing.

Michelle

Jana said...

Mint chocolate cookies sound good! Might have to try it someday when I don't want to be good! :-)

Bridget said...

Jen, I've got those Souffle pens, and I love them. I also have the Glaze Gel pens. Both are awesome! I have to ask where you got the MM flower foam stamps. I looove them!

B said...

Those Cookies sound very decadant

justem said...

I am totally inspired by Real Simple, too :) I always love the section dividers with the paper shapes and stuff!! I am off to look at your inspiration book idea!

Anonymous said...

Your inspiration book is, well, inspiring! Thanks for sharing such a good thing.

The cookies sound divine.

:)

SageHen said...

So many good things on this blog I don't know where to start.

O yes, I do. I love your inspiration photo. It's lovely.

Anonymous said...

Love that Real Simple inspiration, and the idea of keeping swatches of color combos that you want to try on your desk.

Lorrie said...

What a neat idea to make your own idea book.. hmmm, might steal that idea!
Cookies sound scrumptious! Pens sound awesome!
great blog!

... said...

thanks for all the great ideas Jen!

Anonymous said...

What a clever way to store your stamps. LOVE IT! Thanks for all of the killer ideas!

Francine said...

I love the idea of those pens, i'll have to add that to my wish list. The CD booklet is an awesome idea as well, I'll be "lifting" it for sure! :)

Anonymous said...

These pens rock!!! Write with them slowly and you get a more textured effect. They are the next generation of Sakura's Glaze pens - those are cool too. FUN!