A Creative Journal Journey

"Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special."– Isabel Allende

I have been known to save things like fancy china, a new dress and even underwear "for a special occasion"...and it seems like that special occasion never comes! I was always afraid the kids would break the china plates or I'd spill something on my new dress, and who know WHAT I was thinking about the underwear!?...so when I saw the above quote on a friend's Facebook page, I knew it was for ME. It's a reminder to enjoy every passing moment and not wait until a future, undetermined event to come along. To MAKE today special. 

Thus, it may not seem so funny that I've had a blank book that Stampin' Up! gave us at leadership LAST JANUARY to use as a creative journal, still in shrink wrap on my stamping table. So today I opened it and decorated the front in an effort to start the process of figuring out a little more WHO I am and what makes me tick when I'm crafting. And it tickled me that it turned out so....Me!

I broke out my favorite (retired) Designer Series Paper from last year's Sale-a-Bration and went to town with ribbon, flags and this stamp/saying (From My Heart catalog pg 139) that will remind me to enjoy the passing of time, each and every moment of it.

Along with the blank book, SU! gave us a list of ideas and challenges to get us started in our creative journal journey and I'm going to be sharing them~ one every week~ with my friends on my SU! Facebook Page so that we can do this together! As with any journey, it is always sweeter with friends.

So grab a blank or old book you've been thinking to alter and pull out your favorite supplies and decorate the front in preparation for this fun journey...then share a picture of your own "creative journal" below before and one lucky "traveler" will win a grab bag of many of the supplies I used on my creative journal :) Don't forget to "Like" Creative Juice by Loni on Facebook to travel along with the creative challenges, too: The first one will be posted Monday, January 14 which allows you time to embellish your journal and share it here first! Can't wait to see what you make today!

UPDATE 1/17/13: Congratulations to Shelli S for sharing her Creative Journal on Facebook and winning the grab bag!

Scavenger Hunt Winner, Friendship Card & Recipe Share!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by Saturday for either the Hostess Appreciation Breakfast or "I Spy" Catalog Reception! As promised, here is the recipe for the Overnight Apple Cinnamon French Toast served at the breakfast (from allrecipes.com with a few modifications):

 Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 (21 ounce) cans apple pie filling (or 1 quart jar of homemade apple pie filling + 3 apples, peeled and sliced)
• 16-20 slices white bread
• 6 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup maple syrup

Directions

1. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan. In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.
2. Spread the sugar mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Spread the apple pie filling evenly over the sugar mixture. Layer the bread slices on top of the filling, pressing down as you go. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with the milk and vanilla. Slowly pour this mixture over the bread, making sure that it is completely absorbed. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.
3. In the morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
4. Place covered pan into the oven and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 60 to 75 minutes. When done remove from oven and turn on broiler. Remove foil and drizzle maple syrup on top of the egg topping; broil for 2-3 minutes, or until the syrup begins to caramelize. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes, then cut into squares. Invert the pan onto a serving tray or baking sheet so the apple filling is on top. Serve hot.

This is the card we made at the Hostess Appreciation using the "Faux Diamonds" technique...can you see the glitter on the "yes, please" circle? It's pretty fabulous in person! The stamp set is one of my new favorites from the catalog called "From My Heart" on page 139 of the new SU! catalog:

If you missed the open house, contact me to Join a Club or schedule a party and get a new catalog FREE! And just for fun, here is the link to the "I Spy Catalog Scavenger Hunt" you can print off and play as you discover creative treasures in the fabulous new Stampin' Up! Catalog!

And congratulations to HEATHER ASH who won the Scavenger Hunt drawing and the "Bright Blossoms" stamp set!!!