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I'm fascinated with the creative process and how "new" design ideas come about, especially because if you look hard enough, it can seem like every design has been done before.

 

So what's your greatest source of cookie design inspiration? See the poll below. 

 

And how do you keep your designs fresh/original? Elaborate in the comments.

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Okay, you forced me to pick one...so I did, but I could pick ALL!  

I have to say I am always amazed and in awe of many of the designs that appear on a cookie made from icing!  Then I think ... how did they come up with that??! 

As a graphic designer, I picked other... mostly I pick simple designes from Childs coloring books, there outlined, there simple and you can pratice with pencils till your satisfied...beside that I am a huge fan of ART NOUVEAU and stained glass windows..... I have some stencilbooks about some fabulous designs, and someday I hope to make it into a COOKIE

It is not that I copy anyone else's work- as a matter of fact I love to see someone with a distinct style and know it is theirs and not copied.

But when I look at other's work I see the possibility of what can be. Things I haven't thought about, things I don't  like, techniques I'd like to learn and apply.

I am awed at what is being done on a cookie here! 

Patricia, I love your idea of designs from coloring books! See, I never thought of that either.

If I am quiet the next few days I will be in transit! Take care all!

I said textiles because that is where several on my designs have come from, and when I want to do something like a butterfly and I start to see a million cookie butterflies that look related- I'll go to butterfly fabric for a fresh take.  For me I'm still pretty new at this, less than 6 months decorating, and so it has been easy to keep it fresh- after I finish a set I just let my reactions to it take me to the next thing- texture, color, a new technique. Challenges and contests keep me out of a rut so far!
Yes thats why i wrote it... off course i do the same like the most, but you have to be extra special carefull with COPYRIGHT..........most books i buy from Dover publications... they have lots of % off sales.... 
http://store.doverpublications.../colorclipflash.html
 
Originally Posted by Tina At Sugar Wishes:

It is not that I copy anyone else's work- as a matter of fact I love to see someone with a distinct style and know it is theirs and not copied.

But when I look at other's work I see the possibility of what can be. Things I haven't thought about, things I don't  like, techniques I'd like to learn and apply.

I am awed at what is being done on a cookie here! 

Patricia, I love your idea of designs from coloring books! See, I never thought of that either.

If I am quiet the next few days I will be in transit! Take care all!

Originally Posted by Patricia:

As a graphic designer, I picked other... mostly I pick simple designes from Childs coloring books, there outlined, there simple and you can pratice with pencils till your satisfied...beside that I am a huge fan of ART NOUVEAU and stained glass windows..... I have some stencilbooks about some fabulous designs, and someday I hope to make it into a COOKIE

doverpublications_2270_795902453

Artandcrafts

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Images (2)
  • doverpublications_2270_795902453: Art Nouveau stained glass windows colouring book
  • Artandcrafts: Inside are 6 -12 transferstencils
Last edited by Patricia

It's very hard for me to come up with a new design. Of course I look at others' cookies, but I also look at scrapbooking websites, which are full of pretty patterns and great colour combinations. (My favourite is Kaisercraft.) I like looking at cute stationary too. 

My cell phone is clogged with snap shots of items that I would like to "cookie". Fabric patterns found on clothing and furniture in thrift stores. Graphics on goodies found in the seasonal isles at the hobby stores (the last set I made was inspired by seasonal ribbon purchased from Joanns). One of my favorite shots is  of an atomic star burst pattern on the fabric of a dining bench located in Disneyland. I am a sucker for mid-mod kitschy graphics.

Originally Posted by Smith-O-Lator:

My cell phone is clogged with snap shots of items that I would like to "cookie". Fabric patterns found on clothing and furniture in thrift stores. Graphics on goodies found in the seasonal isles at the hobby stores (the last set I made was inspired by seasonal ribbon purchased from Joanns). One of my favorite shots is  of an atomic star burst pattern on the fabric of a dining bench located in Disneyland. I am a sucker for mid-mod kitschy graphics.

Smith-o-later- I love mod graphics too!  I found some incredible images on Pinterest for the Mod set I did recently- lots of really cool graphics in one board (not mine!) in particular- http://pinterest.com/kathwatmo...patterns-and-design/ Just thought you might like it!

Originally Posted by RebeccArchitect:
Smith-o-later- I love mod graphics too!  I found some incredible images on Pinterest for the Mod set I did recently- lots of really cool graphics in one board (not mine!) in particular- http://pinterest.com/kathwatmo...patterns-and-design/ Just thought you might like it!

Hi there RebeccArchitect, I am big fan of your work! Your Mother's Day Flower set is one of my faves . I followed the link, thank you, OH MY what a resource. I love it!

I choose Other because we obviously look at each others cookies ALL THE TIME! Either for inspiration but most of all to see what is out there that we could try ourselves, to learn a new technique, the unusual way with the use of colors, use of fondant, etc etc... but I really like to find inspiration for my cookies on things around me that catch my eye... shops, napkins,... magazine pictures... china etc... I see cookies in just about everything!

I look at other cookiers too but that has been for the past 3 years. I see details everywhere on coffee cups, cards, books, stickers, coloring books, and christmas ornaments just to name a few. It's literally endless. When I see other cookiers cookies, it sparks more ideas. Iron sharpens iron. I'm like an a child with A.D.D. 

Last edited by Julia M. Usher

I know this post is a bit older but had to share. I'm new to cookie decorating and find inspiration everywhere I go. I just realized yesterday how weird people must think I am because I am constantly snapping pictures in stores of things I see, restaurants (including sketches on menus and graphics on the walls), etc. - I mean everywhere. My husband is mortified to be out with me sometimes because of it!

 

I had to move over 1,000 photos off my cell phone onto a portable hard drive yesterday because I have so many! :-) Just putting that in writing makes me think that maybe I have issues?? :-0

 

I was in Tuesday Morning yesterday afternoon and saw the most adorable things on some Christmas cards so I took pictures of them. I would go broke if I had to buy them all. One of the sales ladies came up to me and asked if I was OK. LOL...I think they thought I was either a secret shopper, or a thief! I'm quite certain they probably watched me on video after that and couldn't wait till I left.

 

I guess it's a good thing when I see everything in life as a cookie, huh? Not that I'm good enough to decorate, or make a cookie out of 99% of what I come across, but I see myself doing that one day and so I save the ideas. They say that you have to "live your dream" and I literally dream of being a successful cookie decorator and teacher one day, so I think it makes me feel successful having thousands of "ideas to refer to" to stimulate my cookie decorating brain.

 

Thankfully my portable hard drive is a terabyte...

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