A Kiss on the Chic

Headed to CHA!

 

So many emotions are going through me right now...  I am SUPER EXCITED to go to CHA, excited to get away for a few days, excited to be in the "candy store" of CREATIVENESS and excited to see a bunch of my dear crafty friends!!  But when you go away for four nights there's SO much to be done BEFORE you leave...  Ladies, I know you know what I'm talking about!   So it's hard to leave and it's hard to "let go" because  it's questionable if the girls will get their vitamins, eat properly, get to bed on time, finish their homework, etc. etc...  I KNOW dad will do fine and I know they will all survive... I guess it's just the momma bear coming out in me.  :)

Ok, now that I got that off my chest!  I AM excited to see all the new goodies at the show and I hope to take pictures and share them with YOU!  I just won't have my computer with me, so I'll have to figure out how to share them on Instagram and Facebook.  My computer will stay home b/c the girls need to use it for homework assignments.  I will be staying with my mom though so I could use her computer and maybe get on my blog, so you can check back here and see...

Before I go though, I did want to finish the conversation I started a few days ago about Inspiration or Scraplifting.

I do agree with your comments that Scraplifting isn't a bad thing and it is a form of flatery.  I am BEYOND honored that there are people who come to my blog for inspiration and to scraplift ideas they find here!!  I think BOTH things are totally cool.  I guess because I'm on the "inside" so to speak, I'm very careful not to "scraplift" other artists and thus why I don't buy idea books or blog hop much.  But now with Pinterest and other sources, it's hard not to see other artists works and NOT be INSPIRED... AND want to scraplift what you see!  

So, I'm trying to work this one out in my brain and here's what I think I'm OK with, for ME.  

I showed you this layout that INSPIRED me as I am trying new "styles" and want to broaden my scrapbooking world:

and so when I thought about this layout and how I wanted to be INSPIRED by this and try this "random" type of scrapbooking, I thought I would try SEVERAL things.  (AGain, this layout is by "MUMKAA" on Flikr.  So whoever you are, THANK YOU for inspiring me and for letting me LEARN for this layout!)

Onto my process...

First, I thought I would try to really learn from this layout AND in the process of learning, "scraplift" it.  I found a paper that was similar, I went with the same color scheme, I focused on the random elements on the page and pretty much tried to emulate it.  

So here is my "take" on scraplifting this layout:

I don't feel like I "copied" the above inspiration and I do feel like I LEARNED for it!  I was happy that I "freed" up my mind a bit with this and went for the "randomness" of the LO above.  It's not quite as free form as the original, but I'm happy with it and I think it opened me up to thinking outside my normal "box".  I mean I've never put random little specks of paper on my layouts and then used a pen to draw around them!   But I have to say, I LIKED IT!  lol...

So next, I wanted to continue the "randomness" of the original LO and thought I would just go with that theme and not try to scraplift anything.

Here's what I got from that:

(I have to apologize for my photos, my camera is wigging out on me and I'm not getting the best photo's.  Maybe someone at CHA can help me figure out the problem)

Anyways, This was again just randomness, but with a different look.  I actually had this white cardstock sitting around with the "frames" already painted on.  I had some of that Delta thick paint(can't remember the name off hand) and the mask from TA and had applied this to this cardstock a while back.  So I used that paper as my start for another "random" LO.  This time though I didn't "scraplift" anything.  I just learned from that first LO how to think about elements on the page that may have nothing to do with the picture, but as a whole, work well together to create a theme!

So what do you think?  I'm actually liking this process and having a LOT of FUN with it.  So I didn't stop there. (and quite honestly I probably should have :)

Because my next layout was again, taking the theme of "randomness" and applying it to a BOLD paper instead of a cardstock or simple polka dot paper.  This was my hardest experiment so far and I'm not quite sure I like the results if I'm honest...

But here's the result:

I don't know if this one works.  I think maybe the colors are working together but the paper with the numbers may be overshadowing the whole page.  Then the two photos are taken in the same location, but maybe two different in their composition...

Anyways, I'm not loving this page and that's the process I think I will continue to work at.  

But, that is why I'm totally fine now with finding INSPIRATION from others, learning from other types of styles and I'm somewhat fine with SCRAPLIFTING as long as it's to learn  from and not copy.  Now that's just for me and my personal "rules" because I am in the industry and  I want to be careful and always know it's my work that I'm sharing with others.  I don't want anyone to say my style is "just like" so and so or that I made something to similar to someone elses work... 

So that's the LONG story of it.  If you're still around and reading this, thanks for endulging me! :)

I'm off to bed to get some much needed sleep before the WHIRLWIND of CHA!!

Hugs to all,

 

Laura

P.S.  If you would please lift my mom up in prayer on MONDAY, she is having a lumpectomy around 9am and I will be sitting in the waiting room and taking care of her and would really appreciate it!

 

 

 

Love, Tuesday...

I thought I would have some things to share with you today that I've been working on.  But I don't...

I've been working on some NEW things for my Etsy Shop and I'm REALLY excited to share with you! It's just going to have to wait a bit.  This week is finals week for Rebecca so it's a half day every day.  Victoria is home sick with a cold and I'm trying to get ready for CHA.  So as you can imagine, life it not on schedule this week!  :)

I've also been learning some new things lately though and I DO want to share them!  I'm hoping I can finish up some things and then take pictures later today in between volleyball practise and homework.  Boy, did that sound like I'm in volleyball and doing the homework??  It may as well be though right?  The life of a busy mom...

I'm also having a little quandry with Inspiration OR Scraplifting???

Ok, so I'll spill a bit of what I'm wondering.

I know everyone has their "style" of CREATIVENESS.  I'm just really tired of mine!  Yeah, it's true. bored. uninspired.  All of the above!  I know you can't really get AWAY from your own style, but I'm trying to LEARN other styles right now. Is that even possible? Or is it going to end up looking like "me" in the long run anyways??  IDK..

So my question is this:

When you look at other peoples "STYLE" on Pinterest, or Facebook, or TwoPeas or where ever... Is it OK to scraplift it?  IS it scraplifting?? OR,  are you just getting inspiration from it?  Seriously ladies, I have had this question in my mind for a LONG time!  That's why I don't buy "idea books" and I try to keep my head down and just do what comes from ME.  But now I'm wanting to expand my CREATIVENESS and I'm wanting to delve into the more "RANDOM" artist within!  hahaha...

So, I want to show you a layout I found "INSPIRATION" from, (basically scraplifted it in my opinion) and then I want to show you how I MOVED on from there...

 

But dang it... I can't get around to sharing this yet b/c I haven't taken the pictures of my metamorphasis yet!  

But, I've had SO much fun this weekend trying this "new" STYLE of scrapping!  I would say it's not that far from my own style, but I'm trying to be more RANDOM...like this layout above by mumkaa on Flikr.  (sorry, I don't know who she is, found this on Pinterest and fell IN. LOVE.)

So I'll try to finish up my Etsy stuff and get some pictures taken later today and then we can have a discussion on where the "line" is with Inpspiration or Scraplifting.

Sound good?

ta, ta for now,

 

Laura

 

P.S.  To Beth W. and Pam??  I promise to get those RAK's out this week before CHA!  :)

P.S.S.  For those STILL interested in the Bellagio Event, I just posted the "Couple's Price" on the blog at http://akissonthechic.blogspot.com  It could be for your spouse OR a friend who wants to join you in Italy, but isn't interested in the CREATIVE classes.   So go check that out!  There will also be a SPECIAL I'm going to run until February 15th and I'll announce that right before CHA starts this weekend!!

A Kiss on the Chic's Bellagio Retreat

Wow... look MOM, I'm at the People's Choice Awards!!!

 

Yes, tonight is a CRAZY night because I'm going to be at the People's Choice awards!!! Will probably be in the nose bleed section, buy hey, it's going to be FUN anyways!!

Now the dilemma all day has been "What DO I WEAR???"  I'd like to just be comfortable in a pair of jeans and a dressy top, but I have a feeling that wouldn't be a good idea??  So, I'm opting for this dress (since I can't fit in very many dresses in my closet at the moment, "thank you" very much Christmas :)

 

It's a cute "little black dress" with a bit of ruffles at the bottom and the sleeves and I'm pulling out my lace-up black boots for a little BAM! Maybe a flower instead of the necklace... IDK??  What do you think??

Now I hear I can't take a camera inside, but they can't take my iPhone away, so I'm just sayin... I may have some "things" to share tomorrow.

I've been thinking about who I am excited to see tonight.  I've seen my share of celebs, but tonight... it's going to be CELEB CENTRAL.  I hear Faith Hill is going to sing, so does that mean this guy will be there??

just wondering?  hehehe...

I would like to see the cast of  Real Housewives of Beverly Hills:

That is my guilty pleasure show if I have to admit it...

I would also love to see the cast from Person of Interest:

 

That's my new favorite show and I really hope they don't cancel it!!

And I'll just through this one in for my hubby since I put the Tim McGraw photo up...  I KNOW my loving and very faithful husband would REALLY like to see this person tonight:

Sofia Vergara.  Ya, ya I guess she's pretty.  :)-

So overall I'm SUPER excited, can't WAIT to get there and better go get ready NOW!

Let me know if you see us tonight in the background!!!  We'll be WAY in the background, so get your glasses on...

I'll tell you ALL about it tomorrow!!

Hugs,

 

Laura

 

 

And the WINNER is....

 

Beth W.  She wrote:

 

"The sparklers-I think I have them all.I use them frequently-but sometimes it makes me happy just to look at them.They're so darn pretty!"

Congrats Beth!!  Send me your address and I will get a nice little care package sent out to you!!  Btw, I LOVE the sparklers too, they are SO pretty!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week has been a weird transition into 2012.  The two younger girls are back at school but Victoria had one more week of vacation so it's still a bit active around here during the day.  I think her and I will have a lunch date together today before the younger ones are out of school.  Just a nice time to chat about "life"...

But what I've noticed this week as well is the change in activity level for ME!  I guess I'm still trying to figure out my days while the girls are in school.  2012 means NO Design Team requirments (except for the UK Magazine which is a once a month thing) so I'm not going into my scrap room very often now.  This was a conscious effort on my part to spend more quality time with the FAM and focus on them and our home.  But when they are in school... what am I going to spend my time doing??  I usually was quickly cleaning up the house in the morning and then going in my scrap room.  But now when I go in there I'm a little at a loss as to what to do in there!  lol...  I know this shall pass and I will get my "mojo" going soon, but now that I am free to CREATE whatever my heart desires, with whatever my heart desires, I'm trying to find my "voice" in all of this.  

What do I want to say?

How do I want that to look?

What do I want to "record" of our life?

Where do I want to display these creations??

I'm a bit out of sorts I guess and now that I'm a "free agent" and can use whatever papers, objects, embellishments, etc.  for my designs, I find myself overwhelmed.  Oh, I know I will find my "style"...  amd I'm a bit excited to try all kinds of things, but it's also just a bit strange to me.

I did "play" a little in there today and it's still a work-in-progress but I'm pretty excited to say I'm working on my 1st class project/kit for 2012!!

Want to see a little bit?  

Playing with altering  an old book with material, vintage lace and just some PRETTY stuff!  Not sure if this will be a class at Paper Tales or a class I sell in my Etsy Shop

So stay tuned.  Don't forget me...  I'm still going to CREATE and SHARE my life and I hope you will stay around to be a part of it!

Hugs to all,

Laura

 

My word for 2012...

 ...is Grateful.  I want to be GRATEFUL for all of it.  The good, the bad, the GREAT, the sad, the hurt, the beautiful.  ALL of it.  I don't know about you, but I need to be reminded to be GRATEFUL.  It's easy to focus on what's not going the way I want.  It's hard to be grateful for it going His way.  So this year I want to be thinking about how many blessings are ALL AROUND ME and be GRATEFUL.

So, I made this journal to keep that my focus.

I showed a SNEAK of this a week or so ago, but I'm going to give you some more looks into this journal.  I thought I may do this as a class so that's why I didn't share too much.  I've decided I don't have time to do this as a class right now, so I want to share what I did to make it here.

First, I used "Carolina Breeze" from Teresa Collins and an old book.  Teresa was kind enough to send me a little paper kit of this line after I was "retired" from the DT, and I basically used it ALL up on this journal.  I so love how it turned out and I'm so excited to keep this journal by my side to write in and remind me to be GRATEFUL.

I'll apologize for the color of these photos, I think I took these on a very cloudy day. But to start this journal, I cut out the pages of this book with an exacto knife.  Then I cut a 1" strip of chipboard to put in the spine of the book for more strength.  After this was glued and dried, I used one of Tim Holtz binder rings set and attached it with the brads it comes with.  This is the base of the journal.  Then I started cutting the Carolina Breeze papers into about 5x7 pieces and 4x6 pieces.  Then I printed out monthly calendars on heavy cardstock for each month of 2012.

After I had all the papers cut and calendars printed, I went through all my "stash" and found things I wanted to add to this journal.  I found LOTS of fun elements and just made a pile on my table to pick from.  This is where design fun comes in.  I have about 5 pages for each month.  A 5x7 page, a 4x6 page, a calendar, a graph paper page and a misc. page.  Then I just started added elements onto these pages.

I also wanted to add a real homemade look to the journal so I added random edging on each page in black pen.  

So here's how it looks all tucked inside this journal:

I just get so HAPPY looking at this!  I {HEART} these colors in Carolina Breeze and it will be with me for all of 2012!  I think this journal is going to help me focus on my WORD and what a fun project to make as well!   

So what's your word for 2012? Why don't you make a journal to focus on your word for the year!?

Hugs,

Laura

 

a fond Farewell...

I am offically NOT a Webster's Pages DT lady anymore.  A moment of silence please... (*sniff, sniff*)  It was time for me to step down with all I have going on with my family and needing to spend more time with them this year.

What I AM though is a devoted Webster's Pages follower now!  :)  I can't love them anymore than I do and I have to say this video they created puts such a HUGE smile on my face! (and makes me question why I stepped down from the team... lol)

Watch this 1.33 video.  It introduces their new "Sunday Picnic" line and it's just so darn CUTE!!!

Welcome Webster's Pages Sunday Picnic from Webster's Pages on Vimeo.

If you can't see the video, follow the link below:  

 

http://vimeo.com/mynoveltree/websterspagessundaypicnic

 

And in honor of my VERY FOND time as a WP~DT member, I would like to share some of my FAV projects from last year:

A little tin can of "love"

An embrodiery hoop

A fun cube I designed

One of my FAV mini albums!

A really fun birdhouse to make with Ladies & Gents

A layout from one of my FAV places on planet earth... Lake Como, Italy!

Suitcase of memories

another mini album that I just {heart}

My birthday present to myself.... a braclet with WP blooms and flowers

A very "princess" mini album

A layout of my oldest daughter

My first handmade necklace!

 

And, a layout about my dream to have a home on Lake Como, Italy :)  

I sure had a GREAT ride with everyone over at Webster's Pages!  I love them ALL and especially Brandin who is such a sweatheart!! I will miss all of you!  xoxo

Make sure you go give them some love over on their Blog and check out the new designs and the new DT members!!  

Now for some FUN...

I want to have a little GIVEAWAY!!  Just leave a comment on THIS post and tell me what is your FAB Webster's product and I will do a little GIVEAWAY!  I'll announce the winner on Friday!  The Winner will recieve a nice care package from me with all WP goodies in it!!  

Hugs,

Laura