A Kiss on the Chic

LAST blog post on here!

Wow, can't believe the last time I blogged on here was MARCH!!

Then again... I guess I CAN believe that because life is just too busy to blog on three different ones.

Most of you know I have the Creative Retreat blog where I post about my retreats in Italy (and PARIS next summer!!) and that keeps me pretty busy.  I also started a blog reviewing Pinterest recipes called The Pinterest Foodie.  

I also have my very old and outdate website...

So I'm trying to organize everything in one place!  I just need some time to do that and boy do I wish I had that time.  :)

So I'm saying goodbye to this blog.  It's kinda sad because I've had this blog since 2008!  

Wow, that's like ancient times...  hahaha

BUT...

Before I go and move forward I want to let you know about some exciting things I'm doing!

I found (probably on Pinterest) a while ago a picture of a bible that was totally "artsy" with PAINT, STICKERS and all kinds of goodies!  WOW, I was mesmerized at first glance!!  Well, I found out it's this "Journaling Bible" that they had used their scrapbooking/mixed media supplies on and I instantly fell in {LOVE}  with this new ART FORM!!  I call it an art form because it's an expression of our creative side blended with our love of His word!!  I can't tell you how exciting this is AND that there is a whole community of people out there that do this!  I found the group on Facebook and it's called "Journaling Bible Community" and I highly recommend you go check it out on Pinterest and FB.  If you feel lead to join, there is no pressure, it's a great place to see what other people are doing and be inspired to start your jouring learning more of His word AND seeing where the Lord leads you to be creative in the process!!

I'm just starting out, but here are a few pages in my bible:

Here is a page I did that is on both sides.  I don't always do both sides but this happened to have empty space on the other side so I decided to be creative over there too.  Now I've used Heidi Swapp Color Shine mists on the paper, but AFTER I painted a gel medium over the pages and let that dry.  That gives the paper some strength to hold the inks.  Then I use all kinds of scrapbook supplies, and paints and fun stuff!  I had painted the flowers with acrylic pain and the doily is a stencil I used with modeling paste that I colored.  It's SO much fun people!!  

This one I used watercolors on the pages (after the gel matte medium) and then added the wording and some stickers and stamps and scalloped trim.  The process isn't always ending out like you invisioned and that's OK.  I know I'm not going to be thrilled with each page I do and that's really not the point.  I was reading my devotional and this saying was at the end of it and I wanted to go back and read the story of Goliath.  That this is drawing me deeper into His word IS what it's about and I'm loving that.

Here's my very first one!  I just did one side... and I was SO nervous!  To start painting and going all "artsy" in my bible is such a new concept for me!  I barely liked HIGHLIGHTING in my bible and now I'm getting CRAZY in my bible!  hahaha  AND, I love it SO much!  

So I hope you will think about joining in on this and I encourage you to take the time to get in the Word and be creative in this journey!

I know most of you have come to my blog BECAUSE you are creative and have followed my journey through the years of my A Kiss on the Chic Kit Club... (oh how fun was that?) and then all my Design Team stints... Life is SO full!  I'm so blessed to have gotten to know so many of you on here!  And then to start my own event business with A Kiss on the Chic's Creative Retreats!  It really blows me away that I've been blessed with this opportunity to blend my love of travel, my love of being creative AND my love of Italy (and Europe) together and YOU want to come along on these journeys!  It's just BEYOND AMAZING!  But then, I belive with all my heart that the Lord has blessed this new adventure and has allowed this to happen for a reason...

I hope some day more of YOU will come join me on one of these ADVENTURES.

I have all the information about my Creative Retreats on my other blog:

akissonthechic.blogspot.com

There are still a few more spots open for next summer... AND I'm hosting my very first ART & FAITH Creative Retreat!  I've wanted to do that from day 1 of starting these and I'm so excited to say that Jeanne Oliver and Stephanie Ackerman have agreed to teach with me next summer for this amazing weeklong event!  (where we will be doing some Bible Journaling) 

This week will be July 11 - 18th, 2015

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I also have a Creative Retreat that is with the amazingly talented European ladies, Celine Navarro and Zoey Scarpelli!  This will be the week of scrapbooking/mixed media goodness and will be a GREAT week in beautiful Bellagio, Italy!  

This week will be June 13 - 20th, 2015.

I hope you can join us!!

So this is farewell, but not goodbye!  I'm still out there in cyberspace... I'll have my blog that I posted above as well as a NEW website soon!!

So come on over and join me in my new adventures!

Hugs to all,

Laura

 

Raising our girls to {love}...

At my age you can get a little emotional, so maybe this post is my hormones talking... hahaha  (I need to go make some coffee a minute, I feel very strongly that I'm going to need some for this post!)

Ok,  with coffee by my side let me see if i can get the thoughts in my head written down here...

I was thinking lately about my older girls and how life has kind of "progressed" to this age where I am a mother AND friend to them.  I'll always be their MOM and they know there is a boundary when it comes to respect and the rules of the house, but I wanted to look back and try to see what/why/how it was that we are in this place now.  I don't remember this type of relationship with my mom.  Don't get me wrong... I LOVE my mom and we talk every day.  Things are just different with my daughters.  Or do I think they are different since this time around, I'M the mom??  I don't know.  But even my mom mentioned the other day that the girls tell me much more then I told her and we just do more together.  So I'm hoping that is the case. 

So a little history first...

One of my closest friends growing up was a girl that came from a family of three daugthers and she was the youngest.  These sisters sang together in our church, they were always together, they were a big part of my life and I LOVED going over to their house.  It was a crazy, happy, loud, messy, fighting, laughing house!  I remember when I would spend the night and just watch this family dynamic. I'd have kind of an "out of body" experience where I would just watch them, and pray that I had three girls and have that kind of life some day.  Little did I know the Lord was getting me ready for the crazy, happy, loud, messy, fighting, laughing home I would have some day!  And I'm SO thankful for that.  (and thankful Lance was OK with this!  :)

(me and my friend a few months ago)

Our three girls have been such a blessing to us and NO, they are NOT perfect... and Lance and I are in NO WAY perfect parents.  But I get asked by friends "how did you do such a good job raising your girls"...  This always perplexes me because I don't think we HAVE done that good of a job.  I really don't have the answer, other than ONE thing:

We. LOVE. them.

We don't "love" them when they look pretty, get good grades, help with the dishes, have new clothes, do good at sports... you get the idea.  We love them.  Always.

You know that verse in the bible, I Corinthians 13:4 "Love is patient, love is kind, it doesn not envy, it does not boast.  It is not rude, it is not self seeking....  and it goes on and on.  We DON'T have that one down!  Believe me.  This is not a perfect home.  My golden rule in the house and I know I've said it a MILLION times...from the old classic movie, Bambi:

"If you can't same something nice, don't say it at all"   

Ya that one... I just said it yesterday!  Seriously, a Million and ONE times I've said it to them.  Do you think they would have gotten it by now? hahaha  Yes, if we were a perfect family... But NO, I NEED to say it, again and again!  :)

That's what I think the Lord is telling us too...

Matthew 7:12 says:  "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them."

We all WANT love don't we???

So GIVE love.

That is what I want my girls to know MOST.  To put LOVE into ACTION. Everyday.

To LOVE others as Jesus has loved them.

SO... This crazy, messy, loud, FUNNY house of girls is a life that is FULL of LOVE.

And some rules, please don't miss that. This is not a "whatever makes you happy" home... There are boundaries.  Raising our girls has been challenging.  It's not easy.  But children need rules and I think they even WANT rules.  I believe they value these boundaries and gain confidence from them.  And when they mess up, they know the concequences of them.  But just like our relationship with the Lord and what's so wonderful about God, is His GRACE.  We ALL fall short of what we know is right!  We don't love at all times, we aren't kind to everyone.  But we have a loving Father who forgives us, who SHOWED us what real love is. That is what I hope and pray we have showed our girls as they've grown up through the years...

But now let me jump back to the present, and possibly future...

Getting back to my older girls. (thankfully I have a few years until Isabella is a teenager) They are both very beautiful girls.  There are plenty of BOYS that have thought that, said that and will think that about them.  But I want those boys to see them for who they REALLY are.  Beautiful on the INSIDE because of what they HAVE inside.  The LOVE of the Lord in their life.

And can I say that I am SO proud of my girls in this way.  They have grown up to be confident girls who know how to find the right kind of guy friends to have in their life.  They have also found great girl friends as well that are encouraging, that are like minded and that life up one another.  This is what we should all be looking for in friendships.  

I won't embarress them here, but it really brings Lance and I joy to see the friendships they have made with guys that are respectful and kind, and can see that they are different.  And that that difference is SPECIAL.  It seems most guys don't want that kind of girl anymore, and that is truly sad.  But we have prayed for the men who will marry our girls since our girls were born, so I know God has those guys out there somewhere... and it's quite exciting (as a mom, probably not for Lance :) to hear the girls talking about this and looking forward to this and praying for this some day... far off in the distance... hopefully not too soon... FUTURE day!  hahaha

So to those furture young men in our daughters lives.  Our girls know how to LOVE.  They are going to LOVE you and I pray that YOU will LOVE them as Christ loves us.  They are NOT perfect.  They are not going to be beautiful every day of their lives, but they know that LOVE is the most important thing.  Not money, not how they look, not how nice their house is... Those things aren't imporant to them.  

I pray that Lance and I have have simply showed them LOVE.

 

 P.S.  I couldn't have prayed for a better partner in this story of Love we have written with our girls...

But then I'm pretty sure my parents were praying for my hubby when I was a little girl too.  Thank you mom and dad.  xoxo

 

Hugs,

 

Laura

 

 

1 John 4:7 

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."

Some times you just don't have time...

My CREATIVE SOUL longs to be creating... all. the. time.  Do I actual follow thru?  Not even close.

I wish I had tons of time to sit in my artsy place and create all kinds of art.  Maybe you are like me... longing to be creative? (cue sad sigh...)

Well, I just got a box in the mail from Maya Road.  It was all my designs I created for them... for CHA Summer, 2013!  I opened the box and felt happy to see my work, but also SAD.  It made me sad that that was really the last time I took the time to be really CREATIVE!  Here's a few photos from one of the albums in the box I got back:

"Life is Good" - our week in Paris, 2011

Since then, I've had little bits here and there where I've made something, but truly spending time to see what comes out of my {heart} ... not in a LONG time.

I see things online that INSPIRE me, I PIN things that INSPIRE me, but when do I actually GET INSPIRED to sit down and create?  Not hardly ever anymore.

Why is that something that takes the very, very back burner?  Shouldn't it be something that is closer to the front?  I think it's important to find the time to use our talents and be creative, but trying to put that into practise is harder then you'd think. (especially when the area you use to BE creative in is pilled high with STUFF... lol)

But looking in the box I got back gave me some motivation to take a little time every week to be creative!  This next project I made for them was SO much fun to create!

Here's a "painting" I made for Maya Road that I got back in the box.  This was INSPIRED actually by a painting I saw in a magazine.  Obviously it was painted and much more beautiful then this rendition, but it inspired me to create a dimensional "art" piece that used all of Maya Roads flowers and one of their linen bags as the "vase".  It was so much fun to create and I really liked the whimsy look of this "painting" when it was done!

 

Here it is easier to see the dimension of the "painting" and how it kind of jumps off the page in this frame.  I plan to put this in my art room for some bright and fun color on the wall.

 I hope you will find the time to be creative.  And if you have any TIPS that might help us all, PLEASE SHARE!  I thought about putting it in my calendar so I am reminded to take the time.. Does anyone else do that?   I know for me, it's hard to be creative "on schedule" though so I think I need to find other ways to carve some time out in my day...  

I'll leave you with one last item that was in the box.

I love embrodiery hoop wall art.  So I made this one with some linen fabric and Maya Road butterflies and flowers.  It was quick and easy to make and I love how delicate it looks.

Here you can see the dimension better.  Simple and pretty in pink.  :)

Ok, I think this was good.  Taking it out and getting some motivation from past projects helps.  So let me go make dinner and then maybe I'll sneak into my artsy room and see what happens!!  :)

 

Hugs,

Laura


 

Love, Tuesday...

Hi everyone!  It's been a while, I know...

This blog really isn't something I've been cultivating lately and wish I did.  I have loved sharing my life with everyone who visits here and I enjoy feeling a bit of a community here.  But, sadly I just don't take the time to blog very much anymore.

So since the last time I DID blog, let me fill you in on life.

I attended CHA in Anaheim, California and had a BLAST seeing all my friends and all the new products coming to stores near you soon!  Here's a few photos of my favorites:

My friend Heidi Sonboul's new scrapbook company, Chickaniddy.com  

Love the new "color magic" stencils from Heidi Swapp!

The gorgeous booth of Spellbinders!  Just amazing.

The DIY shop from American Crafts.

And I of course have to share this picture of my travel companions to Italy this summer! So excited to have them teach at my 3rd Annual Creative Retreat in Italy this May!!

 

In January we took the family to Pasadena for the weekend and went to the Rose Bowl Flea Market.  We've been before and loved it so we thought we would make a weekend out of it... and it was a BLAST!  I love that the girls like "junking" and it was so much fun to walk around for hours and hours looking at everything there!

 

We were READY to go!

 

Just LOVE all the old windows and pedastals.

Oh

 

Oh, I wanted one of these signs SO bad...

My "cool cat" and her new pair of shades.  :)

January went by in a flash...

Then February was here and I'm not sure I was ready for it.  You see, Victoria was LEAVING this month and we were going to miss her dearly!  We took her to Italy on February 8 and I was not looking forward to LEAVING her there...

We tried to have as much fun together before she left and then had a going away party for her and had some of her friends surprise her before she left on her new adventure:

 

Enjoyed some great time close to home...

Had a fun day in Coronado...

Had to make a day trip to Little Italy before we left!

And had a great last night together out at Gourmet Italia with friends and family!

Then it was time to say goodbye and off to Italy we went...

 

As we flew over the Alps, it was so beautiful to see God's creation, covered in SNOW!  We were SO hoping to see snow while we were there...

 

The next day we headed to Como to see some friends and it DID snow!  The snow was so light down where we were that it melted by the time it hit the ground, but all on the mountains was a beautiful covering of snow and it was BEAUTIFUL!

Here's some of my sweet friends with me at the scrapbooks store in Como!  Germana (in the middle) is actually kind enough to teach a class at one of my Creative Retreats this summer and I am SO excited to share her work with everyone!  She's very creative!!

We were in Lake Como for about a week and since not a lot is open at that time, it gave us a chance to really explore the area and take LOTS of photos.  Rebecca brought her good camera she got for Christmas and had so much fun with it.  She really has an eye for photography and I love some of the photos she took on this trip!  Here she is just starting out and figuring out some of the things on her new camera by the lake.

Our Initial seems perfect here...  We're moving in!  :)

Everywhere you turn in this beautiful place is just stunning.  We had never really ventured far from the city centers on Lake Como and this was such a great trip because we really got a chance to explore and walk around all the little villages or "hamlets" on the lake.

Of course we also had a blast on this trip because we got to spend time with friends.  That was what I really took away from this trip the most.  We have made so many GREAT friends here and being able to come here in the wintertime when they are not working allowed us to really spend a lot of time with friends and get to know them even better.  That was truly a blessing.

We had so many fun lunches, dinners and just time to explore new areas with friends.  Riccardo took us to Lecco for dinner one night and I have to say it became one of my new favorite cites on the lake!  I don't think it gets a lot of recognition, but the city center is just beautiful!

One of my dear friends who I am so sad to say is not going to be working at the GHVS any more, invited us into his home for dinner one night.  It was such a joy to spend time with him and his wife!  They are so welcoming here and truly friends that we will have forever.

But the REAL reason we were here was to take this grown up girl to college in Italy!  (maybe not in Rebecca's mind though... hahaha)  But the day had arrived and we took the  journey to the college and dropped this girl off.  I have to say it went really well and I didn't really cry until we got back to Lake Como and I looked at the photos we took.  She's an adult now and it's going to take some time for me to realize that, but a friend really made me see that on this trip and I thank him for that.  We've raised these girls to be woman who love the Lord, who love others and who can stand on their own two feet. So now it's time to let her go and let her make a life for herself.  We are SO proud of her and the decisions shes made.  I know she's loving Italy and is having a great time getting to know the language, making friends, and oh yeah... studying!  :)

So after we got back to Lake Como, Rebecca and I had a couple more days to explore.. The days went by fast, but we were so thankful to have time to see so much beauty here...

The last night we were again invited out with friends.  But this group was a bit different. The girls have become very close with some guys in a singing group and they invited us to dinner in the tower.  We had a great time and loved all the singing and food!  They are just another reason we love this place.  

How can you not love this place?  I feel so blessed to be able to come here every year and be a part of this place.  I really love Italy, but more than that, I love Lake Como.  I took a chance a few years ago starting a business doing Creative Retreats here, wanting to bring people here and see what I love about this place as well as bring people here that want to CREATE in this environment.  I am SO thankful to everyone who has come here with me, who wants to come here some day with me and who supports this dream of mine!  

And thank you for coming to my blog and sharing in my journey...

Hugs,

 

Laura

Blog Hop!! Come join us at Scrap 365

 

Hello everyone!  This is Laura McCollough from sunny Southern California!!  I'm excited to be a part of my 1st Blog Hop with Scrap365!!  So come on in and take a look around and see what all the other ladies are doing too!! 

Oh and by the way... CHA (Craft & Hobby Association) is going on in my neck of the woods so if you check back later, you'll see some pictures of all the BRAND NEW goodies coming out in the Craft Industry!! (or you can "friend me" on Instagram to see all the goodies right away!  my name is "akissonthechic) on IG...

So let's get started...

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We are getting your scrapping New Year off to a flying start!!! 

This month we are teaming up with Finnabair and her amazing DT from Mixed Media Place :D

  

One of the things that we are very conscious of here at Scrap365 HQ is that if you are new to scrapping it can be really overwhelming with the choice of products to use and the host of styles to emulate….the same could be said if you’re experienced!!

 So we have decided that 2014 is the year to get BACK to BASICS!! It doesn’t matter if you have been scrapping for ten years or ten days...you will be sure to learn something new along the way!

Finn has very kindly donated a marvellous prize to either add to your stash or to get you started.

 All you need to do to be in with a shot of the prize is follow Scrap365 and Mixed Media Place blogs. Like us both on Facebook and leave a message here telling us which layout principle you are going to try! We would love to see your take on the Principles so be sure to upload them to our Facebook page :)

Our January Blog Hop is all about layout principles. I found this fabulous prompt on Pinterest, courtesy of SuzyQ Scraps http://suzyqscraps.com/. It really sums up the beginnings of every layout. 

 So here is my take on principle #3 - Visual Triangle:

 

I made this layout with some Instagram photo's from my 2nd Annual Creative Retreat in Italy!  It was an amazing week in beautiful Lake Como, Italy with some great teachers who taught classes with me and a group of 21 ladies from all over the world!  It's been a DREAM of mine to do "Creative Retreats" in this part of Italy and it came TRUE in 2012!  Now I host them every year and it's such a blessing to share time with other creative souls in this gorgeous setting!

This layout has a VISUAL TRIANGLE with the three groupings of yellow flowers.  Your eyes naturally start at the top and then follow the flowerss around the page.  This layout idea gives you a way to bring the viewer "around" your page and see everything.  It not only moves the eyes around the page, it also gives you a cohesive look that is pleasing to the eye.  

You can create this VISUAL TRIANGLE with many different elements.  You could use three photos in a triangle, embellishments in the same triangle or even words and text.  So be creative with this design tip next time you scrapbook your photos!!

Now come with us on a BLOG HOP and see how these sketches turn into some glorious pieces of art :)

 

Blog List

 

 Anai: http://anai.pl/blog/

 Finnabair: http://www.tworzysko.blogspot.com/

 Laura: http://akissonthechic.typepad.com/

 Marsha: http://marshavalk.wordpress.com/

 Linda: http://www.lindabrun.com/

Tusia: http://ototusia.blogspot.com/

 Michelle: http://mjm-thearttart.blogspot.co.uk/

 Pascale: http://pbhobby.blogspot.com/

 Riikka: http://paperiliitin.blogspot.co.uk/

 Lisa: http://scrappyfairies.blogspot.co.uk/

 Helen http://helentilbury.blogspot.co.uk/ 

return to http://scrap365.blogspot.co.uk/

 

Have a GREAT day!

 

Laura

Creative Retreats in Italy

Instagram: akissonthechic

Facebook Page:  Akissonthechic's Creative Retreats & Classes