A Kiss on the Chic

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

 

Oops… forgot to mention!

I was at CHA yesterday!!  I was helping my dear friend Heidi Sonboul set up her booth for her DEBUT collections with her OWN SCRAPBOOK COMPANY!!  

I'm SO excited for her and I hope you will go check out her booth if you are there OR go check out her new company, Chickaniddy Crafts!  She's very talented and has gone on her own now to start a new company and it's SO CUTE!!

I'll be at CHA tomorrow and I'll post some photos on the blog after the weekend is over. So check back here or follow me on Instagram (akissonthechic) for up to the minute photos at CHA!!

Hugs,

 

Laura

 

 

Happy New Year!

Yes, I know it's been a LONG time since I blogged on here...

I feel like Christmas came and went in a blink of an eye and here we are already in the second week of January, 2014!  Wishing life would SLOW down a bit...

But, it doesn't look like that is going to happen any time soon.  I have a VERY BUSY year in 2014 and even though it is all VERY exciting stuff, it leaves little time for blogging (let alone things around the house... hahaha)

So I thought I would just "re-cap" the last couple months and then MOVE on with 2014!

Like I said, Christmas came and went in a blink.  We had some parties and things going on with the kids, but it felt like we didn't have time to really ENJOY things.  Which was kinda sad and I really want to try to change that next year.  (I probably say that every year don't I?)  How can we just absorb it all, have time to take in the Holidays, do the things we want to do and forget the rest?  I don't know... so if YOU know, please fill me in on the secret!

Here's a few pictures to recap the Holidays for us:

I created my 1st "chalk art" piece and was so happy with it!  (don't judge... it's my 1st time, lol)

Got a new "do" with bangs again...

Created another "December Daily" (don't ask how many pages are done inside...)

 

Went to Lance's Prosites Christmas party and a beautiful Italian Villa here in town.

Had some fun Christmas parties for the girls and their friends...

Took a trip to the "happiest place on earth"  (maybe not)

While dreaming of spending Christmas in Italy...

and never having time to decorate the tree!

So a very FULL Christmas with lots going on.  It was fun though and I will remember this year for some of the crazy times we had and NEVER getting around to the tree that was WAY too much $$$ and a pain in the a$$ to clean up!  (back to a fake tree for us)

And our official Christmas card probably got to eveyrone AFTER Christmas,  so here's the official Happy New Year picture... for everyone on here:

Taken in Italy... where time stands still and we actually HAVE time to do things like this!  lol

 

So now onto 2014...

Happy New Year!

How many of you thought we'd be driving our cars in the SKY by this year?  (hello, any George Jetson fans out there??)  No cooked meals ready at the touch of a button?  No dogs getting groomed, taken out, feed by a computer?  

Well, I don't know about you, but I could really use some extra "hands" in this year!  I've kinda booked a LOT for 2014 so here's to hoping things run smoothly while I am away this first half of the year.

First on the agenda, taking Victoria to college in ITALY!  That's just in a few weeks and it's coming faster every day.  hahaha   I want her to go and have this AMAZING experience but I'm going to be a crying momma when I leave her there...  Oh boy, please pray for her/me/us during this time.  Still trying to find out how she can stay longer then the 90 days so she can help me with my Creative Retreat.  The VISA situation is not looking good...

Next after I come home from Italy, is a trip BACK to Europe with Rebecca!  (she gets to go to Italy too, spoiled little girl...lol)  But she is taking French in HS and they are taking a trip of Easter break to Europe.  So that will be a fun trip that just her and I are going on with a group from school.   We may even try to pop on over to Italy after the trip to see Victoria for a couple days.

Then we come home early April and take a little break from traveling... until middle of May.  Then it's BACK to Europe for my 3rd Annual Creative Retreat in Italy!  Can't WAIT for that!  I feel SO blessed by everyones excitement and great things to say about my retreats.  Word of mouth has just created a HUGE amount of interest and in fact has blossomed my business into something I'm SO excited about!  Doing Creative Retreats in Italy is a DREAM. COME. TRUE.  No joke.  And this year I'm not just doing one.. I'm doing THREE!  Yes, I know I'm crazy.  But the first one sold out SO FAST I decided to do a 2nd week (May 24-31) and then Jeanne Oliver asked me if I would do a more "artsy" version for her so thus the 3rd one all next summer!  So if you're interested in joining me this May, I have a few spots left ONLY in the May 24-31st retreat.  (the other 2 are sold out)

BUT...

I am already starting to plan 2015 Creative Retreats!!  So if you are interested you can send me an email and get put on the INTEREST LIST for 2015.  (yes, it's already started and growing bigger every day)  It will be in Italy again and 2015 is the year the WORLD'S FAIR is in Milan, Italy so it will be an exciting time to be in Italy!!  

ALSO...

In 2015 I plan to do a smaller version of my Creative Retreats in.... PARIS!  Yes, you heard that right!  I've been planning this for a while and though I might do it this year, but really wanted to take the time to do a bit more research there this past Fall and again this March.  So in 2015 I will most likely do "back-to-back" Creative Retreats.  Meaning, the Italy one will be a week long and then those who wish to "add-on" can join us as we fly off to Paris for a mini version right after the Italy week!  You're already THERE so it's a GREAT week to see Paris and what better way to see it with someone who has been there many times, knows the cool places, flea markets, restaurants and beautiful areas of this magical city!

So again, if you are interested in either Creative Retreat for 2015 email me to be on the list that will get the details FIRST!  Most likely there will be an email going out about the 2015 retreats early summer time with sign ups probably after I get back from this years retreats.

 

Lastly, I wanted to take a moment and say that for 2014 I DO want to treasure every day and I know I joke about time flying by (well it's not a joke, I do feel like like if flying by) but I want to make sure in those moments of feeling like life is passing me by I take time to ENJOY life and be there for OTHERS.  That was my word for last year.  I'm not sure how great I was at remembering to be "that" person... But for 2014 I decided on a new "word" for the year:

LIGHT.

My prayer for this year is to be a "light" to the world.  To my family, to those who know me and to those I come in contact with throughout this year...

So Happy New Year and tell me YOUR one little word for 2014, I'd love to hear it!

Oh, and come back on here TOMMOROW!!  I'm going to be part of the Scrap365 Blog hop and you'll want to check out all the ladies blogs and see what we have for you!!!

So see you tomorrow!!

Hugs to all,

Laura