ARTIST TRADING CARD SWAP

 An artist trading card (ATC) is 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches.  I'm currently involved in a swap on Facebook in an art group there.  We all make cards and send to one another.    This cutie I received from England.  It was my very first arrival.

 This beauty came from Canada as is evident from the marvelous stamps on the envelope.  I just so happen to be a stamp collector since childhood so I was very happy to receive them and her pretty card.

And last, but far from least, was this bounty from a lady in California.  They shall be nice additions to my altered books.  I have a "bird" theme finished and I'm starting another.  Some beautiful work in all these pieces.  I'm so glad to be a part of this swap and collecting such lovely little pieces or art from around the world.  Next posting I'll show some that I've made and sent.

ALTERED BOOK PAGE BACKGROUNDS

 I am starting another altered book.  That means taking an old book and re-purposing it.  I rather do this than recycle or throw away.  Besides, it makes a great art journal.

 In this case I am using an old children's music book leftover from the days when I home schooled my children here in Ukraine.  We knew we couldn't buy English books here so we brought plenty with us from the states.  My girls never lacked for something to read.  These two are gesso and paint with a bit of stamping on this second one.

 I always remove about half the pages and then glue at least two together for strength.  Sometimes I gesso my pages, but not always.  Above was sprayed over a plastic grid I found while walking in the woods (someone's dump pile).  I know, just call me the bag lady.  I did like the effect, though.

 Yellow paint, followed by brown spray, followed by large foam stamps.

 Only gesso here and a border of tea tags.  Also, stamp pad (black) around the edges.  Music makes such a nice background. 

 After painting I brushed over it with a black stamp pad.  Gesso or paint can cause some buckling of the paper, but that never bothers me.  Just gives it more texture so I don't mind.

 Gesso and stamp pad....so pretty.

 Swirls done in crayon as a resist and painted over with the yellow.  I've finished a "bird" theme altered book.  This will be another or possibly bird/butterfly.  Two of my favorite critters. 

If you want to learn more about altering books you certainly can do a Google search, but you can also check out this site where I've been hanging out for several years now http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alteredbooks/

LAST WEEK'S SUNDAY SCHOOL

These are two of my classes from last week in Sunday school.  The top kiddos made wreaths.  Someone gave me some glow-in-the-dark flowers and stars.  We incorporated those with construction paper flowers.  When they were done we turned off the lights (basement room so dark) to show them. Lots of ohhs and ahhs.  So fun.

The middle picture is my sweet helper, Anastasia.  She's instructing the 10 year old boys.  They are always a handful, but fun.  Notice her heavy coat.  Still very cold here in Ukraine and rooms just never get real warm so everyone has their coats on.  The babies above have an extra electric heater.

Lastly the boys and one of the Sunday school teachers having fun with the photographer.  I think he looks good with rabbit ears.  Interesting how things like this cross cultural barriers.

My thanks to you who send materials for me to do this ministry with the children.  I couldn't do it otherwise.  You are a blessing to many.

WHIMSEY OR WHIMSY

I've often wondered at the spelling of this word so I finally went to the online dictionary.  This is what it said:
	whim·sy [hwim-zee, wim-] Show IPA noun, plural whim·sies. 1. capricious humor or disposition; extravagant, fanciful, or excessively playful expression: a play with lots of whimsy. 2. an odd or fanciful notion. 3. anything odd or fanciful; a product of playful or capricious fancy: a whimsy from an otherwise thoughtful writer. Also, whimsey. Origin: 1595–1605; whim(-wham) + -sy Synonyms 2. caprice, whim, humor. Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.

DISTRESS INK SPRAY ~ Homemade

Check out Marielle's post.  She'll show you how.  It's super easy:

http://rastahobby.blogspot.com/2013/02/distress-ink-spray-homemade.html

MAKE YOUR OWN SPRAY PAINTS

From StudoJanine.net you can learn how to make your own permanent spray paints for mixed-media.  If you haven't used sprays you are in for a treat.  I really like them, but so many that you buy are not only expensive, but they are not permanent and can run when you work on top of them.  That is sooo not fun when you have a nice effect going and you spoil it with another layer.  This is so easy, you'll love it.

DRAWING: "I AM THE VINE"

"I am the vine, you are the branches, if a man remains in me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  John 15:5

This was done on Hebrew text.  I really like working on foreign text.  Since we live in Ukraine, on occasion we get the opportunity to travel around here just as someone might travel around in the states.  In 2010 we were in Israel while my husband, Jeff and a couple other guys led a seminar.  I got to tag along and I'm always on the lookout for foreign ephemera on trips like this.  I just like the sense of mystery drawing over another language.  Hope you like it.