Easter Cards

Unlike in the United States, Easter continues to be celebrated here for some time after the holiday. Here is a sampling of cards the kids did in Sunday school. I am art director of the church and therefore have the fun of coming up with projects. Every card or project goes home with a Bible verse on it.

2010 Life Path Challenge

Here's my tag for this week made from a technique of tissue paper on cloth with pieces of wrapping paper sandwiched in between, held together with layers of thinned glue. If you would like to show us some of your art just go to the banner above in the header and click to go to the Flickr site where you can download your artsy piece.
Question:
WHO ARE YOU MOST THANKFUL FOR THIS WEEK AND HOW COULD YOU EXPRESS THAT TO THEM?

If you are new here I invite you to come play along with us and write or do some craft to represent the weekly questions. If you continue to play along you'll end up with a really neat art collection that answers some probing questions for your life. I'm doing a tag book. Jaine is doing an altered book. You can see some of both above. Others are journaling. Come out and play.

Southern California Spring

Day Lily

2010 Life Path Challenge

Wow! Here we are at the last week of March. One quarter of the way through the year. Above is my tag/card for this week. Notice also above is the banner of pictures from our Flickr gallery. Each time you add a new picture to the gallery it shows up on the blog above. I think that's cool.
Question:
IN WHAT AREA OF YOUR LIFE DO YOU MOST NEED CHANGE, AND WHAT WILL YOU DO ABOUT IT THIS YEAR?

Southern California Spring

"Smile Cards"

Yesterday our post lady was ringing our bell before we were even out of bed. I didn't know she got around so early, but she had a package too big to put in our mail box. What a delight it was to open and see all these "Smile Cards" from Fiorella in Italy. In addition you can see the extra goodies she sent for our classes and crafting. For those who don't know, "Smile Cards" are what I give out to pastors and people who work with prisoners, home-bound, hospitalized and orphans. I just love being able to supply these cards because I know they will make someone smile over their beauty. For all the cards I receive, I put in a verse, word or poem of encouragement in their language. So a big THANK YOU to Fiorella for her kind heart in wanting to share her lovely talents with people here in Ukraine. If you would like to make some "Smile Cards" you can email me at coleenfranks@gmail.com for more details.

Southern California Spring

I'm back in Ukraine now and as I look back on these lovely flowers it almost seems a dream that I was there experiencing spring in California. I just love the beauty of this white rose. It's radiance just emanates purity and silky freshness that is soothing to the soul. It is so wonderful that a loving God in heaven made such beauty for us to enjoy on earth...a foretaste of things to come.

Vintage Photo

I wanted to share this old photo with you all. I know so many of you like vintage and this is almost antique (100 yrs) as it is a picture of my dad when he was a baby. My dad is 87 this year so that tells you how old it is. I love old photographs.

Crinkly Embellishment Video Tutorial

Click on the title for a great tutorial I found on Scrapscene taking seam binding and making it into a cute embellishment for vintage projects. It shows you how to dye the binding and also ribbon or trim. Now, if you don't have Glimmer Mist as she suggests, I think you can do this with any form of coloring (acrylic paints, for example)as long as you put it in a spray bottle.

2010 Life Path Challenge

Well I have traveled from Southern California back to Ukraine and I must admit the jet-lag has really hit me this time. Enough so that I am late in getting this on, but at last here it is. I like to have it on by late Sunday or Monday so I'm really stretching it. Thanks for your patience.
Question:
1. IN WHAT AREA OF YOUR LIFE DO YOU MOST NEED GROWTH, AND WHAT WILL YOU DO ABOUT IT THIS YEAR?

Jet-Lag

Back in Ukraine from Southern California. I love to travel, but I love the coming home as well. It is good to be in my own bed. Got home Thursday around mid-night and couldn't sleep until 5 a.m. Obviously my body was still on California time. Then last night I went to a bible study where I wanted to sleep the whole time. Came home and then couldn't sleep until after 1:30. Adaptation. Maybe tonight will be better.

Anyway, it was a joy to be with my sisters and my dad (age 87). At his age I never know if I will see him again so it makes each visit all the more precious. I recognize the need to say those last things you would want to say to a loved one if you knew you wouldn't see them again. Shouldn't we do this anyway?

Southern California Spring

Azaela and the spring time sunny sky.

Very Vintage

I thought you'd enjoy seeing these old pictures. I love vintage pictures and using them in my art work. The top is my great grandfather, O.B. Cole who was in the 1889 Oklahoma Land Run. Below that is his daughter, my grandmother, Izetta Cole Walther-Barg. I brought these photos back from my visit with family so I'll have to see how I can use them to do something crafty.

Southern California Spring

2010 Life Path Challenge

Though in Ukraine we are still very much in winter mode, I just couldn't stand to not do something that would bring on spring. So here's my tag for this week.
QUESTIONS: one or both
1. WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS YEAR?
2. HOW DO YOU PRAY? DO YOU SAY A SPECIAL PRAYER?
Remember you can access our Flickr site above by clicking on the banner of art.

Southern California Spring

Here's another lovely that I photographed while out walking, but I have no idea what it is so if any of you can identify it for me I'd really be grateful.

Leah and Dental Mission

Leah is my daughter, age 22. She is going to be working as a translator for a dental mission from America starting on Sunday. Please pray for her and the mission as they serve this coming week.

Southern California Spring

Shasta daisies I had to photograph while I was out walking with my dad. Don't you just know I must have looked like the proverbial tourist. I even tried to find postcards at the local shopping center with no success. Guess I wasn't in the typical tourist area.

Sisters In California

That's me on the Left and my two sisters, Neldie and Susie out for our annual "sister's day."

California Camillias

I really liked the delicate varigated pink and white in these pretties. I'm just amazed at the creativity and often in wonder over the beauty of what God has created. How can one not believe in a Creator when we gaze at such perfection.

Frugal Embellishments for Scrapbooking

From Thrifty Fun: I scrapbook all the time and I use them as gifts for family and friends. This is a hobby that can be very expensive, after you purchase paper and embellishments. I decided to save money on supplies I started cutting out objects and lettering from catalogs that we receive in the mail. I found all kinds of terrific sayings in beautiful lettering; lots and lots of designs to use as embellishments and even use some as bordering and framing. I have found school supply catalogs to contain lots of variety of different objects.

As you know embellishments can run between 99 cents to $4 or more in some shops. All I do is cut them from catalog and then crop them further to give them professional look and then glue them on. This has cut my scrapbooking expenses more than half.

Make Your Own Scrapbook Paper

FOR CUSTOM SCRAPBOOKING PAPER line your scanner or copier bed with a sheet of clear plastic (to protect it). Next take anything you'd like to copy like shells, small stones, pasta, flowers, grass, cookies, candy, chocolate chips, crayons, sewing supplies, yarn, bubble wrap, lace and even birdseed or dried pet food. Place it carefully on top of the plastic liner sheet then scan or copy it. You will end up with some of the most amazing scrapbooking paper around! It looks totally real. Color usually works best, but some things (like lace) look wonderful in black and white. What about copying patterned fabric, old jewelry, beads, sweater material, the list is endless. Make your own embellishments from what you copy, like jewelry. Scan anything bulky to flatten for scrapbooking. I know from this you can come up with many more fun ideas that are also money saving. Yea!

Tax Tips for the Self-Employed Crafter/Artist

Tax time is just around the corner so some of you may want to check this out. Click on the title to open.

Southern California Spring

Just wanted to share with you some of the beauty of spring in Southern California. I thought it would be pleasant especially for those of you still in the midst of winter, as we are back in Ukraine. It was a bit strange, having left snow and freezing weather to come and see roses, daisies, camellias and more blooming.

Tesha Moore Journal Page

I call this my Teesha Moore page as I did it, inspired by a similar piece, to try her technique. It was fun, so I think I'll do some more. Hope you like it, what do you think? Coleen

2010 Life Path Challenge

Well, I must apologize for being so late in the day for some of you. I am on California time and it's early here, but that puts me at the end of the day for some of you.
Questions, your choice:
1. WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST SKILLS AND TALENTS? FOR WHAT ARE YOU WELL KNOWN?
2. WHAT ONE THING COULD YOU DO TO IMPROVE YOUR PRAYER LIFE THIS YEAR?

Don't forget, if you are doing art you can get to our Flickr site from the top of this blog. The banner links there on the right and those are some of the things done already for this challenge. Have fun. Coleen

Fabric Paper Instructions

Black patterned fabric with white background.
Red fabric with flower pattern.

I love trying new techniques and that is what this was. The reflective spots are a rather foil like wrapping paper. The rest are simple wrapping papers.

1. I started with a piece of light colored fabric (though one is done on patterned fabric) painting 50% water diluted glue on the surface (be sure you do this on plastic to protect your surface).

2. Then place your torn pieces of wrapping paper painting more glue on top.

3. Lastly lay down tissue paper (I used white here)painting glue over the top of that to finish it off.

Optional variations can include sprinkling glitter, using paper doilies, sprinkling very small/flat flower petals or seeds, etc. All this done before you put the final later of tissue down. You can sew on it after it is all dry. I even punched holes in mine with no problem. Remember, the more you dilute the glue, the softer the fabric/paper so experiment with the ratio. If you try it let me know. I have already cut it up and used it for cards, tags and journaling surface. Let me know what you do with it. I'd love to hear. Have fun, Coleen

Aspects of Ukrainian Culture

Just thought I'd share with you this little touch of Ukrainian culture as depicted on the wall of a restaurant we visited in western Ukraine.

The Expression of my Heart

Free E-Book, Scrapbooking Madness

If you like scrapbooking you'll like all the great ideas and inspiration in this book. And the best part is it is offered for free. Enjoy!

Scrapbooking Tips and Techniques, Bloghop

Be sure and read all the way down as there are several great ideas and techniques that you can put to work in your art or scrapbooking immediately. Plus you'll have fun going on the bloghop. Click on the title above to go there. Enjoy, Coleen

2010 Life Path Challenge

Here's my tag for this week. I've sure enjoyed doing them and answering the questions for myself. It will be a keepsake when I am done. Jump in at any point and join us if you are new here. If you have questions you'd like to suggest for later in the year please email me at coleenfranks@gmail.com.
Chose one or both questions:

1. WHO IS THE MOST GENEROUS PERSON YOU KNOW? IN WHAT WAYS? IN WHAT WAYS ARE YOU MOST GIVING? (0K, I know that looks like 3 questions, but they are all related.)
2. WHAT IS THE MOST HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE THING YOU WILL ASK GOD TO DO THIS YEAR?

Family Conference -Village of Hope

The Village of Hope is an orphanage associated with the church we attend in Ukraine. Recently some folks who were sponsoring a family conference there asked if I would come in and do crafts with the children of the parents who were attending. I spent the morning doing various crafts with the kids and then came back that night to do a craft with the children and parents combined. That was a first for me. So the card above is what I did with them. With these same parts we had many different interpretations of this card. I was blessed also with the opportunity to talk to these young parents of the value of encouraging creativity in their little ones and was able to use my own life and my mother's encouragement as an example.

The Beauty of Winter in Ukraine

Backyard beauty of winter.
Gracie watching me take pictures.

Our street and a stuck neighbor. I love the beauty of winter in Ukraine, but I must admit I don't much care for the cold. Now the temperatures, though still chilly, have moderated and we have some melting. Along with spring melting in Ukraine comes flooding and it will be plentiful this year as we have had more snow than in many years. Now is the time when I so look forward to the beauty and freshness of spring.

2010 Life Path Challenge

As the weeks role around so quickly it is just another evidence of how quickly this life passes. Another good reason for doing this sort of thing. You are making a legacy to outlive you with the answers to these interesting questions. Your family will have new insights as to how you think/thought. My children or grandchildren will know things about me that we might never have talked about.

Question: 1. WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU HAVE EVER DONE TO HELP SOMEONE?
Question: 2. WHAT'S ONE THING YOU COULD DO THIS YEAR TO INCREASE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF GOD?

If you tap on the pictures at the top of the blog you will see more of the artistic interpretations of this challenge. If you are doing art we'd love to have you share it with us. There above is also where you can get to Flickr to add your photos.

If you're new here, then jump in at any point and just start where we are. Then if you get the chance you can go back, but just start with where we are now. Lots more intriguing questions to come.

Ukraine Winter

I've never seen snow stand up on the tops of a picket fence. Both those pine trees we planted when they were small. Winter makes them bow with humility. Probably good for us all.

I Love Hearts

A friend and colleague, Laura Kanaykina came to me recently for ideas to entertain a women's group with a craft. This is what we came up with and since you all know I like to doodle, well, that is what I did on each heart. No, it may look like Greek, but the Bible verse is in Russian.

VintageTerrace2 Online Shop (My Etsy)

Some of you have already seen our online shop and we've already made sales. The things on here are all sold without profit motive, but are sold to use for missions work in Ukraine. I teach art classes to various groups and the proceeds from this shop go to providing scrapbooks and other items to the children and adults we work with. For those of you who have donated items we are ever grateful for our privilege and ability to be of service here in this capacity. I love what I do and the big payoff is the joy on their faces when they've created something they admire. God has given me a unique tool for witnessing the love of Christ through teaching. Thank you to all who have been a part of making this possible. Please take a look at the things in our shop and see if there is not something there that catches your fancy.

Pretties

Got creative one day and made these pretty little flowers as embellishments. So fun for decorating a page, a box or whatever you want to doll up. Used a paper punch for the bottom flower and the rest is fabric flowers and a gem.

2010 Life Path Challenge Week 7

I've heard from several more who are doing the challenge, I just wish more were interpreting with art, but it's OK to interpret these questions in any way that works for you. Remember, how you interpret the questions is your private business, but if you want to make some art then either go to our Flickr site (search Flickr for "2010 Life Path Challenge)and upload it or mail to us and we'll do it for you. Here's our questions which you can answer one or both:
WHAT IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST TIME-WASTER IN YOU LIFE, AND WHAT WILL YOU DO ABOUT IT THIS YEAR?

FOR WHO'S SALVATION WILL YOU PRAY MOST FERVENTLY FOR THIS YEAR?

Again, you can answer one or both questions. Have fun.

Where In The World is Ukraine? FYI

Ukraine, isn't that Russia? No, it used to be part of the former Soviet Union, but it was always Ukraine. My geography got a lot better when I moved from the U.S. to this part of the world. Ukraine is just below Russia on right side of the page. How do I feel about it? I love it here, as well as traveling Europe.....16 years now.

Snow, Snow

Snow, Snow go away, come back another day. I know anyone who lives in a snowy area is getting tired of it by the time they get to February. For us this only means another month or so. I say "or so" because we could get snow as late as April or May, but the stuff that stays on the ground will start melting in mid to late March. This shot is from our front door looking toward the street. I thought it was interesting how the flash in this night shot caught the snowflakes. In summer the arch has clematis growing over it and the sidewalk is surrounded with flowers. Ahemm (sigh, longing for spring).

2010 Life Path Challenge Week 6

Well, the day has gotten away from me for being too busy, but here I am. Here's my tag for this week along with your questions. You can do one or both questions. Just however you feel moved. 1. WHAT IS THE MOST THANKFUL YOU HAVE EVER BEEN AND HOW DID YOU EXPRESS YOUR GRATITUDE? 2. WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU COULD DO THIS YEAR TO INCREASE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF GOD?

Now, let me say that if you fall behind one week then my suggestion is that you just leave a blanks page, blank spot for whatever you are doing and move on so you can keep up. Then maybe you can pick up on that week at a later time and maybe not. Remember, this is a no pressure deal so do it as you like. Have you stopped to consider that you are creating quite a legacy in these questions? It might make a great gift to give a love one later.

We now finally have a Flickr site set up for those of you who would like to post your work to share with us. Find it here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1351653@N21/ or just look for vintageterrace2 on Flickr. I hope you are enjoying these questions as much as I am. I'd sure love to see what you are doing and I would love to hear from some of you as to how it is going in comments below. Have a great week and Happy Valentine's Day to you all. Tell someone you love them.

Painting a Rose by Donna Dewberry

This lady of many talents is fascinating to watch even if you don't paint. Click on the title to watch.

Happy Valentine's Day

My gift to you dear friends....this is how God sees you. Listen to this lovely song from Ginny Owens. She is a blind singer. Then hear her short story below. Click on the title to listen. It's beautiful.

Singer, Ginny Owens

She has a marvelous story and now she is a well-known singer. Click on the title to hear her story on Youtube.

About.com Write Up

It was so fun when I got an email from About.com that they did a small write up on my tags and the 2010 Life Path Challenge. Spreading the word. It's fun to see how many are doing this. You can see their write up here: http://familycrafts.about.com/od/gifttags/ss/ColeensTags.htm

Street Dogs

On a chilly fall day these street dogs were finding a warm spot in the sun. I wonder where they go in winter? This is an ongoing problem in Ukraine as there is not the infrastructure to take care of it. Many of the locals help feed these dogs and most are very meek and harmless.

Art Book Giveaway

The book is called "Collage Fusion" by Alma Cox and they are doing a giveaway to check it out: http://www.favecrafts.com/sweeps/Collage-Fusion-Book-Giveaway

Journaling Crafts

Check this out for more ideas on crafting and journaling. Journaling Crafts

Tutorial by Tania Willis: Altering Fabrics with Ink

Angie from Scrapscene featured this really cool tutorial of a technique for dye/bleaching fabric for your scrapbook layouts. It is such a neat idea I wanted to share it with you here.

Tutorial by Tania Willis: Altering Fabrics with Ink

Life Path Challenge, Week 5 Art and Question

Well I've finally caught up to where I hope to be posting my tag for that week each time I give you the new challenge question. The question for this week: WHAT IS THE MOST HELPFUL NEW WAY YOU COULD STRENGTHEN YOUR FAMILY? Now that one will make you think a bit, but if you take the time to do it you could have a wonderful result show up in your family relations this year.

I've been thinking about something that I'm going to add in here. That is another question each week. You can take your choice or do both. There are just too many intriguing things to consider in life. Will I have two every week? Well, I'd like to, just depends on what I find and how I'm led. If you have a question you'd like to throw into the pot, just leave a comment below or email me at coleenfranks@gmail.com
Question number two: WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT WAY YOU WILL, BY GOD'S GRACE, TRY TO MAKE THIS YEAR DIFFERENT FROM LAST YEAR? Wow, I too often think I don't have control over my circumstances, but that is furthest from the truth. Just considering the question causes things to leap in my brain. Have fun with it.