MAKING BRACELETS

Nothing makes one feel more feminine than an arm full of bracelets. Here's some I made from some beads that were sent to me not long ago. I think they turned out lovely. Nice beads helps.

SOME MAIL ART JUST FOR FUN

Learn How to Make a Collage: 4 Free Mixed-Media Collage Techniques - Cloth Paper Scissors

Learn How to Make a Collage: 4 Free Mixed-Media Collage Techniques - Cloth Paper Scissors

Here are some fun ideas to get you started doing collage

FIRST SIGNS OF FALL

COLEEN'S GARDEN

Didn't know if I liked what this little guy was doing to my rose, but his iridescent green was so lovely I left him along. Besides, he was almost bigger than me. Click on it to see the amazing detail of what God has created in him and the flower.

5 questions Christians should ask themselves before logging on

5 questions Christians should ask themselves before logging on

ALTERED "BIRD" BOOK

Here's two sets of pages from my Altered "Bird" Book. I've been working on it for some time, but just getting some of it shot and posted. In various places I have swapped bird art with other artists and it has been fun to make an album to include there's and mine too. And of course, the best part is doing the pages for each piece. Hope you like it. Let me know what you think.

BETHLEHEM BY NIGHT

My husband Jeff and I were in Israel this past June. It is our second trip and just as fascinating and the first one in 2008. This picture is just a teaser. If you'd like to see more please visit our other blog: www.franksukraine.blogspot.com or just click on the title and you'll go right there.

COLEEN'S GARDEN

Just wanted to share with you some of the beauty of my summer garden. I had the most spectacular blooming of Peonies in early May. Fuller and more abundant than I've ever had. April was a normal rainfall month to bring them on, but after the first week of May there was no rain the rest of the month and so this abundant showing was short lived. Of course, I watered, but any of you who garden know that watering is not the same as God's mineral filled showers. I decided I must do an altered book on my garden so I can preserve these lovelies in a place I can enjoy when I'm old and gone from here. Our lives are often short lived like the peonies so preserve your relationships with those around you. They may not be there long. Blessings on your day.

REUSING YOUR ART WORK FROM "CLOTH PAPER SCISSORS"

JUST A COOL TECHNIQUE EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW:

LAURA, FOLLOWING THE PAPER TRAIL - ENVELOPE MINI-ALBUM

THIS IS SO EASY YOU'LL LOVE IT. I POSTED BACK IN 2009 AND JUST HAD TO REPOST. LAURA IS SUCH A CREATIVE ONE.

ALTERED "BIRD" BOOK

Here's a few pages from the altered "bird" book I've been working on since last year. It's actually a book of bird stories so it seemed a perfect fit for the topic. I do love birds so it was my opportunity to display some of what I do and the art of some fine ladies I've swapped with over the last few years.

SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS - LADIES MINISTRY

One of my great blessings is to do crafts with different age groups. This group is our Sunday school team. They are always doing for others. Just after children's camp we met to do something for them. I usually do crafts at camp, but was out of the country and returned in time to do this with them. Though it is not often real hot in Ukraine, sometimes it is, for short periods, so we made fans. We re-purposed greeting cards and they made some of the prettiest crafts. They all had a verse on them and some were going to be given to friends. You can see by the sweet smiles on these faces how blessed I am to work with this fine group of sisters.



This fan was made by "Galya." She took advantage of some of the alphabet letters I had. Galya is second from right and just got married at the end of July (side note).



Here the girls are showing off their bracelets. This is another aspect of ministry I do. At times lovely ladies in America have sent me their old jewelry. I can use broken, outdated, jewelry and watches, just anything. We use it in various ways. One, as here, is to re-purpose it into bracelets. The girls love making bracelets. Our Sunday school director, Lena Bandura is standing on the right. A big thanks to those of you who have sent jewelry. I couldn't do it without you. Lord bless.

PLASTIC BAG FLOWERS BY TIM COFFEY

This is so easy even the kids can do it. You can also do the same thing with paper, just use less layers. See Tim's video 8.

Paint Chip Book Mark

The challenge was to use paint chip to make something. I pick up paint chips here and there so I have a collection. This one became a bookmark. I like having a lovely bookmark in the books I'm reading. Rather adds to the pleasure of the read....a bit of eye candy. The flower is lavender. I have it growing in my garden. A great fragrance. Hope you like it.

Tim Coffey Video - Using a Cereal Box as Substrate

I love this idea. Talk about taking down the cost of creating. No longer need to buy those expensive canvases. Now this video can stand alone, but if you want to see how Tim takes it further, go to YouTube and see part 2 and 3. Whole new use for my glue gun. I love it.

CUTE BLOG WITH A GIVEAWAY

CHECK OUT HER BLOG. SHE'S JUST GETTING IT ROLLING ON NUMBERS AND SHE DOING A GIVEAWAY. http://designsweetest.blogspot.com/

DOLINA, UKRAINE

A pretty little project that went to special friends in western Ukraine.

Singing Group: Selah

Love this song. It is scheduled for release on August 23. Hope you enjoy it. Selah is our very favorite group.

BEADED CROSSES

This pretty little craft is real easy. Give it a try. Beginners level. Just need one small set of pliers.

NAPKIN CRAFTING

One of the places I hang out is called Yahoo Making Mini-books site. You can click on the title if you want to check them out. Anyway, we are doing a napkins swap and Europe has some of the prettiest napkins that I don't recall us having in America. That prompted a discussion on what to do with them. We heard about flower pots, journal pages, trays, altered bottles, furniture, the list is endless. So I decided to post one of the things I did with napkins and copies of old pictures. I used PVA (Elmer's) watered down. Yep, that simple, just paint it on.




The lace goes all the way around. I wove the ribbon into it. The vine leaves are from a wallpaper trim that I liked so I cut them out and put them on too. It was fun and so easy. One of these days I'll do the other side. Some of these photos came from two friends in America Dan in Arkansas and Lindy in Indiana. I'm thankful for their sharing their old photos. I love working with them.

SMIRKY GUY, ART JOURNAL

Sometimes doing art has a way of "having its own way." This is one of those. Some pieces you labor over and some just spill out of you. Click on the picture to see it larger.

My previous art journal post was commented on a couple days ago by an English cyber friend I met in a online class. She told me about an art journal challenge she was having. The challenge being to use the colors pink and orange. My first thought was what a strange combination. I didn't think I'd ever used those two together. Then last night I'm showing my husband what I did last week while he was gone and it struck me....this is pink and orange. So I already had one in those colors. Interesting.

Left page journal entry: "Thank you Lord for a mother that believed in me. Thank you for all my circumstances, even the tragedies for they shaped who I am. For your divine leading (in my life)."

Right page journal entry: "I LOVE HIS SMIRK"
"Its how I feel some
days when I consider how
God has blessed me."

If you'd like to see more from this challenge go to Dawn's "Journal Journeys'" by clicking on the title above. And please, I love to read your comments and if you like what you see here then follow this blog.

ONE SHEET POCKET BOOK

If you ever start these you'll make more. They are so easy, so quick and what a great card/gift they make. Fill it with little goodies of any sort and how about a gift card. From Cardalacarte.




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CHILDREN'S CANCER HOSPITAL IN ZHITOMYR, UKRAINE

In May I was invited by friends and fellow missionaries, Richard and Vicki Nelson to go to a children's cancer hospital to do scrapbooks. The town of Zhitomyr is about 3 hours west of us so it is not a place I can go to often, but we met up with a couple of girls who wanted to do this ministry for these children. It was my blessing to bring materials and show the girls how to minister in this way. The opportunity to give the children some joy.

An attempt to create cheer in a very sad place.



This young man has been here almost a year, but he had the sweetest spirit.

These are pictures some of the children do since they have a lot of time.

The mothers stay in the hospital with their children and care for them. What about the one's at home you ask?

This was the actual doing of the class for the kids and showing the girls how to do it. I am so blessed at times that this ministry is moving out for others to do besides me. I am especially gratified when Ukrainians do it because it will continue long after I'm gone.

This is a page from the book of a 9 year old Girl, Anya. Though she was very subdued, I could see by her book she had great fun. It is my joy to be able to be a small part of giving that enjoyment to children. To Him be the glory.


Please pray for these children and the girls ministering to them. My unending thanks to all those who supply materials that I can do this work. I am so blessed.

TWO LADIES WITH BIRDS

Summertime doesn't afford much time for being in my studio, but now and then I get to put a few finishing touches on something I started previously. This is one of those. I actually started it many months ago, but that is the thing about an art journal....sometimes you keep coming back until you feel it is finally done. Both pages have dried flowers I put on with glaze medium...took forever to dry.

Left pages says: "But now ask the beasts,
and they will teach you;
And the birds of the air,
and they will tell you;" Job 12:7

Right page says: Listen, learn
Laugh
Hope you like it. Would love to hear what you think.

MONOPRINTING USING CRAFT FOAM AND A PEN

Anyone who draws (or stamps) can try this very easy, but versatile technique. A new use for that pesky craft foam that keeps hanging around. I just know I will get lots of mileage out of this one. And wouldn't the kids have fun with this?

WEEKEND CAMP CRAFTS

The girls at camp in Voronkova made lovely bows out of paper napkins. Just another little craft technique to take home with them. They enjoyed themselves and we all loved the beautiful surroundings of the camp atmosphere.

COLLAGE PAPER TECHNIQUE WITH NITA LELAND

You'll love what she does. The variation on applications is endless. Think sandwiching string, glitter, flowers, leaf skeletons, small flying critters, my it could go on and on.

THE GARDEN PATH

Just a small peek into my garden.

PRETTIES

Something I did to pass on as a means of encouragement. Wish I had more time for such, but a little here and there. The technique for the background "fabric/paper" can be found by paging back in the blog to March 8th, 2010 where you'll find a written tutorial. It is really very easy, but very textural and strong.

CRAFT MINISTRY WITH YOUTH GIRLS

Upon returning from the states at the end of April I was quickly hit with requests for ministry. Though I was still adapting to four months absence and much to catch up on at home, I could not turn down the opportunity to work with these youth girls in a weekend camp. In the first picture the girls did bookmarks. They all have Bible verses for a witness that goes home with them. Thank you to Francene for the die-cuts she sent for this class. The following two pictures were of girls doing bracelets. I am blessed that people send old jewelry which we break apart to reuse. As they work it is my opportunity to tell them about the Lord and his loving grace as demonstrated by the ladies who supply the materials for them to do this. I can tell you they love making bracelets and crafts. You can tell by the smiles on their faces. Thank you to all who contribute to this ministry. I couldn't do it without you. God is truly gracious and abundant in his provision.

TANGLED DRAGONFLY

I started this for a tangle swap, but decided I had to do another since my daughter likes dragonflies so much. So instead of sending it off to someone else, I sent it to Leah in the U.S. We are rapidly approaching the date of our one year anniversary of being empty nesters. Leah is approaching one year of adapting to life in America after 16 years living in, growing up on the mission field of Ukraine.