HANDMADE FANS FOR TEXAS

This  is a sampling of some fans that went to a group of Texas ladies.     One of the ladies had seen what we did with the kids this  summer and thought it would be a  nice  idea  for  her  group.    So 25 of these pretties flew off to Texas not long ago.  I know it seems late for fans, but things stay hot in Texas a lot longer than in most other places.  They all have Bible verses on both sides so they will be a  nice  witness.    And another benefit is that they really work well to blow the heat off your brow.

ART ON COMPUTER

A cyber friend has shared this great site with me. Thank you Michele Poehler of Ontario for such a fun place to play.  So many people on Facebook send me game requests, but I'm just not a gamer.  I wasn't a gamer on boards when I was a kid.  I didn't do puzzles (I know, I'm telling my age) and I don't do computer games, but I do art.  That is my addiction, if you could call it one.  And now I've found a way to do it on the computer as well.  That's what this whimsical little drawing is about...being creative on computer.  Oh, Michele, what have you done to me.  I love it.
You can find it here: http://www.zefrank.com/scribbler/scribblertoo/

ART JOURNAL PAGE

This was fun to do and I think I'm finished with  both sides.  I'd prepared some background paper with some crayon scribbles to put down color and I like all the color and activity except that one strong blue line going thru her face.  I can't take it out without totally repainting the face so it's just there.  I made friends with a sweet gal on Facebook named Lula Pomme recently.  I really liked her drawings and I must say that she inspired me to do this.  She had these cute curly haired girls and I just had to try one for myself.  Though drawing was my minor in college I just haven't done much since I've been doing art journals so this was fun.

 

 

 

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Go on over and visit her site and follow, she's a lot of fun:  http://lulapomme.blogspot.com/

WHAT ARE "RANDOM ACTS OF ART?"

Artist Trading Card

You all know I love birds.  This little card is made with a feather that just happened coordinate so nicely with the colors in the paper and picture so I had to incorporate it somehow.  I quartered  a sticky-back foam piece that raises up the picture like it's floating atop the feather.  The little envie  next to it is what it slips into before it goes into the mailing envelope.  I did several of these by recycling some old card stock forms, inking the edges and stamping.  Makes a nice extra touch for the ATC recipient. Hope you like it.

DOODLING IN EASTERN EUROPE

I did this curly doodle on a piece of Italian text sent to me by my friend, Fiorella in Italy.  I think text makes a great background for a lot of things.  I'm pretty new to coloring my tangles so this is just a start for me, but enough for this piece.  I consider it done.  Hope you like it.

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY IN RUSSIA

 Pavel and Tanya Gerashenko are Ukrainian friends we've known for some years.  They worked with Muslim people in Turkey for a time and now are settled in Russian where they work with a Turkish group.  The Lord has blessed us in being able to come alongside and help them.

 Tanya is meeting with children four times a week, twice with boys and twice with girls. She tells stories and does crafts.  I've sent her several small packages to help with this.  She sent these pictures to show me what she's doing.  I just had to share with you since so many of you have helped in sending me supplies.  I'm grateful that I can help her.

 So cute what they've done.  Below is a letter from Tanya.  I know it reads funny, but that is because it was written in Russian and translated through Google Translate.

 Are these girls darling or what?  Tanya says they love doing crafts, but then I think all kids do.

Thank you very much and also for the craft book you are sending!

New list: paper adhesive, color that you despatched before. Plaiting bracelets, beads, rubber thread on which to string beads, girls love, rhinestones, ribbons, stickers, yarn for knitting .. Boys stickers, various small items for decoration. Scaffold and others for key chains. (Only with crosses and Jesus we do not use.)
Another very different interesting. I use it all there is. They all come up with and try to do something. The local children are not spoiled and the first time doing crafts. They are very happy and pleased to come. I read to them from the beginning of the creation of the Holy Scriptures of the world. They had never heard of. And happy to listen. It's wonderful! Thank God that He has given the desire and through you to implement.  We went to Dagestan., (husband is translating the Bible into Lak), she worked in the church needlework, donated some materials (crystals, tissue paper).
Now children come four times a week. Half girls and half boys. there are different children that come. There are Kabardian, Turks, one Russian girl. On average, one lesson come 5 to 8 children. Boys more.

Thank you!!
With love Tanya.

FABRIC POST CARD

Made this little pretty a while back.  Everything is done by hand, no machine.  The flowers are hand cut and glued as well from old jeans.  I had fun doing it, but it was the first and probably the last. My patience is not so good to stay with something like this for so long.  Hope you like it. Let me know what you think.  Your comments are always an encouragement.

TENT CAMP IN UKRAINE

 July is tent camp month.  I say that because in Ukraine's climate the nights in June and August generally are too cool for tent camping even though the days might be quite hot.  This shot is the camp leadership.  On both ends is Dan and Cindy Williams from Antioch Baptist Church of Conway, Arkansas.  The center four is the Dektyarenko family, all in ministry. L-R Nick, Sasha, Julia and Lena.

 Even the boys and their moms got into crafting.  Look at those happy faces on those cute boys.

 I can tell you these are still in use as it is still hot in Ukraine, but next week is to be cooler. Yay!

Last day camp picture I took.  What a group.  Thanks to the Williams for bringing the T-Shirts and lots of other fun stuff.  What a blessing they were.

FLYING FROM UKRAINE

I made this artist trading card to swap with another artist.  The card is the one on the right while the left is the little envelope it went in.  Creating is one the the things I do that gives me joy and relaxation, but in summer there just is not as much time for it with camps and the garden.  That's OK because I love those things too.  The garden is just another expression of my love of beauty and God's creation.    The camps are so fun because the children love to create and I'm blessed that I get to be a part of that in bringing them the art projects they do.  It's all part of the plan.

LADIES CLASS IN BORYDYANKA, UKRAINE

 Twice a month a drive about 40 minutes to a town northwest of me to do crafts with a church group.

 We've had some pretty hot weather and I thought they'd like having a fan since most here don't have airconditioning in their homes.

 As you can see also by the banner on the back wall, they celebrated my birthday that day with a cake. A sweet bunch of ladies.

 Once finished one of the ladies remarked with amazement, "and they really work."

 I've done these in several camps this summer and they are always a hit.

 Thank you to all who send supplies.  You can see here how we've used your old cards. What a blessing you are to us and the ladies say to tell you "THANK YOU."

JENNIBELLI ~ GOING GREEN ON PAINT SUPPLIES

This is so simple....one of those...well, of course but are you doing it?  I wasn't except with some small hand wipes.  Going big now.

TRACI BAUTISTA ~ MAKE GLUE GUN STENCILS

You'll love making your own stencils that leave that personal mark on your page.  See what Traci did and you can do at home right now.  So cool and so easy.

http://kollaj.typepad.com/kollaj/2012/07/artjournaling-daily-hot-glue-handmade-stencils.html#

PAPER NAPKIN TRANSFER BY MICHELLE

Michelle Wedemeyer from Michelle's Rubber Room demonstrates this great and simple technique for adhering napkins to card stock without using wet medium.  Since I like doing things with all the beautiful napkins they sell here in Europe, this is a boon to me.  I've done plenty using wet medium like Modge Podge and white glue, but here's one more tip/technique to add to your arsenal.

CAMP PRETTIES FOR DECORATING

I wanted to show you some of the pretties we made for the children to decorate with.  The first is glitter gems with silk flowers over paper punch pieces someone sent me.  The second is foam with the glitter gems and the last picture is silk flowers with buttons and glitter gems.  They sure had fun with these and we sure used a lot of them.

Mixed Media Technique Demonstration by De Gillet

You'll have to watch this several times to get all the techniques here.  She's amazing.

MY UKRAINE GARDEN

JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE VARIETY OF LILIES IN MY GARDEN. LILY SEASON IS ALMOST OVER.  I THINK I LOVE THEM AS MUCH AS ROSES, MAYBE MORE AND SOME HAVE A FRAGRANCE THAT REACHES OUT AND GRABS YOU EVERY TIME YOU PASS BY.  I LOVE THAT.

KID'S KAMP IN UKRAINE

Here's examples of the crafts the kids will be doing this next week at camp.  Fortunately I have a few precious ladies in the church who help me prepare these crafts.  You can imagine 5 days of crafts for 40 to  60 kids.  That's a lot of prep and a lot of materials.  So grateful to those of you who have sent supplies that allow me to do this craft ministry with children, youth and ladies. The third one down is a CD case made into a picture frame and my golden rule is that all crafts must go home with a Bible verse on them.   We are blessed to have a team of people coming in from North Carolina who will be helping with the lessons.  It will be fun.

Crafts at Camp in Ukraine

 Ohs and ahs over pretty materials.  It was hot so we made fans.  No a/c at camp.  Here they are enjoying the pretty greeting cards people send.  We used those for one side of the fan.

 This little man did a superb job.  No one snubbed fans with as hot as it was at camp in the woods.

 Even one dad got in on it.  We used depressor sticks for handles.

 Moms and their kids.  It was a family camp with 33 in attendance for one week.

 Some of the teen girls who made really pretty fans with their cards and cut-outs.

 Even one babushka made herself a fan to help with the heat.

It is my joy to do this.  I mean, what better job could one have than to go play with kids and their parents.  Well, it's not really a job, but a ministry.  Everything I use is provided for by loving hearts in America who send materials since there are no Hobby Lobby stores here.  For that I am so grateful.

29 WAYS TO STAY CREATIVE (IN ANY FIELD)

THIS ONE BEARS REPEATING.

ART JOURNALING IN UKRAINE

This is a journal my sister gave me probably 3 or 4 years ago.  It wasn't for art.  It had lined paper, but at the time it was all I had while visiting her in California so it became an art journal, lines and all.  The top left corner says, "Leap, and the net will appear.

FAMILY CAMP IN THE WOODS ~ UKRAINE

Dan and Cindy Williams of Antioch Baptist Church, Conway, Arkansas in the foreground come every year to teach Bible and English (respectively).  They are a great blessing to the camp and to us.  This is mealtime in the newly made mess tent, sewn by one of the talented Ukrainian ladies from Belichi Baptist Church of Kiev who are doing the camp.

Kitchen and kitchen crew.  What would we do without these dedicated ladies. They are the backbone of the church camp fixing three meals a day for 33 people. L-R are Natasha, Nina and Ira.  Ira is the one who sewed the mess tent and she is a super cook.

This year there are lots of little boys.  Zhenya is preparing games in front of his tent.

Here is an overall view of half of the camp.  You can see what a lovely spot they have.  And they are all ready for the campfire.

Dan Williams in front of his luxury hotel for the week.  Did I mention there are no showers from Sunday through Saturday?  It makes the nearby lake all the more precious.  Please pray for these folks and the whole camp experience that many may come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.