Those Christmas Tins

Here's such a handy idea for re-purposing those metal Christmas tins that your cookies came in. You can transform them into something that even matches your decor. Take a look: http://www.craftstylish.com/item/33320/how-to-transform-holiday-tins

Vintage ATC Swap

Artist Trading Card (ATC) Swap in the old vintage style we all love. :Plus a yummy giveaway in the swap: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/redlead/

Holiday Greetings

Merry Christmas to you all. My wish for you is that it would be filled with love and joy and that you would have great hope for the future. Let us remember this year the "reason for the season" that such a momentous event was marked for all of history when baby Jesus was born. Blessings to you all, Coleen and family

Art Quilts

Here's a direction that my art has been taking me lately. I've been working with some fun fabric/paper techniques. I don't have anything ready to show you here yet, but when I saw this in the blogosphere I thought I should share it: http://www.favecrafts.com/Quilting/Crayon-Stained-Quilt-Art

Simple & Free Winter Paper Piecing Patterns

Check out this site for some real cute patterns for you winter scrapbooking: http://scrapbooking.about.com/od/freepatterns/ig/Winter-Paper-Piecing-Patterns/?nl=1

Christmas Books

This is called an Accordion Origami Book. We made a bunch of them for relatives this year. You can find directions for it: http://www.making-mini-scrapbooks.com/ and there are more of them further down if your interested.

Trail Mix, Ukrainian Style

Nuts just go with the holidays so while Jeff and Leah were doing a puzzle I made some for snacking on. They are especially good for the holiday puzzle times.

Prize Giveaway Announcement

Congratulations Tanya Galchevskaya,the winner of our December giveaway. Tanya will receive an package of some beautiful scrapbooking supplies unique to this part of the world. Tanya, send us your address so we can get these out to you.

Street Dogs

These are two street urchins that tailed our car(pun intended)when we pulled into a gas station not long ago. They were obviously looking for a hand out and the only thing I had was a fresh loaf of dark bread that Jeff and I were looking forward to snacking on later. Often, street dogs at stops like this don't want bread. They are waiting for something a bit more upscale. So I thought I'd tear off a small piece for each. Well, they were so hungry they gobbled it down and all I could do is continue to feed them. I was sorry I didn't have more after they finished off that loaf. There are street dogs like this all over Ukraine and quite a number of people feed them just as I did, but these two were very thin.

Winter Skies in Ukraine

These two shots are before the snow hit us. We had a long warm fall. It's a good thing since there is no heat in the church. If they look like black and white shots they are not. It's just that winter here appears pretty black and white for a number of months. Aren't these skies dramatic?

Istanbul, Turkey

My husband Jeff was there this week so I thought I'd show you a picture he took on a previous trip. He had a Bible class he taught all week to a group from a closed country that he cannot go into as a Christian. It went very well and he returns tomorrow. I'm always glad to have him back home in the nest and safe.

Prize Giveaway

Don't forget, sign up between now through the 15th as a follower on Tea On The Terrace or a VintageTerrace2 fan (heart box on the right). Sign up both places for two chances to win. I'll be announcing winner on the 16th. All current followers are included and can up chances by leaving a comment.

Michaels Photo Entry - Pure Delight Christmas Table Topper

Michaels Photo Entry - Pure Delight Christmas Table Topper

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Fabulous Felt Flower

Angie from Scrapscene has such a darling felt flower and easy to make. I had to share it as I knew some of you might want to try it. Also, for more craft projects check out the Vintage Terrace Fan Page on the right where the Celtic heart is. Lots of fun crafts there. http://www.scrapscene.com/2009/12/felt-flower-tutorial.html#comment-77468

Comment/Follower Giveaway

Just for a little fun. Leave a comment on one of our posts to be entered for a prize to be chosen on December 15....a little Christmas early. For two chances to be put in the hat, sign on as a follower with Tea On The Terrace. You who are already followers will automatically be in. Cool, huh! We don't have a big follower list since I just put that gadget on not that long ago, which makes your chances of winning pretty good.

Blog Featured

Angie, from Scrapscene discovered the uniqueness of what we are doing here in Ukriane and put a little feature link on her Newsletter she sends out. That is so cool....thank you Angie. Therefore, we've now had people looking at this blog who might never have stumbled upon it otherwise. She also featured some really cute dolls she made. You can see it all here: http://www.scrapscene.com/2009/12/speedlink-saturday-for-week-of-nov-2909.html

Faith Scrapbook Class in Ukraine

Today I was blessed to have the privilege of scrapbooking with a group of the most enthusiastic deaf ladies. This meeting was held at the Simferopol Baptist Church in the Crimea region of Ukraine. That is entirely to the south close to the Black Sea. I helped them to each set up a scrapbook for next year entitled, "Building Godly Convictions"(values) as it is a study they will go through and continue to scrap all next year. We simply set up the monthly pages and they got to do just a bit of scrapping for each month in preparation. We had so much fun and I am always so impressed with the creativity of Ukrainian people. This is just a couple of the ladies that attended. I am very grateful for those who prayed. It was truly a blessed time.

These are the three girls who helped me do this class today. They are L-R, Lena, Lena and Katya. The middle Lena was my translator who did signing for me. She was really good at getting across my words. I really appreciated here attentiveness.

12 Kid's Christmas Crafts,

If you haven't checked it out yet better look and see what you can do with your kids, school or your Sunday school class. Some real cute things: http://www.favecrafts.com/Kids-Holiday-Crafts/12-Kids-Christmas-Crafts-Ornaments-Giftsand-Decor

Scrapbooking In Ukraine

Crimea, Ukraine Scrapbooking Class

On Saturday I will be leading a class of deaf ladies in scrapbooking the theme, "Developing Godly Values." Please be in prayer for me and for the ladies and not just for Saturday, but that the Lord would use me to share my heart in such a way that impacts their lives for Christ in an ongoing manner. For that I would be very grateful.

Christmas Crafts

Here's something just lovely you can make for loved ones this Christmas,,,or for yourself: http://www.favecrafts.com/Ornaments/Paper-Peace-Ornament

Kid's Christmas Crafts

Check out this site for some easy kid's crafts for Christmas fun with the grandkids, your kids, or school classmates: http://www.favecrafts.com/Kids-Holiday-Crafts/12-Kids-Christmas-Crafts-Ornaments-Giftsand-Decor#

Christmas Mini-Books

Here is a sampling of what my daughter Leah and I did for family this Christmas. As missionaries we don't get to be with family very often on holidays, but in 2007 we were privileged to celebrate Christmas with both Jeff's and my side of the family. So having pictures we thought that would be a good memory to preserve for all. What a joy it was.

This is how the insides all look, accordion style with frame fold. You can find the instructions for that at: http://www.making-mini-scrapbooks.com/

These were fun to do. Wish I had more time to play with such.

Being Crafty

Got a new phone a while back since the antennae in my old Nokia just couldn't be fixed(like an old friend, I hated to let it go) and needed a case. So this is what I put my hand to with a needle, felt, scissors and some glitter glue for sparkle. You know, us girls just love sparkle. It is just the way God made us and I don't want to fight a good thing.

Comments and Graphics - Thanksgiving Layouts - Photobucket

Envelope Mini-Album

This basic idea is so easy to do without even following all the details, though I know some like to know each last inch and centimeter. And so so cute. Enjoy

Women's Conference Crafts

Upon arriving at Pine Branch Lodge the ladies immediately went to work painting small duffle bags. The following is a sampling of the wonderful creativity that comes out of them. It is with great joy that I have the privilege to assist with such things and encourage their natural creativity.

Our ages for the ladies conference ranged from 18 to 73. These ladies where the winners for the oldest attending. There were lots of prizes to be shared around that made for some great fun.

Amazing Journey of Faith Conference

Two of the youngest attendees, Liza(left)and Oxana (right) from our Bucha church working on their scrapbooks. This gives them an opportunity to make a physical testament as to their faith life that they can keep adding to for years to come. Our 50 women were broken into two groups for class and I so enjoyed leading them in this time of creativity and discovery. They did some very beautiful work. For more pictures you can check out our mission blog: http://franksukraine.blogspot.com/

In Bucha, Ukraine

Out walking one day I couldn't pass up the shot of this little pretty sitting on the fence.

Ukrainian Pastor Dies from Flu and Pneumonia

Please pray for Pastor Victor's widow and children in Fastiv, Ukraine. He passed away yesterday after a diagnosis of flu and pneumonia, which got out of control. His brother Stepan is deathly ill, and may follow Victor to join those awaiting in heaven. Pastor Victor was the brother of Nadia, a member of our church in Bucha. Nadia is very active in the children's EE ministry. She is in Fastiv now with her grieving relatives.

Through My Window

A lovely lily to brighten up your cold fall day. This morning as I was out early taking Jeff to the bus stop (Leadership Summit with Bill Hybels in Kiev) I notices that our lilacs, that lost all their leaves some time ago, are starting to bud again. The last couple weeks have been so warm after some real severe weather that they are confused. Same thing happened last winter and we thus had less blooming this year. So it's a mixed bag. I like the warm, but it's not good for the plants and what they do next summer. Isn't it good though that we are not the ones in charge of all this?

Norah's Blog

Norah does faces. She also does tutorials. She's quite creative. Sometimes I'm just torn between spending time doing art and ministry. I love them both. Please, as I come to mind this weekend, pray for me. Three of us are leading a women's conference over the weekend with 50 in attendance. Pray for those women who will attend and all the three leaders. I'm combining both loves, ministry and scrapbooking "The Amazing Journey of Faith." That is the title of the conference and the scrapbook. Enjoy Norah. http://allnorahsart.blogspot.com/

Christmas Wrap Tutorial

You'll like this for a way to recycle and make cute Christmas wrap.

The Guardian at the Gate

This is at my front door in summer. Now that it's become too cold for him outside he sits just inside the door. A friend gave me the hanging plants, but they were just a couple of twigs that I stuck in the dirt and they grew. Sometimes I'm just amazed at the things that God creates.

This is the real "guardian at the gate." Her name is Gracie and she is a 7 year old Staffordshire Terrier. She loves to fetch, she's great with kids, but she has a fierce-some bark. She's a good watch dog, trained professionally, so you wouldn't want to come in the gate uninvited.

Silk Lotus Flower - Threads

There's a beautiful flower to be seen and so easy to make. Just go here for directions. Silk Lotus Flower - Threads

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10 Days to Glory

Well, not quite, but after 10 days with no gas heat we now have a new heating system that includes hot water. I lingered in the hot shower today and that truly was glorious. Given that we are to reach about 27 degrees Fahrenheit (-5 celcius) tonight I am so thankful that it is finally all working. One thing about being without is how grateful you feel when you achieve something you didn't have. Don't we take a lot for granted? I know I do. And each time the Lord sees fit to remove something from my life and leave me wanting, I hope to remember it is a lesson in gratefulness. I can either complain about my life and what he's given me (or taken away)or I can use it as a lesson to grow. Simple things like heat and electricity are so easy to take for granted, but after going 15 days without electricity once, I try not to do that. So today I am grateful.

Just Lovely

I knew you'd like to see this pretty piece. It is done by one of the many talented ladies in our Yahoo Mini-Books group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mini-books/#ans and you can explore Pam's site by clicking on the picture: Have fun.

Practicing a Grateful Spirit

Winter is rapidly approaching and we decide to change the heating system. I did mention doing it last summer, but...... The man who is installing it said we would be at least 4 days without heat. We've been two days so far and all radiators are in but the kitchen. No pipes are run to them as yet. We are upgrading from an old Soviet era dinosaur to a French/German model that is waaayyy more economical and will also heat our water. That means no more hot water tank that ran all the time. Jeff thinks it will pay out in as little as 5 years. Plus we will eventually have an indoor thermostat so I don't have to go to the cold garage at 2 a.m. to regulate the temperature. Am I grateful? Yes, thank you Lord for your provision. Did we ever adapt to the old system after central heat in America? Yes, the the beauty of having to do without something or difficulties is that when they are overcome, they make you so grateful. Try heating with wood and coal as we did our first three years. We had the experience of our great grandparents. That made us so grateful for any gas heat. Now after 15 years in Ukraine we will be up to western standards in our heating system. Thank you Lord for small steps and large, for your wonderful care for us. Help me to remember you are working in my soul and character each time we have troubles. May the difficulties bring me a grateful spirit. Amen.

The Last Bud of Summer

I'm waiting, but I don't think we have enough warmth for this to open. It's this time of year when I rather mourn the passing of summer, but this year I am trying to change my mindset by planning winter things that I will have to look forward to besides the cold and the snow. This year I will spend more time in artistic endeavors besides, of course, the usual church and ministry. I am thinking of starting a new craft class on Saturdays. Please pray for me as I seek the Lord's leading in just how he'd have me proceed this winter.