Women Who Inspire – Susan Frase: from accounting to crafts
In the last year, I have been blessed to meet and get to know a wonderful lady who has allowed God to transform her life from one of ungodly living to one that speaks of His love on a daily basis. When I first met her, Susan was warm and inviting as I sat there in a new church. She has become one of the biggest craft businesses in the US and has traveled to the UK. Susan allowed me the honor to interview her on behalf of Christian Women Living Magazine and share her life and the formation of Clear Scraps.
Cyndi Kay: Please give us a brief introduction.
Susan Frase: My name is Susan Frase I am 53, and a wife to my best friend of 28 years, Jim; as well as a mother of two beautiful daughters, Destiny, 34; and Amber, 22. It is a bonus to be a Grandma to my 2 year old grandson.
CK: Please give us a little background information. Family? Children? Career? Hobbies? Where you are from?
SF: I was born in California and raised Texas. I have lived in Nevada and Colorado in 1986, and in 2017 we moved to Oklahoma, where we now reside and run our business. Both of my parents have passed on; however, I have one older brother still living. I also have one stepdaughter, Lindsay.
Family life growing up was full of alcohol and abuse, parents divorced at the age of 13 and I moved out from the care of my mom when I was 15- 16 years old. Needless to say, life was hard and full of a lot of issues. I was married at 18 and gave birth to my oldest daughter at 20. Two years later at the age of 22, I was divorced and a single mom. Later, I met my husband Jim and we have built a wonderful life together.
I have worked in just about every job field available. I have held jobs as a store clerk, a property manager, a bartender, a house cleaner, and a retail manager. I decided to attend community college for basic principle of accounting. So, I did this for a year and half, while being a single mom and working 3 jobs. I know that, “you do what you have to do to make life better”. Jim and I were married in 1993. I had met him while I was managing a liquor store and keeping books for a construction company and liquor store.
I eventually started my own bookkeeping service, which allowed me to work from home. This let me provide an income while being home with my daughters. There are 12 years between my girls, one was in high school and one was in diapers.
In 2003 I taught myself how to create computer graphic designs and bought my first laser. This was when I first started designing scrapbook embellishments. I was still running my bookkeeping service; however, I also started selling my laser designs at local craft fairs. In 2007 I took my designs and started selling on a larger platform in convention centers across the USA. In 2009 we bought out our largest competitor and combined both companies together. Accent Scrapbooking Inc. DBA Clear Scraps. In 2009 my husband also joined my business full time to run the production/lasers end of Clear Scraps. I have had the opportunity to travel and teach thousands of crafters across the USA and UK how to work with our laser designs. Now our products are worldwide under the brand of Clear Scraps.
CK: Can you give us a summary on your journey with Christ — from the time you accepted Christ, to how you started in ministry?
SF: I was not raised in church and really did not know who Jesus was until I was around 26 years old. I had a wonderful pastor who met me where I was at. He gently led and counseled me to the WORD of God. That was when, thru the word that Jesus started changing me from a person of drugs, alcohol, smoking, and a foul mouth, into the person I am today. My life looks so different from where I was 26 years ago. I am truly a new creation as defined in 2 Corinthians 5:17. I have had amazing opportunities to work in children’s, youth, and women’s ministries. I also worked in the crisis pregnancy ministry as well for several years.
CK: How did you know it was time for you to leave the accounting world?
SF: I haven’t really left it because I run our business now. But I did give up all my clients in 2009 when we bought Clear Scraps. I knew I needed to focus all of my attention on the success of running that business.
CK: Can you remember your first product that you sold that helped you realize that Clear Scraps was becoming a reality?
SF: I already had been designing under Accent Scrapbooking, before changing the name to Clear Scraps.
CK: How dramatically has your life changed since you left the corporate world and started your own business?
SF: I was never in the mainstream of the Corporate World since I worked from home. But again, my life is vastly different from what it was because of the Word of God.
CK: Can you recall a time when you know that God was the only way you had a provision through a certain situation?
SF: Yes, when my husband had his heart attack and we bought Clear Scraps. The market crashed and we were so, so far in debt. There was no money coming in and we were about to lose everything, house, and the business. I could not see a way out. But God always made sure we had what we needed when we needed it.
CK: What are some of the biggest challenges facing Christian women in business today — and women ministries?
SF: FEAR and over thinking. Being able to do things and keep moving forward beyond the fear is a big challenge. Learning to do it afraid until you aren’t anymore. Learning to TRUST and give up control. We can’t have trust and control; we have to choose one or the other. Still working on this myself every day.
CK: Tell us about a time you had a measurable impact on someone through your personal ministry or through your organized ministry.
SF: In the crisis center ministry, I have watched women walk thru self-forgiveness and understanding. I have seen them step into the FREEDOM of letting go of the shame and guilt of their past.
CK: What inspires you?
SF: Seeing people overcome what is holding them back.
CK: How do you unwind after a busy day?
SF: Right now, I am loving hand stitching. I also love going out on the boat.
CK: Do you have any current projects that you can talk about?
SF: We are working on some fun new designs for Fall and Christmas.
CK: Is there anything else you would like to say?
SF: Don’t confuse what you DO with WHO you are. Know WHO you are in Jesus and what you DO will fall into place. I am learning and always working on this one myself.
CK: What is the best advice you have ever been given and by whom?
SF: The battle is in our thoughts and peace is our weapon by Joyce Meyers.
I would like to thank Susan for allowing me to conduct this interview. If you would like to see the products that Clear Scraps markets, visit their website, https://www.clearscraps.com/.
