Black and White and one more Color!

Hello, friends! It's a great time to share that I've become part of a fabulous Challenge Blog Team - Moving Along With The Times.

(For those who have been kindly asking about me,
there is an explanation at the bottom of my post.)

Challenge 72's theme has been chosen by team member JESSIE -
Anything Goes using the colors Black, White and one other color. 

My stamp is at least 10 years old, but probably older. It was a gift from Paula, handmade in the USA by Inkadinkadoo, and purchased in a Chicago Hobby Lobby.
I found one today on e-Bay here.


Both the inside and outside use a variety of dies from the Twisting Verenda Layering Die set. It's a wonderful shape with lots of options.

After die cutting the frame, I coated it with Black Diamonds MicroFine Velvet Glitter.   

Monochromatic themes are always a pleasure. Here I used Tumbled Glass Distress Ink to distress the aqua paper edge and to color the image.

For visual interest and a little sparkle, I used two stamps and two embossing powders.

They provided even more detail around the microfine glittered frame:

The interior uses both positive and negative pieces from the same die cut set with more Poolside Glittery embossing powder:



Finished card:

There is something so magical about hummingbirds. I cherish when they visit my container gardens in search of color and nectar, and I am always mesmerized when I stand holding my watering can, and they watch me from a yard or two away, eye-to-eye. Their little wings create the most beautiful "humming" music. Pure magic!

Products:

• Images: Inkadinkadoo Hummingbird 97077Q, Inkadinkadoo Flourish 97242K, Stampin' Up Bitty Dots, 
• Sentiments: SNS Happiness Greetings #886 (also available digitally with more options), and Pretty Blooms
• Tonic Twisting Verenda Layering Die Set 1113E
• Spellbinders Detailed Scallops die set (tag)
• Black Diamonds MicroFine Velvet Glitter GM2046 (black frame)
• Nuvo Glue Pen Large (black frame)
• Embossing Powders: Winter White Cosmic embossing powder, Poolside Glittery embossing powder
• Inks: Versamark Ink, Tumbled Glass Distress Ink, Onyx Black VersaFine Ink
• Blender Pen, Black, White, Aqua paper

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. As you Like It Challenge (May 24) Favorite Flora or Fauna and Why (as I wrote above - There is something so magical about hummingbirds. I cherish when they visit my container gardens in search of color and nectar, and I am always mesmerized when I stand holding my watering can, and they watch me from a yard or two away, eye-to-eye. Their little wings create the most beautiful "humming" music. Pure magic! ) 6/7
2. Crafters Cafe Blog Challenge #194 "All Creatures Great and Small" 6/1
3. Crafty Calendar Challenge (May) "Things With Wings" 6/4
4. Creatalicious Challenges #139 Anything Goes + "all that glitters" - the frame is covered with microfine glitter, and both embossing powders contain glitter for the background) 5/31 (sep - sev wks)
5. Daisy Chain Challenge #19 Animals 6/5
6. Monochrome Magic #11 Monochrome Theme + no pattern papers (mine is hand stamped and heat set with embossing powders) 6/12
7. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1820 AG 5/28
8. Scrapy Land #90 AG using die brand SL sells (Tonic Studios and Spellbinders) 6/6 sep post
9. Stamping Sensations (May) Close To Nature - 6/4 sep post
10. Unicorn Challenge #32 Monochrome 6/3 sep post
11. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #5 AG for DT (6/15)

On a Personal Note:

After wrestling these past 6 months about whether to share such a personal matter, I decided yes. To my friends, it will explain a little about me. BUT MOSTLY, I share because many of you may be suffering from the same disease, or may know someone with it who has not been properly diagnosed.

Frequently, a diagnosis can be overlooked because of previous diagnoses. Because so little is known about many syndromes, a disease may improperly be diagnosed as something else. As medical advances take place, and genome therapies are created, diseases will become more accurately diagnosed.

In the meantime, many doctors lump Myofascial Pain Syndrome in with Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Tendonitis and Bursitis, but it is decidedly different, and has unique symptoms. Myofascial Pain Syndrome affects the entire body.

What is fascial tissue? Our organs and muscles are all protected and lined in myofascial tissues which allow them to move and keep lubricated. They connect our muscles to each other, to bones, ligaments, and cartilage. While sufferers contend with pain, fatigue, depression, low-grade temperatures, nausea, flu-symptoms, neuropathy and loss of sleep, the myofascial tissues are found in our mouths, ears, organs, all muscles, and can cause spasms, and inexplicable "strange" occurrences. Momentary loss of ability can occur. Sometimes impairments last hours, but can go on for weeks, months, years, and even, permanently. It progressively worsens with each "exacerbation". A sense of humor is needed because it's quite disheartening to suddenly lose lose control over body parts - especially in front of others.

No one knows what causes the MPS yet, but it is likely genetic (not necessarily inherited). If you hear of someone struggling and trying to figure out why Fibromyalgia drugs are not working for them, or why they are experiencing strange, transient, often neurologic symptoms uncommon in FMS, they may also have Myofascial Pain Syndrome. For me, the use of my hands is iffy at best. My speech is affected, and I choke for no reason. Sometimes I have violent coughing attacks or inappropriate gagging reflexes, due to the constriction of the of throat or esophagus. As you can guess, it affects the "unmentionable" organs and vital organs. Consider how your muscles change "shape" as they stretch and contract. It is the myofascial sheath that moves with those muscles, connecting them to ligaments and such, to permit a smooth movement. If it suddenly "freezes", and the person is already in mid-stride, it means the muscle cannot change shape for the movement, and extreme pain or impairment results.

While I also have FMS and some other problems, I find it helpful to know which disease is causing which symptoms in order to determine the best course of treatment for that moment. Many people are diagnosed with multiple conditions which are actually the results of MPS. 

I'm sorry this is so long. 

Here is a video about MPS. 

Here is a video how MPS affects organs, 

in particular THE HEART, to give you an idea how how it may affect organs.

Hopefully you don't know anyone with these issues, but it is often misdiagnosed as FMS, or overlooked as a possibility entirely.  Thanks for listening.

hugs,

de