Random Vintage Finds: July 2010

Thursday, July 29, 2010

I'm Back!

CHA was amazing. I did not get to see it all.

Next time I will certainly stay the whole week.

1 day was just not enough!

I will post a few pictures when I get home tonight.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

OCC Thursday!

I needed to get this post in before I went to CHA

I know, I know! School has not even started and I
designed a Halloween card. Shame on me.

But I wanted to try this new technique of using alcohol inks and glitter.
The inks will stay wet enough to add the glitter. And I did it on one
side of the acetate and then stamped on the other.
So the alcohol ink and glitter is sandwiched between the
acetate and background paper.

I really like the effect. I cut the scallops out on my Cricut in
various sizes and thicknesses (shadow and black-out).

That stamps are from Prickley Pear and can be found here.

Please Play along at Our Creative Corner Sketch Blog!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Taking some time off

I will be taking the next two weeks off.

Some of it time for myself and the other is

I'm going to CHA summer 2010!!!

I'm so excited!!!

I will have a lot to blog about

when I get back.

Have a wonderful couple of weeks!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

It's Thursday, you know what that means...

Our Creative Corner Sketch Challenge!

Sorry I have not been around lately.

I have been on vacation and have been dealing

with some health issues. But you don't want to hear about that.

I have not made a card for a while, and it was fun to

get back to it. I used the new Hibiscus die and stamp

from Prickley Pear. Love it!

Here's the sketch:

Please join us!

Fibromyalgia Fact Sheet: Yes, I have it!

Fibromyalgia (pronounced fy-bro-my-AL-ja) is a complex chronic pain disorder that affects an estimated 10 million Americans. While it occurs most often in women, it strikes men and children, and all ethnic backgrounds. For those with severe symptoms, fibromyalgia (FM) can be extremely debilitating and interfere with basic daily activities.

Diagnosis:

The FM diagnostic criteria, established by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) in 1990, includes a history of widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum duration of three months, and pain in at least 11 of the 18 designated tender points when a specified amount of pressure is applied.
Since people with FM tend to look healthy and conventional tests are typically normal, a physician knowledgeable about the disorder is necessary to make a diagnosis.
Physicians should rule out other causes of the symptoms before making a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

Symptoms:

Although chronic, widespread body pain is the primary symptom of fibromyalgia, a variety of other symptoms are common in FM patients. Symptoms include: moderate to severe fatigue, sleep disorders, problems with cognitive functioning, IBS, headaches and migraines, anxiety and depression, and environmental sensitivities.
Research has documented neuroendocrine physiological abnormalities that may contribute to the symptoms.

Causes:

Recent research has suggested a genetic component. The disorder is often seen in families, among siblings or mothers and their children.
Fibromyalgia often occurs following a physical trauma, such as an acute illness or injury, which may act as a “trigger” in the development of the disorder.
Increasing attention is being devoted to the central nervous system as the underlying mechanism of FM. Recent studies have suggested that FM patients have generalized disturbance in pain processing and an amplified response to stimuli that would not ordinarily be painful in healthy individuals.

Treatment:

Since there is no known cure for FM, treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and improving function.
A variety of prescription medications are often used to reduce pain levels and improve sleep. On June 21, 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lyrica (pregabalin) as the first drug to treat fibromyalgia. Cymbalta (duloxetine HCl) was approved in June 2008; and Savella (milnacipran HCl) was approved in January 2009.
Alternative therapies, such as massage, myofasical release, acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal supplements and yoga, can be effective tools in managing FM symptoms.
Increasing rest, pacing activities, reducing stress, practicing relaxation and improving nutrition can help minimize symptoms and improve quality of life.