Pretty Things Survivors Do Blog Hop

Published on by inkyfingersandribbon

Hey lovelies, I hope you are having a great day ? 

Today I am taking part in a blog hop that highlights PTSD, for those who don’t know what this is it stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is a awful, and at times debilitating psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, serious accident, terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault. 

Although mostly associated in war veterans this is very much something that affects non veterans too. in the USA it affects 3-5% of the population. 

The holidays can be a traumatic time for people with PTSD. We are all taking part in this hop in the hope it will remind you to reach out to not only loved ones who may be affected by PTSD, but also Neighbours, friends and people in your community. If just one person with PTSD is remembered this holiday season then we have achieved our goal. 

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This hop has some amazingly talented crafters, some who are effected by PTSD, myself included. I have what is called complex PTSD and it did not appear until several years after my “event” and my personal experience is that is a very isolating illness that so many people just don’t understand, or sadly sometimes don’t want to understand. I am EXTREMELY lucky that I have an amazing husband who has held my hand through it all. 

One of the main reasons I have no contact with my family is because of PTSD, and sadly I know a lot of people with this disorder are in the same situation but many arent as lucky as me to have a supportive partner. So this is a personal plea from me to reach out to someone that you may know has PTSD, I also highly encourage anyone who has PTSD, or suspects they have it to reach out for help. I know trust can cause issues with PTSD, but there is lots of people who are willing to help and I will list them at the end of this post. 

My card for today was a tricky one that ended up in the bin twice, but im glad i stuck with it. 

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I have used You’re So Sweet Stamp set from Studio Katia and coloured it with Spectrum Noir Markers. 

For the background I used the Black Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen…I smudged this, threw it away and then got it back out the bin…twice. I sat and looked at the background and decided it was a bit like me, a little smudged, not perfect and also trying to blend into the background, but also sparkles if you hold it in the right light. I’ve been thrown away a few times in my life too, so the background stayed. 

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I also used Studio Katia Japanese Peony for the sentiments and Pink & Main Stitched Rectangle die set. I won’t add affiliate links to this post, I don’t know why but it just isn’t something I want to add to this post, if you do however want any links then just let me know. 

The card base is created from Simon Says Stamp Schoolhouse Red Card, I added some foam tape to the flower for some dimension and also added some white gel pen detailing. 

To finish the whole card off I added some Studio Katia Gold Crystals. 

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If you would like to join us in spreading awareness then please use the hashtag prettythingssurvivorsmake, I for one would love to see your creations. 

Now onto the hop details. 

There is several giveaways along the hop and Spectrum Noir have kindly given me some of their new harmony ink pads and ink pad storage racks to giveaway. 

To be in with a chance to win just finish all the stops on the hop and leave some love for all the amazing crafters taking part, they really are an awesome bunch who deserve lots of love. 

The hope list is as follows- 

1. Sandy Allnock
2. Josefine Fouarge
3. Rubeena Ianigro
4. Leigh Houston
5. Mamie Carson Wadsworth
6. Tania Ahmed
7. Ana Reese
8. Tracy Freeman <<<You are here
9. Amy Tsuruta
10. Tracie Pond
11. Sharna Waksmulski
12. Alix Davis
13. Janette Kausen
14. Mayra Duran-Hernandez
15. Kimberly Wiener
16. Seeka
17. Joanne Maree Soukup
18. Crissy Salima Smith
Thank you so much for joining us today, if you know someone who affected by PTSD then please check out the following links, just a simple hello or I am here can make all the difference. 
The National Institute of Mental Health
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml
US Department of Veteran Affairs
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
The below are all UK based help services. 

PTSD Resolution

0300 302 0551
ptsdresolution.org

Victim Support

0808 168 9111
victimsupport.org.uk

The Survivors Trust

0178 855 0554
thesurvivorstrust.org

Moodjuice

moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk

53 thoughts on “Pretty Things Survivors Do Blog Hop”

  2. Beautiful card with lots of meaning behind it. Your coloring is so gorgeous.
    ❤ J

    jwoolbright at gmail dot com
    HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

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  3. Stunningly beautiful card. Love the floral image on the white background. The stamp is very beautiful. I stumbled across this blog hop and am so glad that I did. It really warms my heart that you all would do this and as someone who has been struggling with PTSD since 1992 I want to thank you. The kindness of spirit it shows is even more beautiful than your work. Thank you for participating in this important blog hop and sharing yourself and your art.🐧

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  6. Tracy, I have followed you for a while on IG, and now I realize that you are part of the hop!!! Wow, I don’t know how I missed the “inkyfingers… part! I’m so sorry that you deal with C-PTSD. It’s so hard to describe what it’s like living with it, which is why I didn’t go into it for my video for fear I would lose it rather what it felt like as a teenager alone during Christmas… and suffer with PTSD. You’re incredible and I’m so glad you took part in this. Salima.

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    1. Aww my lovely thank you and thank you for being so amazing and also strong ❤️ I’m so glad you took part too, I never knew we had similar problems

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  7. I love all of the little touches you put into this card. I also suffer from PTSD and Depression. And I know just much having a way to get out your frustrations is important as well as having someone to lean on. I am blessed to have found both when I found my DH and his family.

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  8. Your card is “imperfectly perfect!” You mentioned that the background was smudged, but, I did not see any smudges! I imagine that is what PTSD is like – you know it’s there, but the world doesn’t see it.

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  10. Your card is strikingly beautiful. You may have initially thought the card was flawed. But it isn’t. Thanks for being a part of such an important hop.

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  12. So many of us have been touched by hurt or tragedy in our lives & nobody has the right to say one shouldn’t feel the way they do because of it. But, people do have the right &, I believe, the responsibility to listen, love, & take a person by the hand & gently encourage him/her by telling that person there is a way out of it & guiding him/her to the source of help. It’s a long journey for some, but it can be done. Thanks for helping to make people aware.

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  13. Had you never mentioned the struggles you had with the background, no one would ever had known. I find this is true with many of the insecurities we all carry about our appearances. What we see as a glaring flaw, no one else notices or cares about. Depression and issues like PTSD are also sometimes invisible to others, making it hard for them to understand what you are feeling and the struggles you go through. Sometimes it is good to let the smudges show. No one is perfect, and I think if we all recognized that instead of shooting for perfectionism, we’d all be happier people… willing to accept each others smudges when they accept ours.

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  14. Happy that you have a husband who is your rock.
    Family relationships can be tricky, but we need
    to let go of those who can’t/won’t understand
    and go on with our lives. thanks for sharing
    a smudged card that is a beacon of perfection.
    txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  16. I absolutely LOVE your smudged background and I can’t tell you how hard I work to get that look on the background of my cards! I am so happy that you stuck with it and made such a gorgeous card! Thank you for spreading awareness about PTSD, it is so important!!

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  20. Thank you Tracy for using your personal experiences to bring awareness to PTSD. I have friends who have PTSD who are in situations like yours. Although I don’t know (and would NEVER ask) about the context of their trauma, all I can do is check in on them, be there when they need me to, and give them space when they ask for it. Your card is beautiful, and I’m glad you have the support of your loving husband.

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  21. I began weeping about your smudges and being thrown away, but I realized that you are shining your radiance by way of your artistic creativity. Thank you for being a part of this hop.

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  22. Oh i am so proud of all of you!! So proud to be part of this amazing community!! That background is PHENOMENAL and -like you- definitely doesn’t need to be in the bin.
    And it gets better. I had to not talk to my bio parents for 6 months. When i resumed contact, it was on my terms, not theirs. It’s not for everyone, and please, you do you. You will know what’s best for you.

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  32. Since my diagnosis with PTSD my inlaws have walked away from me as well, it’s hard for my husband but he has been so supportive. He also encourages me to craft because he knows it helps me tremendously. Sometimes we just need that one person to get through our worst moments. Today I feel so supported and loved by this crafty community.

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    1. Jenny this is so very true, my inlaws are the same. We are both so lucky to have great husbands 🙂
      Thank you for making me smile, sometimes you can feel alone with ptsd ❤️

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  35. I suffer from PTSD badly so I am so appreciative of this amazing blog hop! Thank you so much for bringing awareness to it. I will remember to also reach out to others who are suffering and could use some kindness including you. And thank you for sharing your lovely art. . xo Andrea

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    1. Andrea sending you lots of love and hugs, I know how hard it is. My email inbox is always open if you ever want to chat ❤️

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  36. Love the pop of red sorry about your family,thoigj not necessarily related to PTSD, I have been there with some relatives and it was hard on all of is. Especially the kids… but it all worked out and though we are now far apart its nice to know that we can talk to each other more now. Hope the same happens for you!

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  37. Thank you for sharing your personal story in such a public way. I love that you retrieved the background and found not only beauty but use for it. It is a lovely card. Good luck on your continuing journey.

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  38. Pingback: Be Free -Pretty Things Survivors Do Blog Hop! – Glue Gun Diva

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