One Stitch at a Time Challenge 30

This candy is now closed. I'll pick the winner's name shortly and post it.

There's a special event happening over at One Stitch at a Time this week. As usual, there's a theme, but this time, all the artists have created a new digital image or paper to celebrate. And there's candy on various blogs too, including this one, with lots of prizes on the OSAAT blog!

The reason for the event is to increase awareness of Autism. It's a subject that's particularly close to my heart, as I work with severely autistic children. Awareness seems to me to be the biggest need. People on the Autistic Spectrum don't wear badges or have a single 'look' that identifies them. They look like everyone else. But the condition often causes them to act in ways that seem bizarre.The children I work with have little or no language. They don't understand the world around them and can often become extremely anxious and distressed in situations that appear to others to be completely ordinary. When they can't cope with the rest of the world, they often block it out by becoming engrossed in something else - a hand flapping in front of their face, self-induced pain, twirling, making loud noises, tapping something or they express their fear by crying or screaming. When that happens, they don't need people telling their parents or carers that they just need a good smack, or an irate adult shouting at them. (I've experienced both while in local parks and supermarkets.) If people are more aware of the condition, hopefully they'll consider the possibility before making the parents' job even harder than it already is.

General professional opinion is that there is no cure for Autism, but a lot can be done to allow the person to cope better with the world, and thereby to achieve their potential.

If you want to find out more about the specific charity we're supporting, go to the site below.

http://fortheloveofcameron.com/

And there's a history of why we've chosen this particular young man on the OSAAT blog as well as many of the DT blogs.

Alternatively, if you want more general information on Autism, you might find the

National Autistic Society  website useful. Or, if you'd like to get some 'first hand' information, try this interview with Ros Blackburn - an articulate autistic adult.

So, onto my card.

The theme this time is Rainbows - either actual rainbows or the colours of the rainbow, and I was lucky enough to be given Hope Jacare's image - Wish Upon a Rainbow. I coloured the image with Promarkers, and then I had even more fun with it! I designed the backing paper and frame in Photoshop Elements, and then I drew and coloured a rainbow on shrink plastic. To finish the card, I added some ribbon and a special 'rainbow' flower. I really enjoyed making this card - well, give me a theme like 'rainbow' with free rein to use colours like that - what's not to like? The name of my blog is not a coincidence!

I've put aside a few bits and pieces - some die cuts (more than in the photo - there were too many to include), charms and stickers, and one commenter, chosen at random, will win them. So, please think a little about what autism means to those affected both directly and indirectly, and if you wish to, support an appropriate charity. And then, leave a comment here, and be sure to visit the rest of the design team. Good luck!

I hope you find time to join us in the challenge this week - and that you enjoy it as much as I have!


I'd like to enter this card for the following challenges:

 Digi Doodles who are looking for charms (the rainbow), Delightful Sketches who want ribbon in Autumn shades (I used red and gold (and blue)), Fab 'n' Funky  for whom 'Anything Goes' and Your Next Stamp who also have an 'Anything Goes' challenge this time.