New website under construction

I am mid way through making my new website :). It's not as easy as I thought it would be but I am getting there. Thankfully my most favourite friend is helping with the coding bits I can't do :). And for this ( and waaaaay more) I love him :) xx


This week I took delivery of 7 large boxes of stamps, paper pads, ribbons, ink pads, gems, decoupage and much much more. The goodies can be seen on the Facebook page
I will keep you updated.

Karen xx

Having fun in London!!!

I arrived at Victoria bus station at 730 this morning. An have so far taken about 100 pictures. It's been 2 years since I scrap booked last and now I have no excuse but to do it.

Here is a pic of an amazing scheme where you can rent a bike and take it anywhere then return it to a number of designated bike spots. You have no idea how tickled I was by this!

Just another drippy day!

Back at Yorkhill today (again) for Katie's 6 weekly drip. Infliximab is working so well for her that she has no active arthritis at this point in time. Here she is getting her drip and doing a past paper.

She has her first exam tomorrow morning. English starts at 9am and she is in a series of exams until 2pm eeeekk.

April Blooms Kit

Well all blooms kits are now posted. They look amazing and are just sooooo packed it's unreal. Included is flat blooms, 3d blooms, pearl pins, charms, baby rattle and dummy embellishments there is also 10 tags included 3 lengths of amazing ribbon and add to that a new monthly tag swap!

If you want a one off blooms kit then email me. Karen@quackas.com cost is £12 this includes postage xx

What do you think of the photos below????

Coffee and a cupcake. Mmmmmmm

Out in Glasgow and we popped into a wee cafe for a coffee. Look what I found mmmmmm

As the Deer pants for the Water. Psalm 42

I love this verse, I especially love it when its sung at church. My inspiration for this then was very easy. I used spring colours in the grass and card stock. Diamond White Card, Saffron Bazzill and a sheer white ribbon to hang this from my wall as inspiration.

I stamped the image in Chocolate Chip ink and ran over the image in a light fawn flex marker, it really didn't need any more than a quick brush. The image is very detailed and the stamp is so deep that there are no smudges.

The hardest thing was to line the text up straight. The text stamp can be found here http://www.biblicalstamps.com/proddetail.php?prod=31404

and the Deer image can be found here http://www.eurekastamps.com/proddetail.php?prod=13106

I have used two different companies here Eureka and Biblical. and both tie in beautifully don't you think?? 

Biblical Stamps DT - Matthew 6:26-27

I made a white on white card today with a hint of peach, my sample is about Spring, the birds are returning from their winter break, food is becoming available for them to eat and I am entering the card into a challenge in Stamping Sisters in Christ Blog :)

The stamp can be bought here for a tiny $4.50,http://www.biblicalstamps.com/proddetail.php?prod=38404 it will ship worldwide so please don't think oh its in Dollars I cant have it.... YES YOU CAN!!! I live in not so sunny Scotland and I have them sat in my desk just now :D

Ok back to the sample! sorry !!! I was just excited about telling you that YOU too can get these stamps ;)

Please visit and bookmark the company Blog
http://qkrstampede.blogspot.co.uk/

I am entering this blog post here 

http://stampinsistersinchrist.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Happy Mothering Sunday, mine with a tinge of sadness

Today it is Mothering Sunday in the UK yayyyyyy, I woke up to a gorgeous bunch of tulips from Katie and a card too! I am just soooooo lucky!

I opted not to go to Church today as the emphasis is on mums and I no longer have mine. My mum passed away when I was 14 from a severe asthma attack and its something I have never really got over. It is now over 20 years since she passed and no matter how hard I try, when we honour mums at Church those still here and those who have gone before I find myself unable to compose myself and feel her loss more. I know that I am a mum and my child should have the chance to like others honour her mum but I cannot bring myself to attend a service. I often during those services find myself with tears running down myself and unable to compose myself. Even now as I type i feel a tear sliding down my face. My mum was wonderful, full of fun and despite a very difficult marriage and a lot of aggression and violence, a woman who loved God. She taught me that even when things are hard and smiling is not what you want to do that you hold your head up and offer praise. She taught me that holding your head up when things are hard is the only thing to do.

So here is a photo of my mum, who I am honouring today. I was just little there, and wish that more photos of the two of us together were taken. I am from today making sure that there are as many pictures as possible of Katie and I together.

When I look at my mum I don't see a woman who was overweight, had bad skin, didn't wear enough make up, didn't have trendy clothes.... all the excuses I use for not being in a picture. I see a woman who loved deeply.

Hug your children, take photos and BE IN PHOTOS together. Trust me when I say.... it wont matter in 20 years time that you think its a sucky picture. xx

Eureka Blog Hop - Lucky You

I was asked to make something with  st Patricks Day theme.... Now Paddys day isnt something that we celebrate. I am Scottish and St Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland.... Then I thought about it.... my surname is Gallacher which is Irish, my family are from Donegal in Southern Ireland so maybe i should use that as my excuse!

I decided to make some bunting and a wee card to go with it. I used http://www.eurekastamps.com/proddetail.php?prod=28804 and http://www.eurekastamps.com/proddetail.php?prod=13204 along with my Nesties, some ribbon and pretty Yellow thickers.

I hope you liked my project :) now please pop along to Roxie and see her gorgeous makes!! 

http://paperscaper.blogspot.com/2012/02/eureka-february-blog-hop.html

Its a Love thing - Biblical Impressions Blog Hop!!

Welcome to my first ever Blog Hop! Part of my design Team work for Biblical Impressions.... I would appreciate it if you popped on over to the company blog and bookmark it... there is so much wonderful work to see and all the girls have such amazing talents. Amazing to see the range of styles as well :)

http://qkrstampede.blogspot.com/




Over at Biblical Impressions I picked up this lovely stamp based on Matthew 6, 26-27

I made 3 little Bible markers as a reminder that He loves us and provides for our needs, maybe not what we think we need but what He knows we really need.... I kept them plain and sweet as they will tuck inside our Bibles and the text is more important than the decor. If you want to win one of these little bible markers then please leave me a comment. I will pop it in the post.

I used memento Black ink, Nesties Dies and voile ribbon, the purple is Bazzil Bling cardstock and the blue is Sapphire Bazzil.

Stamp I used it found here http://www.biblicalstamps.com/proddetail.php?prod=38404  its very well made and stamps beautifully...

Next on the Blog hop is Jessica S!! Please skip on over to her blog and see her gorgeous card! 

http://thebugstampinmomma.blogspot.com/2012/02/biblical-impressions-blog-hop-love.html

Biblical Impressions - Grace and Peace

Its been a little while since my last post due to some rather upsetting things happening at home. I apologise for this. Things are starting to pick themselves back up again and get back onto an even keel thankfully.

Oh and I am entering this into a Crafty Challenge :) on Emmas Cards UK - http://www.emmascardsuk.com/p/emmas-crafty-challenge_06.html its my first ever proper blog challenge item... I have never really taken time to enter so today is my first! xx

When I picked up this rather huge stamp which was a bargain at only $6 ... here is the direct link to it http://www.biblicalstamps.com/proddetail.php?prod=37803

I sat and read it and smiled... I forgot to take everything to Him... He offers Grace and Peace as a promise and I decided that I would make up a wall hanging to remind me..

I used  Pretty Paper, white stamping card-stock and some rather delicious Dies.

The Stamp works a treat. I sometimes have problems with large stamps that only stamp in places or over stamp in other sections.. this one works a dream!!! it is soooo deeply etched that I stamped once and that was the image I got.... in perfection and without a single smudge, miss stamp or smear.

Some things in life really make me smile!! and working stamps are the best things EVER!!!

I stamped the image using Memento Ink in tuxedo black onto white cardstock. used Stormy Sky mixed with Peeled paint Distress ink pad  to colour the edge and mounted it onto the back layer... the result is this.... I LOVE IT

I added some small flowers to the edges too in white. I was going to make it as my Bible marker but worried that I would forget it was there and would be tucked away until I picked up that particular page I had marked.

Here is a close up at a jaunty angle ;) I love a jaunty angle lol...

Apologies for lack of updates

I have two cards n kits to blog. However, my daughter fell downstairs on Friday and is badly bruised. Then my wee Granny had a stroke and is in hospital just now. Can I have a new weekend please? This one is rubbish.

I will blog them later on this evening xxx

Freeezing

Brrrrrr its freeeezing outside! Katie is in bed as arthritis flared up. She did spend yesterday in town with friends even though it was cold! I tried my best to make her understand that it wasn't her best choice ... Today she woke in tears creaks when she moves and is in a lot of pain .... Poor kid so coffee for me while she sleeps and clear up and finish craft area! My living room is in here somewhere lol

Playing with stamps

I don't know about you... Sometimes I need to stamp and colour an image a few times so I can get the feel for an image.

I make lots of mistakes until I am happy. It's part of the fun of crafting. It's real life..

So here are two attempts at colouring my QKR Stampede wolf stamps.... I will do a few more until I am happy. It's a work in progress. We are always learning ( thankfully )

Karen

DT Biblical impressions

I received these two gorgeous stamps In the post and the minute I saw them I knew that they needed to be used on a green and brown card. I kept this card very simple so as not to take away from the verse.

Psalms is one of my favourite books of the bible. And this is by far one of my most favourite verses. I listened to our songsters singing this only the other week. Have had three friends post this as their Facebook status update so it's clear God is trying to get me to hear Him.

I hope you like this card I am making a few more with this stamp today as its really got me thinking.

Karen

I design for.... ooooooo my exciting news!!!

I design for........ Eureka Stamps AND Biblical Impressions... I have just started working out the ins and outs of the DT and am sooooooooo excited!

I applied for the DT months ago and heard nothing, so you can imagine my delight when I had an email from The owner to ask if I would!!! I jumped up and down!! Lucky for me I have a couple of their stamps so can at least make a start on bits for the upcoming blog hops,

Bible themed stamps are soooooooo difficult to come by, there are only a few suppliers of stamps to the Christian Community. I am a huge fan of verse stamps, I LOVE nothing more than a big verse on the front or to build a scene ( a recent leaning curve) I can't wait to dig out my distress inks, glitters, glues, ribbons, blooms and dies!!!

So watch out for 6 months of fab fun from me, and a lifetime from the company!

Here is a link to the facebook page QKR Stampede - https://www.facebook.com/pages/QKR-Stampede-Cute-and-Quirky-Rubber-Stamps/214265492116

Arthritis Care and the Hardest Hit campaign

For those who don't know and are new to my blog. I have a teenager with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Katie is 15 now and was diagnosed in 2006 with Enthesitis Related Arthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis. I have been a fundraising girl for about a year now and in 2011, I raised £824.

 This is Katie, Melanie from Arthritis Care Scotland and Myself in May. I had just abseiled from the Forth rail Bridge despite a massive fear of heights, think it took a few weeks for me to stop crying. 

I hope to top that again next year by continuing to run card making groups for Crafting girls. By selling handmade items and by talking to groups about how Arthritis affects ALL ages.

It isn't a Disease for auld folk. My daughter has it and will have it for life, she will continue to require drips 6 weekly, daily pain medications and weekly low dose chemo tablets called Methotrexate. on top of that she has steroid injections into her joints and physio...

We have a motability car, this allows us to get about without putting stress on her joints, to get her to all the Drs and clinic appointments and not to mention collecting her from school as much sometimes as 3 times a week due to pain levels. Her attendance levels are at 75%. we cant count the sent home levels as its not recorded.

She struggles to get in a bath, cant run for a while with her friends, had extreme exhaustion, she can easily sleep from the moment she gets home from school until the next morning, struggles to write for periods of time has no muscle in her hands so is unable to hold heavy things and drops alot!

Pain levels are through the roof so Codiene, Amatryptaline, Paracetamol and Brexidol are her daily friends... shake her and she does rattle. We have a referral to pain management clinic so that is another clinic to add in to the mix.

She has joint damage to a lot of her body,  jaw joint damage and is in need of a jaw replacement, she has steroid injections on a regular basis, on average 3 times a year. to sometimes as many as 18 joints at a time.

Winter is a killer for Katie's joints. her pain increases ten fold and her grump factor multiplies by 1000. My grump factor also increases ;)

People look at her and think..... she looks healthy, she is tall and slim and pretty, smiles a lot so cannot be so poorly.... live with us for a week and see what its like.

So please support the Campaign. There are many Katie's out there. Different ages and different conditions.

Sometimes we look at a charity and think ok they have our money and we don't hear from them again, we have no need mostly. we just part with pennies when asked and think nothing more of it. Happy that we have done a wee bit to help others.

Arthritis Care however are not a behind the scenes style of Charity. They are a campaign type of Charity. I saw their facebook update today for The Hardest Hit Campaign. The are petitioning, not just for Arthritis BUT for other conditions too.  Asking the government to STOP the attacks on Disability benefits and the sick.

Their Campaign can be found here...

 http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/Campaigns/TheHardestHit/all-we-want-for-christmas

My Tree is up, no its down!

My cats are as usual having an absolute blast with the Christmas Tree! Resulting in much fun and hilarity for them, and for the teen and NOT for me :(

Enjoy the pics and please ignore the mess, I am also re jigging my craft work area which happens to be in my living room and its no fun!

 Sirius with HIS bauble.... He is my half a panther and I lurve him to death! sooooooooooo squishy and cuddly

 Sophia busted for pulling down the tree!!!! Uh Oh human!!!! wasn't me!!!!

 Sophia laying claim to HER tinsel

Watching out for Sirius....

December Card Kit and Blooms Kit

Here are the peeks for the Card makers Kit and the blooms kit.

The Cardmakers kit is gorgeous this month. Pinks, Greys and Blacks, with Lace, Pearls and blingy ribbon slides. Here is a list of the kit contents :)

6"x12" Patterned Papers
6"x12" Bazzil
10 Card Blanks and Envelopes
Diamante Ribbon Slide
2m of Ric Rac, 1m Dark Pink Satin Ribbon and 1m of gorgeous Black Lace . A full packet of pearl flat back gems, Buttons, dew drops and 4 gorgeous charms. Roses, and some journalling tags.

To order a subscription kit please email me Karen@quackas.com, The card makers kit is £12 posted within the UK. All I ask is that you take out a subscription and give me a 4 week notice period of need to cancel. The kits do go further afield. so if you live in the EU and would like a kit please contact me.

A one off kit can be purchased for postage in the UK for £13, this does not obligate you to a monthly subscription.

Now onto the Blooms Kit.

Its a kit packed full of 60 - 70 paper flowers, ribbons, gems, charms and other goodies, 3d flowers and other goodies.

This months kit is pinks, blacks and greys, with lace, ribbon and blingy bits.

the subscription kit is £11 per month posted in the UK. or £12 posted to EU.

Non subscription one off kits are available subject to availability.

On the facebook group there is a chance to see photos from kit girls, get ideas and give me ideas on themes you want.

I look forward to seeing you over on the Facebook group :D

Mwahhhhhhhhhhhhh

Found my password!!

Soooooo much news to fill you in on so get a coffee and sit down....

I had until this afternoon lost my password! It has taken me months to work out how to fix it and thankfully now its done and fixed with my password safely tucked away :D yayyyy

Katie continues to do well with her arthritis, and thanks to many wonderful fundraising crops and sponsors the grand total for my fundraising for Arthritis Care Scotland I managed to top.... £824 !!! I couldn't believe it! and thanks everyone for all your shoves, pushes and kind words. This was taken just after my abseil, I was in floods of tears and it has done NOTHING to improve my fear of heights. Katie at the end is my gorgeous girly! she is much taller than that now!! and in the middle is our Melanie from Arthritis Care Scotland, she is a wee ball of energy and positive thinking. Her dad held my hand and stayed with me until I was tipped unceremoniously off the Forth rail bridge SCREAMING like I have never screamed before. It took me weeks to stop crying! Had it not been for Mick I doubt I woulda got up the stairs to the bridge jump site never mind shoved over the side by the instructors.

October saw the Your Wedding Dress ball to raise funds for Clic Sargent house in Prestwick. I jumped in with both feet as it was a charity close to my heart, my friend Nicolas' adorable and gorgeous Princess passed away sadly in August due to Leukaemia and many a night did I break my heart after visiting her in intensive care. I will miss her gorgeous sunshine smile, her cheeky ways and how she fought soooo hard for so long. Fly high baby girl xx

The wedding dress ball raised over £7500 and more money is still coming in. I went wearing a fabulous corset, I have never been married so was unable to wear a wedding dress :(  Yes there is waaaaaaaaay to much flesh on display! and Nicola looks gorgeous. It was hard for her to be there and she felt she wanted to support the charity. I am so proud of her strength and grace. xxx

I was back working for Samuel Taylors in October at SECC HobbyCraft show. I had a blast, was thoroughly exhausted but survived and said hi to soooooooo many gorgeous crafty people! on the Monday after it finished I went to have coffee with Angela from Angelcrafts.biz and planned to go and crawl into my bed.... fate has a way of stopping you!!

 I had a call from David asking me to wander down to NEC Birmingham and work for them again... cue another week of demonstrating ...oh its a hard life eh!! LOLOL!!

This is my lovely Facebook and real life crafty friend Michaela who came along to say hi and gave me a boost. I was soooo nervous! as I was unsure if anyone would understand my accent! She gave me a massive cuddle and a huge grin! It was enough for me to get going!

Must dash as my NEXT blog post in an hour will tell of the December Card makers kit and the Blooms kits :) and boy they are gorgeous!!!! oh and I am also going to be sharing some candy.... yummy floral candy!!!

There is a blinkie on my blog, please grab it and pop it on your blog! Also come and visit me on Facebook!! say hi and speak to the other kit Girlies!! they really are lovely! xxx