HIPPOFROG Designs - Karen Young - Independent UK Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

In Color Introduction Class – Misty Moonlight

by Karen Young | Posted on July 11, 2020 | Leave a comment

I think you’ll agree this Misty Moonlight project is whaley great! Isn’t he cute? This project is one of six from my recent ‘In Color’ Introduction Class.

A colour combination of Misty Moonlight, Balmy Blue, Soft Sea Foam and Purple Posy work well together. I couldn’t not include Soft Sea Foam as part of this project!

The seaweed is from the Smooth Sailing Dies with the back one glued down completely first. Then the co-ordinating Baker’s Twine from the Flowers for Every Season Ribbon Combo Pack is added. The next piece of seaweed is glued at the bottom and in a few places at the top to make it look like it is still has some movement.

Using the fabulous new Whale Builder Punch, pieces are cut in Misty Moonlight and Balmy Blue. He is put together to create a two-tone effect, with another fin on top.

An eye from the Playing with Patterns Resin Dots just adds a touch of character before he is stuck on with Dimensionals. A Mini Dimensional for under the tail, and regular ones for the body.

Finally, three Enamel Dots in Misty Moonlight create some bubbles.

This punch is really cute and it comes as part of a 10% discounted Bundle with a Stamp Set in the new Annual Catalogue. Not only could you get 10% off, you could also earn a Bonus Days coupon if you shop during July.

Why not join us for a future class? I’ve got online classes planned until the end of the year, visit my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

In Color Introduction Class – Magenta Madness

by Karen Young | Posted on July 10, 2020 | Leave a comment

If you are a fan of pink, then the new Magenta Madness ‘In Color’ is your gal. She’s a very bright in-your-face kind of pink.

For her ‘In Color’ Class project, Blushing Bride back and Whisper White flower pieces from the Many Layered Blossoms Dies did most of the work.

Using Adhesive Sheets on the Whisper White piece before cutting it out made things much simpler when it came to sticking the pieces together. Rather than spending ages with Fine-Tip Glue, the whole piece was already sticky and ready to adhere.

If you’re adding Wink of Stella, particuarly in the centre of the flowers, do it before sticking the pieces together. It’s a lot easier.

With the two pieces now one, it was attached to the Magenta Madness basecard using Fine-Tip Glue.

Using the Itty Bitty Birthday Stamp Set and a Classic Label Punch shape, the sentiment is perfect for this project.

It has a couple of lengths of co-ordinating ‘In Color’ ribbon crossed behind it.

Finally, Enamel Dots were placed on the project.

I think these Dies, with the matching Stamp Set in the Bundle are going to be regulars on my craft desk in the coming months. There are so many different ways to use them.

If you’re enjoying these projects from my ‘In Color’ Class, why not join me for one of my other classes. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

In Color Introduction Class – Cinnamon Cider

by Karen Young | Posted on July 9, 2020 | Leave a comment

At my annual ‘In Color’ Introduction Class, each new colour has a project dedicated to it. This is the project for Cinnamon Cider.

It’s a more masculine project and just uses Cinnamon Cider, Early Espresso and Crumb Cake.

As well as the new colours, we use new products too. The fabulous Old World Paper Embossing folder gets an outing here.

The piece has to be torn around the edges to give a more aged look. Some of the attendees found this part really hard as they think tearing their paper is an act of vandalism!

I can’t wait to create even more projects with this folder. I’ve got visions of getting very inky with Sponge Daubers for some more tearing and serious distressing. Sorry ladies!

The pretty feather shape from the Nature’s Thoughts dies sits really well on the Everyday Label Punch shape.

A length of the extremely tactile Early Espresso Faux Suede Trim is looped behind. You are going to need a lot of this ribbon as you’ll want some to stroke – it really is that fabulous.

To finish, an Enamel Dot in Cinnamon Cider is sat either side of the punched shape.

Don’t forget to take a look at all the fabulous new items in the Annual Catalogue. If you purchase between now and 3rd August, you can earn Bonus Days coupons too.

It would be great to ‘see’ you at one of my classes. All abilities welcome. Head to my Class Timetable for full details of all the onlines classes I’m currently running.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

In Color Introduction Class – Just Jade

by Karen Young | Posted on July 8, 2020 | Leave a comment

Here is the Just Jade project from my recent In Color Introduction Class. Just Jade is one of the new In Colors from the new Annual Catalogue.

This is a quick and simple project. It uses the new Tasteful Textile Embossing Folder to give a beautiful background in Just Jade.

A circle in Calypso Coral has a leaf from the Poppy Moments Dies stuck onto it. The leaf is in Shaded Spruce. Any leaf or flower shape can be used instead.

Behind the leaf is a length of the co-ordinating Just Jade ribbon.

It’s all set on a Thick Very Vanilla base card. Finally, three Enamel Dots in Just Jade are sprinkled around the project.

There’s plenty of space to put a sentiment if you need to, or it is lovely just left blank. It could also be made a landscape project too.

Pop back and see the next project from the class.

If you want to join us for a future class, head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

In Color Introduction Class – Bumblebee and Many Mates Bundle

by Karen Young | Posted on July 7, 2020 | Leave a comment

Last week I held my annual ‘In Color’ Introduction Class.

It’s one of my favourite classes of the year as attendees use the new colours and new products too. This year, it was slightly different to usual as it was held online rather than face-to-face. As the attendees had class kits posted to them in advance, I was still able to send them new items.

I taught 6 projects during the class and this first project is using new ‘In Color’ Bumblebee and the Many Mates Bundle. This Many Mates Bundle, and other Bundles in the Annual Catalogue have a 10% discount, which is great when you combine it with this month’s Bonus Days Offer.

It’s my version of the project on page 43 of the Annual Catalogue and my colour combination is Bumblebee, Old Olive and Blackberry Bliss. These work really well together.

The die-cut shape is cut to fit the Old Olive layer. When cutting this out, you’ll definitely find the Take Your Pick Tool and Brush Tip really useful, there are a lot of bits to remove.

Stamping the sentiment onto a Very Vanilla Story Label Punch shape, again using Bumblebee creates the focus. I’ve used a Blender Pen to colour the sentiment slightly by pulling the colour from the stamping.

A couple of lengths of the Reversible Pretty Peacock/Old Olive Ribbon is placed behind the sentiment, along with two shapes cut from the Sprig Punch.

Three Small Bloom Punch flowers in Blackberry Bliss are added using Glue Dots. Finally, ‘In Color’ Enamel Dots create the centre of the flowers.

Pop back over the next few days for the other projects from this class.

Why not join us for a Papercrafting Class, or one of my other classes. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Last Week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa – Parquet with Peony Garden DSP

by Karen Young | Posted on July 6, 2020 | Leave a comment

For last week’s Card & (Your) Cuppa project it was time to play with the Peony Garden DSP.

I’d shown this design at a recent DSP class and was asked if we could have one for Card & (Your) Cuppa, so here it is.

I taught one of these a long time ago, so it was nice to do it again using this pretty Peony Garden DSP from the Annual Catalogue. As well as the DSP designs, I also taught the attendees how to create a flat bow, also known as a Dior bow.

For the parquet design, it is important to place your first two pieces and then keep building each layer in the same way. I find it easier to pop glue on my base card instead of the strips, paying particular attention to the edges. This is so I can move things around more easily and the offcuts aren’t sticky.

The design above is just one of the designs I made with the strips of DSP the attendees had to use. The picture below shows the three designs I made, all from 6 strips of 1.5cm by 12″ of the Peony Garden DSP. Each strip was cut in half to make 6″ strips, so there were 12 pieces in total.

It’s a really good way of using up those scraps of DSP, plus it goes a really long way. They are quick and easy to make too, so you can rustle up a batch in no time at all.

As I used the same dimensions for both of the angle projects, the offcuts from the parquet pattern had the correct diagonal angle for the next project, the strips.

Start with the centre stripe for this one if you want to create more uniform size pieces at the edges.

Finally, the remaining offcuts are used as strips for a banner-type project. Vary the direction of the angles to create a bit of extra interest. Again, a lot of the angles will already be done for you if you make this one at the end.

One extra tip I would give is to make sure you stamp your sentiment first for all of these projects. Alternatively, stamp it onto a separate sheet and then attach it. You don’t want to create a pretty pattern and then spoil it with a stamping accident.

My sentiment is from the Blossoms in Bloom Stamp Set stamped in Gray Granite Ink to co-ordinate with the DSP. I’ve also taken my Petal Pink base card colour from the DSP too. Using the colours in the DSP is a great way to know that what you are planning to use will work well. It also takes a lot of the hard work out of choosing.

A strip of the chic Gray Granite Ribbon is added across the ends of the strips before adding the flat bow with a glue dot.

These would make a perfect gift for someone. Make a few, package them up and send them off. Use that DSP.

These are just three designs using the strips, there are so many more to create. Don’t forget that you can create landscape designs, or cover the whole piece.

Which design is your favourite, parquet, straight or strips?

Why not join us for a future class. Head to my Class Timetable for all the details.

I’m planning my classes up to the end of the year, with Card & (Your) Cuppa for Children too, so keep an eye out for more details.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

In Color DSP and Tailored Tag Punch

by Karen Young | Posted on July 4, 2020 | Leave a comment

At my recent DSP class, I showed the attendees ways to get the best out of their pretty papers. Here is one of the projects, made using In Color DSP and Tailored Tag Punch shapes.

I’ve made this design several times before (here and here), and I was pleased to see a similar version appear in the new Annual Catalogue using the In Good Taste DSP.

This quick and simple card is made by cutting shapes from the In Color DSP with a punch or dies. You then arrange them onto the cardstock in a pattern. The white gaps between the shapes create clean lines.

By using a Whisper White basecard and then a layer that co-ordinates with one of the colours, it brings everything together.

The key to this project is working out where to put your sentiment and to lay it in place, without gluing at the very start. My sentiment is from the Itty Bitty Birthdays Stamp Set and stamped in Magenta Madness to co-ordinate with the DSP.

Place the other shapes around it to make pattern you want. Then, when you are happy, start sticking everything down. You can be really frugal with your DSP on these projects as you can use the same shape for for several different pieces. Can you see how one of the Bumblebee shapes has been used? Don’t forget to fill any little gaps that are left, mine are at the top.

This is a great card for teenagers. Make it with DSP or cardstock in lots of different shapes and colours. You could add ribbon, twine or extra embellishments too. Let your imagination go wild!

To join us for a future class, head to my class timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

Highlighting the Ornate Style Stamp Set

by Karen Young | Posted on July 3, 2020 | Leave a comment

Whoops! Another project using the Ornate Garden Suite. I told you I couldn’t put it down! It’s a great suite from the new Annual Catalogue.

Here I’m highlighting part of the Ornate Style Stamp Set with Stampin’ Blends.

The base of this project is Purple Posy and Highland Heather. Corners are rounded with the Detailed Trio Punch. This mirrors the cut outs of the centre shape.

Two shapes are cut from the Painted Labels Dies with the Whisper White one trimmed along the stitch line to create layering. By placing this Whisper White shape onto the Whisper White layer, the image is stamped on top using Smoky Slate.

Then, the cut out is taken away and coloured using Stampin’ Blends. I’ve used the same colours for the Blends, along with So Saffron, Granny Apple Green and Rococo Rose. Make sure you have your Colour Lifter to hand incase of any mishaps!

By layering this onto the larger Highland Heather piece, the whole piece is then carefully lined up and stuck on top of the the non-coloured stamped section.

Finally, three pretty Frosted Epoxy Droplets just add a finishing touch. They capture the light beautifully.

Make sure you check out July’s Bonus Days offer.

Head to my Class Timetable to join me for one of my online classes.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

BYO Stamps – Going Dotty with the Waterfront Stamp Set

by Karen Young | Posted on July 2, 2020 | Leave a comment

Today I’m showing you a less ‘traditional’ project from my recent BYO Stamps class. Here we are going dotty with the Waterfront Stamp Set!

I enjoy getting the most out of my stamp sets by using the images in lots of different ways. Here, we’re using one of the smallest stamps in the set to create an all over dotty pattern.

This project is similar to a couple of previous projects I’ve made, you can see them here and here.

Although there is a combination of first and third generation Balmy Blue stamping on the piece, I’ve done all of the first generation stamping first. This is to make sure there aren’t any of those annoying lines you get when you accidentally stamp onto the page after stamping over an edge. Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this?!

Next, it was time for the third generation stamping, again in Balmy Blue. This overlaps the other stamping and adds faint images in the background.

The dots were then stamped over the top top in Night of Navy to add a bit more interest.

For the sentiment, the image for the background was stamped onto a separate sheet in 2nd generation, then the ‘Thanks’ was added on top.

This is then cut out by hand. The image isn’t round, so it’s supposed to look a bit uneven. It’s then stuck onto a layer of Night of Navy and again cut round by hand.

With the background piece layered onto a strip, three lengths of Linen Thread cut across the project.

Finally, the sentiment is stuck on using Small Dimensionals.

This is another project that would work brilliantly in a number of colours. Perfect for anyone and any occasion, just change the colours and sentiment to suit. Enjoy going dotty!

I hope you’ve enjoyed all of the projects from the recent BYO Stamps Class. Which is your favourite of the three?

Why not join us for a future class. Head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Don’t forget to take a look at this month’s special offers from Stampin’ Up! Bonus Days are back.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

BYO Stamps – Stripes from the Waterfront Stamp Set

by Karen Young | Posted on July 1, 2020 | Leave a comment

How is it July already? Where has the year gone?

For my recent BYO Stamps class, all of the projects used the same stamp set. Today, I’m sharing how we made stripes from the Waterfront Stamp Set.

This is similar to a project I made previously, just with different colours.

I like monochrome projects, but this is actually Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral and Terracotta Tile. As the Terracotta Tile ribbon is quite close in colour to the Calypso Coral stamping, I was able to stick to using inks from the Subtles Collection.

Although there aren’t any stripe stamps in the Waterfront Stamp Set, if you look at the images, one of them resembles a stripe. Just because it looks like water or a strip of land, doesn’t mean that is all it should be! I love using stamps in a completely different way.

I’ve created stripes here by spacing them evenly across the page. You could make diagonals, a cross-hatch pattern, or just randomly stamp on your cardstock. There are lots of different options.

The ribbon then hides the top of the stamping to create two distinct parts of the project. On this separation line, three flowers from the Small Bloom Punch are stuck onto shapes from the Layering Circles Dies.

Finally, three Rhinestones add some bling.

Why not use a sentiment in place of the flowers, or place one in the top corner? Alternatively, it can stay sentiment-free. That’s the beauty of crafting, the choice is yours!

I think a batch of these in different colours would make a lovely gift to send to someone.

You can order your Waterfront Stamp Set, along with other items from the Annual Catalogue from my 24/7 Online Store by clicking on the links below.

To join us at a class, head to my Class Timetable for full details.

Happy crafting

To order any of the supplies shown below, head to my Online Store

This Month’s Hostess Code Join my team Current Products Special Offers Book a Class

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